Neither Central Coast or Newcastle have anything left to play for this season, but their campaigns will finish with a bang as the two go head-to-head in another edition of the F3 Derby.
Will the derby attract fans?
The Central Coast Mariners have been the league’s over-achieving club for much of the past decade, with their success growing from strong roots in the community and stereotypical ‘Aussie’ attitude. In that light, a passionate, faithful crowd is intrinsic to the Mariners’ performance, identity and future – but off the back of one of the worst season’s by any club in the A-League’s history attendances have not been strong. Given it is the final game of the season, and a derby at that, will they be sent off in style, finish the campaign on a positive note and showing faith in the club’s future?
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Will the Mariners finish the season without a clean sheet?
Much has been made of the Central Coast’s horrific defence this season, with the side conceding a whopping 66 goals. The statistics are truly astounding. Not only have they conceded more than their share, with their for-and-against currently standing at -35, (the 14 they have shipped in the last four matches a sample of how bad things are) but they have gone an incredible 26 games without keeping a clean sheet. Can the Mariners rise to the occasion and make their local rivals the only team not to penetrate their defence? Or will they eclipse another unwanted record?
Boogaard out again
One of the biggest issues for Newcastle this season has been their discipline under Scott Miller. Last round Nigel Boogaard picked up his 10th red card (an A-League record), needlessly being sent from the field and conceding a penalty. While cards are not the only way in which Newcastle has lacked discipline, Boogaard’s red highlighted the issue. Once again there were rumours of discontent among the team early on, while on the pitch their lack of shape, tactics and direction illustrated poor discipline in performance. Something that given the highs they have shown throughout the campaign, could well have re-railed their season.
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