20250405 r25 Men Melbourne City v Central Coast-77

Melbourne City celebrate their goal from Round 25 against the Central Coast Mariners. Photo: Marcus Robertson/Round Ball Australia

As the competition reaches the pointy end and the best start to separate themselves from the rest; Round Ball Australia keeps you up to date with all the big story lines from Round 25 of the A-League Men competition, with Sliding Doors.

Brisbane Roar

IF Asumah Abubakar slots his second goal in the 36th minute of this game against the Bulls…

THEN the result could have looked completely different.

Probably one of the best examples all season of a true 90-minute sliding doors moment.

Abubakar seems to have settled into life at Brisbane Roar, who have lacked an out-and-out goalscoring presence since the departure of Thomas Waddingham to Portsmouth in January.

His opening goal was a rocket from range, giving Roar fans at least a little something to celebrate in what has been quite a poor season.

If his close attempt for his second ricochets in rather than out, off the upright then the momentum of the game could have been completely different.

But Brisbane fans are used to the ifs, buts and maybes at this point in the season. Time to recoup, assess the damages and go again.

Lachie Avil

Macarthur FC

IF Jakolis is scoring, Khaoui is providing and Brattan is leading…

THEN there’s plenty of hope for the Bulls moving forward under Mile Sterjovski.

Things were looking dire through February and March as Macarthur’s efficient first half of the season came to a crumbling halt after their mass exodus in the January transfer window.

However, Sterjovski’s versatility has proven vital to turn around seven points in their last three games, with the Bulls looking a different outfit to the one that came before.

The recruitment of Brattan, Jakolis and Khaoui all seem to represent kinds of moneyball-eque signings that gives the team enough moving pieces of A-League quality to form a quality football side.

This isn’t Adelaide or the Mariners. It’s not young kids being thrown in – although there is some of that, headlined by Kealey Adamson – it’s players that have been undervalued elsewhere, for Brattan and Jakolis, in the A-League itself.

Next season is a big one for the Bulls. After hopefully an off season that for the first time in a few years can be a quiet one, accompanied by some stability – the Bulls will have their second tilt at Asian competition in the ACL Two.

Sterjovksi is building something in South-West Sydney. Their 5-1 thrashing of the Roar proves it. Interesting times await.

Lachie Avil

Auckland FC

IF Auckland thought it would be a smooth ride towards the premiers plate… 

THEN perhaps they should think again. 

Although clubs such as Auckland are professional, especially with the experience of manager Steve Corica, complacency is a common theme when it comes to football. 

A 1-1 draw at home to a resurgent Western Sydney Wanderers means the Kiwi club have drawn four of their past five outings, with their lead on Western United diminishing from 13 points to just five with four rounds remaining. 

With Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Western United (all away from home) still to come, is it bold to predict that Auckland could potentially lose the unloseable? 

As for the match itself on the weekend, Auckland didn’t look as fluent in the middle of the park with Louis Verstraete in particular not finding his best form. Once they transitioned into attacking areas, the play broke down time and time again. 

Western United have won their last five games, and they will continue breathing down Auckland’s neck. 

Christian Montegan 

Western Sydney Wanderers

IF the Wanderers rushed to conclusions and a quick fix at the start of the season… 

THEN this current run of form would be unlikely to exist.

It’s incredible how one club’s season can turn on its head. The Wanderers were all but down and out halfway through the campaign; no one gave them a realistic chance of doing anything meaningful. 

Yet despite all the noise around Alen Stajcic’s handling of the Juan Mata situation, his tactics and defensive question marks, their 1-1 draw to Auckland signals exponential growth from where they once were. 

The Wanderers haven’t tasted defeat since January 26 at the hands of the league leaders, and the way they approached their draw against Auckland showed their maturity in being able to neutralise Auckland’s counter-attacking threat, with Wanderers owning close to 60 per cent possession. 

Fans were furious at the Wanderers’ poor start to the season, but they have since gone from Stajcic being on the chopping block to a serious championship contender. Patience and loyalty could act as the club’s saviour. 

Christian Montegan

Melbourne City

IF a neat training park move was the difference in this win over the Mariners…

THEN it’s just another string to the City bow that should have teams worried come finals.

Aurelio Vidmar’s side have gone from strength to strength in the last few months, and this set piece move was just more evidence of that.

The Mariners are a team who have had a knack of staying in games this season, despite their lowly ladder position.

Their 10 draws is higher than any other team in the league – next best is Auckland with seven – so for City to have to rely on set pieces is not necessarily a bad thing.

How often do we talk about Championship teams, and how they just find a way to win? That’s what City have been doing throughout their whole season, despite the adversity they have faced.

Lachie Avil

Central Coast Mariners

IF you thought the Mariners didn’t have anything left to play for in 24/25…

THEN the final F3 derby might have just snuck up on you.

A win and a draw is the record for Mark Jackson’s side in F3 derbies so far this season. But having been played on neutral and home territory respectively, what a way it would be to sign off a disappointing season with a derby win in enemy territory.

An enemy that is much improved since the last time they played as well. The Jets now sit above the Mariners on the table.

The 1-0 loss to City would have felt like just another game to Mariners fans. But this weekend presents an opportunity to put some real passion into their final meaningful game of the 24/25 season.

Coming off the continental treble, and back-to-back A-League Championships was always going to be difficult. So when you zoom out, the Mariners’ position shouldn’t come as so surprising.

But, a victory over the Jets to close out the campaign would be a nice way to sign off.

Lachie Avil

Western United

IF winning games where you find yourself second best is the mark of a champion side…

THEN maybe Auckland need to double check their rear-view mirror.

Could they do it? They couldn’t, could they? What a story it would be if Western United could push Auckland all the way with the premiership potentially being decided on the last match day for two seasons in a row.

Well, Auckland have maybe not left the door wide open, but it certainly is still ajar and maybe that is all the motivation and belief Western United need to spur them on over the decisive last four games of this season.

The gap now just sits at five points between the sides when a month ago it looked almost certain Auckland were running away with the title, but with just one win in five, compared to Western’s five straight wins, something special could be on the cards.

They face each other on that last match day too, which could be one of the most tuned into games we’ve seen in the A League if it is indeed the decider.

Beating this Perth Glory side may seem like a forgone conclusion at this point but Perth put up a fight in this one and Western did well to stay in the game and come away with the win.

This has been a remarkable late push and even if they don’t go on to win the premiership, it is setting them up nicely for the championship.

Will Booth

Perth Glory

IF Perth Glory keep getting dealt the first blow in matches…

THEN at least they keep getting up and throwing the second.

When conceding a goal just two minutes into a game you make it really hard for yourself to get something from the game. Heads drop, flashbacks from the previous losses flood into your mind, and the game feels out of reach already.

Perth, however, have shown a resilience in this game that wasn’t there in the early stages of the campaign and that is something to take away from this game, although the three points could not be captured in the end.

It was just five minutes after the early opener that Perth thought they had pegged one back, but Will Freney was frustratingly denied by the offside flag. It was frustrating in the sense that he did not need the advantage from being offside, coming back short of his defender to nod past Matt Sutton in Western United’s goal.

Another Jaylan Pearman pearler eventually brought Glory back into the tie, highlighting another bright spot in an otherwise forgettable season. In what is typical of Perth’s season this year an extremely unlucky situation at the back meant they conceded a comedic own goal which was unfortunately the nail in the coffin.

This game was another iteration of what could’ve been, and on plenty of other days Glory do come back and get something from this match, which is impressive against the form team of the competition.

Still, challenging such a dominant Western side at the height of their powers shows that Glory do have some fight left in them.

Will Booth

Adelaide United

IF the Reds came into the season needing a striker…

THEN keeping Archie Goodwin around will do wonders for their long-term future.

Goodwin was signed last off-season to mixed reaction from the fan base – many of whom had doubts over his longevity given his injury history. But having found fitness, Goodwin has also found a rich vein of form that has him top of the league scoring charts. 

His movement in leading the line is exceptional, proving a constant threat to launch on runs in behind the defensive line, which he executed well against Sydney FC. His finishing has also been superb, following on in Ibusuki’s footsteps when some fans were questioning who would be the one to score goals.

Adelaide is a side that has recently done a fantastic job of nurturing young players – Archie being yet another example. But if the owners are truly serious about winning silverware, they need to make sure he has the pieces around him to find consistent success.

A proven finisher, with great attacking support in Pierias, Clough and Mauk around him, is a great asset for a club. But it needs to be supplemented with a balanced squad outside of that. 

It seems Adelaide have missed the mark in that regard this season, but there’s plenty of evidence that Goodwin could become one of the great Australian strikers if given a chance to shine.

Jacob Stevens

Sydney FC

IF the Sky Blues are aiming for silverware this season…

THEN they’re in the end-game phase

Everything has been building up to this part of the season for Sydney. Despite all the ins and outs, injuries and inconsistencies, the Sky Blues find themselves perfectly positioned to capitalise at the pointy end of the season.

Sure, there’s a lot of games ahead of them, especially with Asian commitments added to the mix, but it’s something that, in Talay’s own words, is simply part of modern football. This is a club and team that wants to be successful, so that means a bit of fixture congestion as you close in on silverware.

The team is really starting to gel. Even though there are still questions about their defence, Talay is acutely aware of the issues and it’s clear, after their display against Adelaide, that he’s been tweaking their pressing and rest defence to try and get the best out of his players.

And with Douglas Costa looking a level above every other player on the pitch, Anas Ouahim making his return and Adrian Segecic continuing his late heroics, Sydney almost definitely have their eyes not just on making finals, but making a deep run and being a threat.

And with a distinct vibe around the team that they can make an Asian final, this could be a tremendous turnaround from their early season struggles, and proof that backing a project and making the right moves can set you up for success when it all matters.

Jacob Stevens

IF Newcastle Jets can’t sort out their coaching and back office drama

THEN Lost and directionless performances will continue.

Newcastle showed glimpses of their best and were far from disgraced against Wellington at home, however that didn’t stack up on the scoreboard and a 6th home loss of the season ensued.

Coach Rob Stanton tried to take some positives from the match but was honest in his appraisal of the performance.

“Based on the first half we got what we deserved,” he said describing his reaction to the sides first half.

“I was really disappointed with [the first half performance]. It lacked intent, passion & commitment.”

Which considering Stanton’s imminent departure, was a gallant approach that speaks volumes to his backing and support of his squad.

The performance however lacked conviction at times, and you feel it all ties back to players suffering from the unknown.

The uncertainty of a new coach and an interim CEO (up until Monday) all echoes of the directionless time that preceded Newcastle’s ownership and an all too familiar tale for Novocastrians.

The players will continue to battle with no clear North Star. Newcastle’s administration need to clear the air and ensure the players know where they are heading for the final few weeks of the season.

Chris Macpherson

Wellington Phoenix

IF Josh Oluwayemi doesn’t have the reflexes of a cat…

THEN The Nix would be departing Newcastle with yet another disappointment on their season.

Wellington escaped Newcastle with three points but it was far from convincing and Chiefy will be counting his lucky stars that his keeper and last line defences were able to pluck moments to keep them on top after a solid first half.

A number of times in the second half Oluwayemi and the sides last line defences came up clutch. Most notably a save between the keepers ankles deep in stoppage time & an incredulous passage midway through the second stanza where 7 Jets shots were blocked in various ways in a 20 second period.

It came down to good luck as much as good management and for the back half of the season that has been Wellington’s modus operandi when it comes to taking points away from fixtures.

Chris Macpherson

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