Australia NewsMariners Want To Be League Royalty |
CENTRAL Coast Mariners are intent on becoming one of the Hyundai A-League’s big boys with their captain warning that the power centre in Australian football could be switching.
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While Sydney and Melbourne boast far bigger populations, both finished behind the Mariners and F3 rivals the Newcastle Jets.
Wilkinson said: “Who would have thought the two smallest regions in the Hyundai A-league would have finished one and two?
“If you look at it on a population basis, we’re by far the best supported team in the league.
"I think if Sydney had to get the same percentage of their population as us then they’d need around 300,000 at a game or something.
"Our members and fans have been fantastic this year, turned out in droves and we had three record crowds in a row.”
Regardless of whether they go and claim the champions crown, Wilkinson says the Mariners mission now is to continue building, on and off the field, and really flex some A-League muscle. He’d love them to become one of the competition’s super powers.
He said: “They always say it’s harder to defend your title and that’s what we’ll have to do next year.
"But hopefully we will go on and become one of the major players in the competition. We’ve grown enormously again this year and I think being able to entice someone like John Aloisi here shows we’re prepared to do what it takes.
“Talking of John (Aloisi) he has played a massive role this year. I think he’s scored seven goals in 11 or so games I think. That’s a great ratio. We’re hoping he signs on the dotted line and stays for a couple more years.”
As for the immediate task in hand, Wilkinson knows the Mariners will have their hands full in trying to keep the Jets quiet in Sunday’s major semi-final first leg at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
He said: “Joel Griffiths? He’s been playing well hasn’t he? He’s obviously a danger man for them but they’re definitely not a one-man team.
"They’ve got a very strong core group of players. I think they’re one of the best passing teams in the leagues so we’re going to need to nullify that to come out on top over the two legs.”
To see the launch of the A-League Finals Series...
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