Managers’ Insights: A-League Reflections Following Round 26

Mile Sterjovski (Macarthur FC):

“What a fantastic way to conclude the season. It’s a bit of a letdown not to be heading into the finals, which highlights our inconsistencies this year. Today’s performance was outstanding—we scored four goals and kept a clean sheet. I’m particularly pleased for Damien Da Silva; finishing his career like that was special for all of us. We did it for him, and I believe we brought him a lot of joy. The support from our fans was incredible and we delivered a performance that they deserved.”

“As for next season, we’ll take some time to savour this win before we start planning. In the coming weeks, we’ll have discussions about what the future holds for us.”

“We need to earn the right for our fans to return. Consistency in our performances is key; everyone wants to see winning football. That was our challenge this year. While we managed to beat some of the top teams, we dropped points against sides we should have dominated. There were positives too: we provided many players with their debut experiences, played in the Champions League, and had some excellent home performances from which we can learn.”

Chris Greenacre (Wellington Phoenix):

“That match was definitely a tale of two halves for us. I’m really disappointed with how we performed in the first half; we weren’t up to speed, and credit goes to Macarthur for taking control of the game. Once they scored the first goal, you could see our players’ body language drop, which is very disappointing.”

“However, in the second half, we pushed back against Macarthur and created a few chances during transitions, although we lacked the final touch. This is the first time I’ve seriously questioned the team. They’ve been exceptional in recent weeks, but this was a dip in form that we’ll have to address before the next season.”

“It’s tough for players to get motivated for a match that doesn’t hold any significance, but at the end of the day, they’re professional athletes, and they should maintain their intensity—something we failed to do. Overall, I’ve been very happy with what the team has achieved this season. At one stage, we were at the bottom of the table, and the current position is a significant improvement.”

Mark Milligan (Newcastle Jets):

“It feels incredibly special. I’m immensely proud of what this group has accomplished. We’ve pushed them hard, with the primary goal being to restore this club to its former glory. This ambition drives everything we do, from their daily efforts to the football we showcase each weekend.”

“The players go out each day to win back the love of Newcastle’s supporters for football. Their mentality, work ethic, and determination have been remarkable from day one. It starts again on Monday.”

“We’re where we always aimed to be. It’s challenging to set a precise timeline, but the players’ commitment plays a huge role. Right from our first day, we made things tough for them, putting them in situations designed to test them, and they consistently rose to the occasion. The style of football we aim for isn’t easy, but I’m not surprised we’ve achieved this level of performance; their desire and work ethic have continually motivated our coaching staff.”

Warren Moon (Central Coast Mariners):

“We aimed to come here and deliver a strong performance. Looking back, we might have over-exerted ourselves last week. Other than the initial few minutes where we absorbed some pressure, I felt we were the better side until the penalty incident. That decision didn’t work in our favour, and we were genuinely disappointed with how we reacted; one goal quickly became two, and we didn’t defend well.”

“Going three-nil down effectively ended the contest, although I don’t believe the score truly represents the match. We were let down in critical moments, while they capitalised on theirs.”

“Once we began to assert ourselves, our quality shone through. We’ve had a tough campaign, but there’s plenty of pride in the way the boys have never given up, working hard and bringing great attitudes each day. I’m confident brighter days lie ahead for this club; that’s an absolute certainty. The DNA and culture here are genuinely strong, and while this season didn’t meet our hopes, I suspect few expected us to finish anywhere but last.”

Gary van Egmond (Western Sydney Wanderers):

“It was very frustrating. When things can go awry, they often do. We need to seize our opportunities when we’re dominant and unfortunately, we didn’t do enough of that tonight. We have to learn to manage the phases when the opposition creates chances, something we clearly failed to do.”

“A strong Western Sydney Wanderers is vital—not just for our fans but for the overall football landscape. I believe the club is progressing with the right choices, including a new football director. Strengthening the link between our academy and first-grade squad should occur in due course.”

“This region is the heart of Australian football, and I’ve relished every moment of being part of such a significant club. I apologise for not realising its potential, but sometimes you endure hardship before finding joy, and I hope we’ve endured enough to turn the corner.”

Arthur Diles (Melbourne Victory):

“It was crucial for us to secure a good result tonight to do our part. I’m pleased we achieved that, now the pressure shifts to others. While we ultimately fell short of our aspirations, reaching the finals isn’t a guarantee every year; many quality teams face similar challenges. Making it to another finals series is an exciting opportunity, and now the real fun begins.”

“Next week’s likely derby final is significant, and we need to prepare well for that occasion to advance in the competition.”

“I may not always show it, but I do feel excitement—albeit with a reminder that you can’t rest on past performances. There are always ups and downs, and overall, this has been a highly successful season. We’ve ticked that box, but now we must keep pushing forward.”

Adam Griffiths (Perth Glory):

“It was a game with plenty of back-and-forth action. While our play in the centre wasn’t up to par, we demonstrated our character, unity, and determination. We generated several good chances.”

“The two midfielders have been exceptional over the last eight matches, but they appeared to be running low on energy. Our confidence in controlling the game felt a bit off. What matters most, in my view, is our resolve during tougher moments, something this club has lacked for a while.”

“Of course, we aim for greater possession, but there have been numerous occasions at home where we’ve dominated with substantial possession without converting that into goals. I’ve seen significant progress in the last eight matches, where we’ve become a tougher side to beat. Moving forward, we need to attract players who share the same hunger and commitment to advance, and slowly but surely, the momentum will shift.”

Michael Valkanis (Brisbane Roar):

“As always, I believe we should have secured a win. We completely dominated the match, and any chances they had were our mistakes rather than their attacking prowess. We’ve dropped too many points and lost numerous games to exceptional goals this season.”

“This has been a particularly disappointing year. We’ve faced quite a bit of misfortune in matches where finishing could have secured three points for us. We must resolve that for next season, no question.”

“We were perhaps also victims of our own success earlier in the season. We raised expectations, and we’ve let our supporters down. Early on, we surprised the league with our strong performances, but being where we are currently is disheartening for our fans who invested hope in us. We know what we need to accomplish as a club to build on the momentum we established during those first ten games.”

Patrick Kisnorbo (Sydney FC):

“I’m disappointed with the outcome. I felt we controlled the match for the full 90 minutes but let ourselves down at two crucial moments. We must improve in those instances. We knew their strengths and need to regroup for next week’s challenge, regardless of our opponent.”

“Our defensive record has been commendable, but we have to learn from our mistakes and move on swiftly. That’s an area we need to sharpen up. I’m proud of the squad today, as that’s probably the best performance I’ve observed from them. We need to build on this and carry that momentum into next week. Previously, the club hasn’t been known for goal-scoring, and we’ve been working on that aspect with our current setup.”

Steve Corica (Auckland FC):

“I thought they were the superior side in the first half; we struggled to assert ourselves. They were sharp in pressing us. We had a much-improved second half, especially with Guillermo (May) stepping up and netting two goals, which was fantastic.”

“We performed well, and the changes we discussed at half-time were pivotal for turning things around post-break. It’s encouraging to see the character displayed by the players, especially in preparation for finals.

“Conceding first was particularly disappointing. A week off will benefit us given the injuries we’ve been managing. It’s a tough venue to visit, so overall, I’m satisfied with coming away with a point.”

Aurelio Vidmar (Melbourne City):

“The issues weren’t limited to the last two minutes; we had significant blunders throughout the match. We didn’t perform well collectively. We started poorly and spent much of the game on the back foot. We only had a brief period of control after about an hour, but the majority of the match was a struggle for us.”

“The altercation began when Barnett pushed Marcus’ (Younis) face into the ground. He should have received a second yellow card for that. We were naïve in that instance as well; execution in those final moments could have been better. One must always be alert during transitions, and that’s one of their strong suits.”

“Our ball control was below par, as we lost possession too often and were left chasing the game. Missing out on the chance to host an elimination final feels like a wasted opportunity. Historically, we’ve not performed well at Auckland in our last two visits, so we need to go there prepared to fight for every ball.”

Airton Andrioli (Adelaide United):

“That’s what makes football so captivating, isn’t it? It has its tough moments, but when occasions like this arise, they are indescribable. I’m incredibly pleased with not just the result but everything that transpired tonight. We took control of the game, and in the end, the best team emerged victorious.”

“It’s a fantastic feeling when you’ve spent so long working together—I’ve known many of these players since we were ten years old. We won an NPL championship together, and a majority of the squad that performed tonight was part of that. They continue to grow and improve with every match. I’m glad we have a week off to prepare because we do our best work when we have time to strategise.”

I want to thank everyone who doubted us; that gave us an extra boost. With less attention on us, we could surprise a few.