Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au brings you the key highlights from each round of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Continue reading for the significant talking points from Round 26, brought to you by Mitre.
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City coach shares ‘selfish’ hopes for on-loan Socceroo
Aurelio Vidmar hopes to see Marco Tilio remain at Melbourne City for another season on loan.
Tilio is currently in his second loan period with City from Scottish champions Celtic after joining from Casey Fields in 2023.
MATCH REPORT: Argentine sensation shines as City secures second place in five-goal thriller
The Socceroos forward found it challenging to get game time in Glasgow, leading to his temporary return to Melbourne for the latter half of the 2023-24 season before establishing a season-long loan this term.
After a start to the 2024-25 season marred by injuries, Tilio has found his rhythm once more, scoring four goals, including one in Friday night’s exhilarating 3-2 victory over Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park, and he has also provided two assists for second-placed City.
REACTION: Socceroo shines again as coach’s half-time pep talk pays off
When asked about Tilio’s future, City head coach Vidmar stated: “Selfishly, I’d love to see him stay for another year.
“It’s essential to remember what he’s accomplished over the past 15 months; he hasn’t had much playing time.”
“He needs a significant number of matches. Playing most of this season will put him in a much better position if he can play another 30 games next year.”
“What I wouldn’t want to see is him returning to Europe, whether with Celtic or on loan elsewhere, to a club where he struggles to play or fit in. That would mean another year lost for him.”
“Again, selfishly, having him for another year to be consistently awesome, alongside earning a few more Socceroo caps, seems ideal from my perspective.”
“However, I’m not the one making those decisions. He has discussions with his agent, and ultimately it may be up to Celtic to decide.”
“We will see what unfolds.”
Victory player ‘hitting strides’ during impressive form
Melbourne Victory’s Socceroo Nishan Velupillay still has more to show, according to head coach Arthur Diles after their 3-2 victory over Wellington Phoenix on Saturday.
With Nikos Vergos scoring a stunning solo goal, Victory triumphed over the Phoenix again in their semi-final rematch as Velupillay continued his excellent form for both club and country.
MATCH REPORT: Victory holds off Phoenix in a thrilling five-goal contest
The 23-year-old’s first goal marked six goals in the last six matches for both Victory and the Socceroos, and he’s also contributed three assists during that time.
Velupillay has now notched a career-high seven goals in the A-League this season.
“Nish is really coming into his own,” Diles remarked during his post-match press briefing.
“Today marked his 100th game for Melbourne Victory, and players take time to mature. He’s still relatively young, and consistent playing time is essential.”
“Last season was perhaps his first consistent run, starting many games. This season, he’s taken his chance. There was a small injury setback with the Socceroos earlier this season, which may have slowed his progress a bit.
“But since then, he has bounced back and is getting stronger. That’s just who he is.”
“He still has a lot of room to grow; his potential is significant.”
Diles added: “He’s improving physically and mentally. He has matured greatly this season, having worked hard on that aspect of his game to reach his current position.”
Adrian Segecic had something to say following his outstanding display in Sydney FC’s 2-2 draw against league leaders Auckland FC on Saturday.
“My left foot is a sledgehammer, and I have confidence in my ability to score from anywhere,” the young standout said to Network 10 after the match.
MATCH REPORT: Inspired Segecic sparks Sydney charge in epic duel against Auckland as the clash ends evenly
Segecic expressed these thoughts after netting two goals in the draw against Auckland at Allianz Stadium, where he excelled in a rare start for the Sky Blues, who remain a point within the finals positions.
The 20-year-old struck twice within the first 32 minutes, including a stunning opener in the 12th minute, to level up with Adelaide United’s Archie Goodwin at the top of the goal charts.
Despite being a substitute in 11 of his 22 appearances this season, Segecic leads the Golden Boot race with a goal every 90.3 minutes, a statistic that far surpasses his challengers.
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“Sega has been fantastic,” said Sydney head coach Ufuk Talay during his post-game chat.
“He has been consistently brilliant all season. Whether starting or coming off the bench, he has made a significant impact on the game.”
“I believe he is enjoying an excellent season. His loan spell overseas has definitely aided his development. He’s returned with much more confidence.”
“He understands what we expect from him. At just 20, he has plenty of room for growth and improvement.”
Stanton’s appeal after record-setting F3 Derby victory
Rob Stanton has called on Newcastle Jets to maintain squad unity as he prepares to leave McDonald Jones Stadium.
It has been confirmed that Stanton will step down as head coach at the end of the season, after two years with the Jets, with A-League legend Mark Milligan likely to take over.
MATCH REPORT: Dominant Jets dismantle 10-man Mariners with a historic 6-0 win
The Jets are still mathematically in contention for the Finals Series following Saturday’s memorable 6-0 F3 Derby victory over Central Coast Mariners.
Newcastle matched the largest winning margin in the 20-year history of the derby.
Following the match, Stanton made an urgent appeal to the Jets, with ten players, including Callum Timmins and Daniel Wilmering, out of contract at season’s end.
COACH’S APOLOGY: ‘Embarrassed’ boss sends message to fans and players after Mariners’ historical F3 Derby defeat
“Player retention should have been finalised two or three months ago,” Stanton remarked.
“That isn’t my focus at the moment. Once I was informed of my situation, it became someone else’s responsibility.”
“I began recruitment in my first year in the third round. If that hasn’t already been done, they may be a step behind.”
“Players tend to look out for themselves. If someone excels, they might receive overseas offers which could be beneficial for the club financially, allowing resources to enhance the team.”
“It would be ideal to see this group remain together and continue developing as a unit. We will see what happens.”
“Other players will step up and establish themselves, which is a great opportunity at this club.”
Departing Adelaide coach in shock as losing streak persists
Adelaide United head coach Carl Veart was at a loss following a 4-1 defeat to struggling Perth Glory on Saturday night.
Just days after it was confirmed Veart would not continue as coach in the 2025-26 season, the Reds faced a comprehensive loss to Perth at HBF Park, where Jaylan Pearman’s brace propelled the Glory.
MATCH REPORT: Glory dismantles Reds in stunning upset driven by an 18-year-old talent as the top six race gets shaken up
Adelaide has now dropped four successive matches, conceding 17 goals, and finds itself in seventh place, just outside the top six. In fact, they have gone eight games without a win, the last victory being on February 7.
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“It’s challenging to explain our performance tonight,” Veart told reporters.
“It was significantly below our standard.”
“At times we appeared competent with the ball, but our effort and intention when we lost possession were almost non-existent throughout the night.”
He added: “You only need to look at the four goals we conceded. All arose during transitions. We lost possession and didn’t defend as a team effectively.”
“That’s become our Achilles heel this season — we control matches but then switch off and concede easily.”
When queried about the news of his impending exit and its effect on the team, Veart responded: “Such occurrences are part of football.”
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“We aim to make the finals and achieve success — which requires winning matches.”
“Tonight we weren’t ourselves, and that’s an issue I must address. We’ve invested considerable effort to reach this position, and it’s crucial that we keep pushing together.”
He continued: “This is my club. I’ve always aimed for Adelaide United’s success, and that won’t change. I will push the players hard for these final three games.
“We’ve let our fans down, and it’s time to make amends.”
Wanderers coach explains ‘one of the keys to success’ in Western Sydney
Alex Gersbach’s performance during the match extended beyond just his goal; it underscored the Western Sydney Wanderers’ success and their contention for the title this season.
Gersbach netted his first A-Leagues goal as the impressive Wanderers defeated Western United 2-0 at CommBank Stadium on Sunday, extending their unbeaten run to nine games — the club’s best streak in a decade.
MATCH REPORT: The resurgent Wanderers hamper rivals’ premiership aspirations as Socceroo celebrates a landmark goal
“He was overdue for a goal. He was one of the few remaining in the squad yet to score, so it’s a relief for him,” smiled head coach Alen Stajcic.
“But really, he’s a fantastic talent, which is why we brought him to the club.”
“He’s a great asset to the team, so it’s good for him to gain that extra boost of confidence.”
The Socceroo has needed to be patient for consistent playing time at fourth-placed Western Sydney since his return from Europe in January.
Out of his seven appearances for the Wanderers, only two have been starts, both occurring in the last two weeks against Auckland FC and Western United.
“All players must battle for their positions,” Stajcic said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, what position you play, or your history; everyone must compete for their spot.
“When in a winning team with momentum, confidence and belief soar, but we also have a squad of 20-22 players all fighting for their place. This makes it even more competitive.”
“That’s one of the secrets to our success. Every player has to challenge for their time on the pitch, whether they’ve come from Europe or anywhere else — it doesn’t concern me. The players performing on the field are striving to retain their positions, which is crucial for our progress.”
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