Fantasy #1
The Roar women are champions and so far are in the champion position this season as well. To be
accurate and fair, and to avoid being too hubristic, they have some serious competition this year
in Sydney, Melbourne and Central Coast. Yesterday I reckon they barely outplayed Melbourne at
Ballymore, but it couldn't be said that Melbourne didn't deserve their point (1:1).
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As I'm just a little flat-out again, here are some previews from the very talented staff at the
Central Coast Mariners and Canberra United to read while I get my own stuff happening. Well written
and interesting, thanks both Joseph (Mariners) and Chris (Canberra).
Washington to Central Coast – Golebiowski leading Mariners causeBy Joseph CarlucciThe dream of each Australian female footballer is to play at the highest level and represent the
Matildas at a World Cup, and for the lucky few that get the chance to don the Green and Gold, the
feeling is immense.
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So I flagged it months ago on here and it seems like Katie Gill is finally back in the country and
set to play for Perth Glory this weekend. Well according to the FFA snapshot they sent out
yesterday, which suggests she will be a prime candidate to score the leagues 200th goal when it
goes off this weekend.
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SoccerLens 08 November @ 05:59 AM EST
In this week's Match of the round, we travel to Etihad Stadium, where Melbourne lost both a
match, and their epic pride, going down 4-0 in front of 18,000 fans. A quiet first half and start
of the second was ignited by a rampant Central Coast side.
Ernie Merrick left his side unchanged for his side's clash with Central Coast, the standout
being Carlos Hernandez, who is in blistering form for the Victory.
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So we're halfway through the season now and I think the teams that will challenge for the title,
Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners, have separated themselves from the
pack.
I still think that Brisbane are the team to beat (can anyone say depth? they have it in spades),
but there are also a few variables that I think may just come into it.
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Brown's in the box dive for a penalty should lead to a suspension - despite the spot kick being
missed. Referee Ben Williams should be ashamed of himself the number of times he has waved on
legitimate penalties from the Roar, and give this one.
What has become obvious is the home ground advantage for Wellington.
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I have a huge amount of respect for Frank Lowry. Five years ago Frank was the driving force behind
the rebirth of football in this country. The creation of the A-league, the move to Asia and the
recruitment of Guus Hiddink all contributed to a resurgence of the game here in Australia.
However I do wonder if Frank understands that all of this new found love for the game may evaporate
if a few missteps are made.
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SO Perth Glory are about a day away from taking on Fowler's Fury. With the jam-packed nature of the
league, it's a game they really need to win - just to keep them up there.
FP knows it's very premature, but just to prove a point this is what the first week of the finals
would look like if the regular season had already ended.
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If anyone can remember a better Sydney FC performance than last night's at Etihad Stadium, I'd be
interested to hear about it. Put simply, it was a game where it all came together for the team in
sky blue. Against their eternal rivals, no less!
The midfield functioned superbly well, passing neatly and crisply, and providing plenty of support
both to both the attack and the defence.
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In his second match for the North Queensland Fury, Robbie Fowler showed that even in the twilight
of his career, he has not lost a single bit of his agility when it really mattered. What was truly
amazing about this ninja kick was that it went unpunished. I checked officially and Fowler did not
even get a yellow card.
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Although Sydney FC thoroughly deserved their victory over the Central Coast Mariners this
afternoon, the entire press box was in agreement that the man of the match played on the losing
side. As the
SMH's Sebastian Hassett justly observed, "about the seven next-best" were
clad in sky blue, but the star of the day was Michael McGlinchey.
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SoccerLens 22 September @ 02:47 AM EST
 A large number of good results this round, including an interesting match in Brisbane, with
two disappointing defensive errors gifting a win to a deserving Perth Glory. Central Coast won the
first ever Battle of the Coasts, in magnificent fashion. Sydney FC won by a narrow margin, but that
seems to be a trend for the Sky Blues.
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SoccerLens 17 September @ 05:15 PM EST
Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory
Hindmarsh Stadium
What will be a very tough encounter, on the basis of revenge. Adelaide losing in the finals of
last season hurt, and will be out to challenge for the title this year. Adelaide so far have been
underperforming, but only just however their performances are deserving of a better placing.
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SoccerLens 17 September @ 04:16 PM EST
Adelaide United 1-0 Central Coast Mariners
Hindmarsh Stadium, 10,262
Adelaide finally won a match, their first since round 1, and in great style in front of ten
thousand fans at Hindmarsh Stadium. Travis Dodd was back from injury, making some quick zippy runs
in the midfield.
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The FFA's expansion plans are looking ever more messy, and the quite justified grumbles from the
nation's capital are becoming louder. It is quite clear by now that the bidding process was an
elaborate charade.
Although the "boycott" mooted in the opening paragraph of this piece would be a petty and
counter-productive reaction, Ben Buckley's comments about the turnout at the Central Coast v.
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by Usman Azad, Football Perth Editor
Morning y'all. Hopefully this finds you well. As some may have noticed, FP has deliberately stayed
away from posting for a couple of days after that tragic loss to the Central Coast Mariners on
Friday.
He could have throw something, choked someone or kicked anything after that game.
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by Usman Azad, Football Perth Editor
Central Coast 2 (Wilkinson 42, Simon 89)
Perth Glory 1 (Sterjovski 82)
Crowd: 5193
A HARROWING mistake from young goalkeeper Tando Velaphi has resulted in another loss away from home
for Perth Glory in the A-League this season.
Both teams were level on the scoreboard late in the game, when Velaphi misjudged the bounce of a
long ball into the penalty box, slipped over and watched helplessly as Central Coast Mariners
striker Dylan Macallister squared the ball for an easy tap-in for Matt Simon.
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by Usman Azad, Football Perth Editor
WELL, FP is back for another day - after spending a few hours yesterday with his cousin trawling
through Perth like a couple of wizened tourists.
Though FP was playing the role of the embarrassed tour guide, his cousin was genuinely fascinated
by the city.
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Last year Brisbane Roar played Central Coast Mariners in a Round 3 match that attracted 12,185
people along. This year their round 4 fixture against Central Coast could only manage 6,433. The
low crowds in Brisbane have been focus of media attention over the last two weeks and much
conjecture about the reasons behind this.
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by Usman Azad, Football Perth Editor
THERE seems to be a quiet lull on the western front, a bit curious considering the Glory face
Central Coast on Friday night - just a couple of days away.
But getting straight into the scraps of the Glory barrel today - the first bit of news comes from
the good folk at AAP.
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Round Three saw the top six in the A-League now decided.
Yes I know we've got a few weeks to go but it looks sorted to me.
Well is Branko really going to sort that talented mob out, will Frankie survive the season, and
Perth despite their win are too slow in the forward line to threaten aren't they, unless they can
nick an improved Wellington's place, which leaves the Fury.
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Sodium 15 August @ 07:34 PM EST
In an act of kindness that exhibits just how great these young ladies are, our own Erika Cook took
it upon herself to help out those in need. Erika involved herself in program called Passback that
helps out sports teams in need. (Equipment mainly)
Below is a copy of an email sent to Doug Angell (THUSC President) as an update;
Doug. Click to continue reading...
Gold Coast United has lifted the bar for domestic football in Australia.
Jason Culina, Joel Porter, Shane Smeltz, Robson, Bas Van Den Brink all lit up the Brisbane night
with intelligent, skilful football. 3-1 to United. Great for the A-League, great for football fans
everywhere.
Joel Porter particularly caught my eye.
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We're only an hour or so away from the first match of A-League ver. 5 and already it's promising to
be a cracker of a year!
Two new teams in Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury, new and "unique" kit designs, a host
of new faces from local and abroad, ex-socceroos and marquee talent the likes of Robbie Fowler,
Jason Culina, Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne, Jacob Burns etc.
Click to continue reading...
We're only an hour or so away from the first match of A-League ver. 5 and already it's promising to
be a cracker of a year!
Two new teams in Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury, new and "unique" kit designs, a host
of new faces from local and abroad, ex-socceroos and marquee talent the likes of Robbie Fowler,
Jason Culina, Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne, Jacob Burns etc.
Click to continue reading...
Ok, here is my season preview for what it is worth.
In this first part of three, I take a look at what I tip will be the bottom four teams.
10th – Central Coast MarinersIt seems every year pundits across Australia write Central Coast off and most years they keep
proving them wrong.
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Lyall Gorman, Mariners Chairman said,
"It also gives the A-League for Canberra bid supporters the perfect chance to get
behind the game, and further strengthen our support of a truly national competition, with the
imminent announcement of the Hyundai A-League's successful 12th franchise.
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The A-League has picked up a notch. No doubt about it. Some teams will forge ahead. For the first
time perhaps, others will not.
Sydney FC are starting to look the business. We wouldn't expect less from Melbourne. Brisbane have
kept a solid crew together. Newcastle, Central Coast, Wellington, Perth?
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With just over a month until the start of the new season I thought it about time I resume this
blog. I lot has happened in the last couple of months but there are few items I want to mention
specifically.
Firstly, congratulations to the Socceroos on qualification to their second world cup in a row (only
our third in total).
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ACT Association for Advancing Disabled Sport and Recreation Inc
Invites you to be entertained by:
Guest Speaker
Lawrie McKinna
Manager – A League Champions - Central Coast Mariners
Master of Ceremonies
Tim Gavel
ABC Celebrity Sportscaster
More details below.
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In recent years, Turkish Superleague teams have signed numerous players from Australia. Especially,
Genclerbirligi (located in the country's capital Ankara) has signed threes Australian youngsters,
who have been doing quite well in the league: Bruce Djite (from Adelaide United, James Troisi
(Newcastle United), and Mile Jedinak (Central Coast Mariners).
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Dirty Tackle beat us to this by about three days, but it's too good not to post. It's from the May
19th Asian Champions League game between China's Tianjin Teda and Australia's Central Coast
Mariners. Very nice PDF match report here (maybe the future really is Asia?) Tianjin are 1-0 up and
CCM have a corner [.
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It is great to see young players making their way to their local A-League club. However, Brisbane
Roar has a wealth of strikers and you have to be pretty good to score in the A-League these
days.
I keep an eye on the off-season Queensland State League to see if any gems are being thrown up.
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