Melbourne City’s Men’s team hits the road one last time in 2024, travelling to the Central Coast to face the Mariners on Tuesday night.
After a bye over the weekend, it’s been 10 days since we were last in action, sharing the points with Melbourne Victory in the Christmas Derby.
Here are the key storylines ahead of our New Year’s Eve clash.
FINISHING 2024 IN STYLE
Our City boys have had a solid start to the 2024/25 season, earning 14 points (4W, 2D, 2L) from the first eight games.
While there’s room for improvement, plenty of positives have emerged. New signings Yonatan Cohen, Andreas Kuen, and Kai Trewin have adapted seamlessly to life in City blue, while younger players like Patrick Beach, Medin Memeti, Zane Schreiber, and Harry Politidis have shown great promise.
Defensively, the backline led by Aziz Behich has been a consistent strength.
Tuesday’s fixture presents one final challenge for the year—a trip to face Central Coast Mariners. It’s been a tricky matchup for us in recent years, with the Mariners winning the last two encounters 2-1. We’re also yet to claim all three points at Industree Group Stadium since January 2022.
Winless in their last three games (2L, 1D), the Mariners will be eager to bounce back, ensuring a fiery contest on New Year’s Eve.
MAINTAINING OUR AWAY RECORD
One of the standout aspects of the season so far has been our performances on the road.
We’ve won every interstate fixture, securing victories against Newcastle, Perth, and Brisbane. Additionally, our two ‘away’ games at AAMI Park have yielded a win and a draw.
It’s an impressive record that Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar will look to extend on Tuesday night.
With two midweek games ahead in quick succession, the clash with the Mariners offers a big opportunity to collect three points, especially given our games in hand compared to teams above us on the table.
REBUILDING MOMENTUM
The 10-day break since the Christmas Derby allowed the squad to recharge over the holiday period. Rest assured, the team will be eager and ready to hit the ground running.
Tuesday’s game will be crucial for rebuilding momentum before a busy January schedule that features three home games in just eight days.
This presents a prime opportunity to start 2025 on a high as we get set to welcome Wellington Phoenix, Western United and Brisbane Roar to AAMI Park following Tuesday’s New Year’s Eve clash.
FIXTURE DETAILS
A-League Men: Round 11
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne City FC
Tuesday 31 December, 7:00pm KO
Industree Group Stadium
