No club, since the inception of the A League in 2005, has developed as many Socceroos as the Mariners.

The question has to be: why?

The Mariners have always been the smallest club with the lowest budget, yet they’ve achieved results way beyond what ought to be expected. They’ve won three premierships, two grand finals and one AFC Cup. They’ve appeared in five out of eighteen grand finals with a chance to make a sixth next week

In a salary capped league, where the rich clubs who can afford marquee wages have a massive advantage, the Mariners’ level of success is extraordinary.

I’ve written before about their incredible community connection and development model, but what is it in the water up at Gosford that turns academy players into internationals?

Over the years there have been: Mat Ryan, Bernie Ibini, James Holland, Dean Heffernan, Trent Sainsbury, Michael Beauchamp, Alex Wilkinson, Matt Simon, Ollie Bozanic, Musti Amini, Tom Rogic, Mile Jedinak, Danny Vukovic, Ruon Tongyik, Kye Rowles, Lewis Miller (kinda), Sammy Silvera, Garang Kuol and most recently – Josh Nisbet.

There are a few you could argue were Mariners players (like Gianni Stensness and Nick Mrdja when first picked) but I’m more focussed on players developed by the Mariners. I’ve probably forgotten a couple, but there will be more.

I’d suggest next off the Mariners-Socceroos production line will be Jacob Farrell and Max Balard. Balard has already signed for a Portuguese team for next season and Farrell is likely to be on any number of Euro recruitment lists (by all accounts).

There is nothing more certain (including death and taxes) – Jacob Farrell and Jordy Bos will be fighting out the Socceroos left back position over the next few years.

Farrell has emerged as a genuine leader this season and has added excellent strategy to his natural defensive and attacking abilities. Bos can play further forward so it wouldn’t surprise to see them both feature on the left for the Socceroos.

Max Balard is a box-to-box midfielder in the Jackson Irvine/Aaron Mooy mould. He’s started to add goals to his game but is an extremely effective ball winner and distributor. He can also hold possession and run with the ball which is something the NT will always need.

Which brings us back to the original question: why?

You can’t put it down to any one system or individual because the coaches have changed constantly. Lawrie McKinna and Arnie certainly produced their share of Socceroos and then there was a gap until Alen Stajcic took over, followed by Nick Montgomery and Mark Jackson, under whom the pathway has continued.

Clearly the Mariners are very good at identifying young talent and their academy is number one in Australia (and number 17 in the world) for developing academy players for the first team. They now attract the best talent for the academy which gives them an advantage.

But that doesn’t explain the pre-Staj Socceroos.

Which is most of them.

It was players signed by Lawrie and Arnie who make up most of the Mariners/Socceroos alumni.

I don’t have the answers but I am asking the question… how did this happen when the Mariners were the team, back in those days, least able to give decent wages or facilities to professional players. (They didn’t even have a dedicated training venue in Lawrie’s day.)

Could it be something about the opportunity the Mariners provide to really hungry players who’ve not been given a chance elsewhere?

Could it be the quality of coaching? (Occasionally)

The Little Club That Can continues to kick goals both domestically and internationally and all Australian fans benefit from their success.

 

Adrian's books can be purchased at any good bookstore or through ebook alchemy. His first sci-fi novel (Asparagus Grass) was published by Hague Publishing in July 2023. The ebook can be purchased here and the paperback can be ordered here or at your local store.