We already knew Jacob Farrell had an enormous future as a left-back, but could he be an even better centre-back?
Farrell slotted in brilliantly in the heart of defence, putting together an eye catching performance in the Central Coast Mariners’ 1-1 draw with Wellington Phoenix on Friday night.
With Nectar Triantis away on international duty, Farrell was surprisingly given the nod ahead of both Dan Hall and Cameron Windust in centre-back, playing alongside Brian Kaltak and coach Nick Montgomery’s decision to do so paid enormous dividends.
The highlight of his night came in the second-half when he made a potential goal-saving challenge on Oskar Zawada, while also showcasing his immense technical skills with his passing from the back throughout the evening.
The 20-year-old won plaudits from Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic, who believes Farrell’s outing reminded him of one of their former team-mates – Socceroos and Hearts centre-half Kye Rowles.
“I thought he was fantastic,” Vukovic told Paramount +.
I think he may have found his position. He’s a great left back but he’s great on the ball and he has all the attributes to be a great centre-half, much in the mould of Kye Rowles. He reminds me a lot of him.
“Very happy with how he played.”
Farrell had to shoulder much of the defensive load later in the game when his centre-back partner Kaltak was sent off, in both centre-back and left-back as he was shifted out wide late in the contest when both Hall and Windust were substituted on.
Ultimately, the Mariners defence weren’t able to hold on to the three points as Zawada’s late goal salvaged a point for the visitors – cancelling out James McGarry’s opener.
Pre-game, Montgomery shed some light on the decision, saying it wasn’t a foreign role for Farrell and felt it “balanced” their left-hand side with him playing alongside McGarry.
“Jacob is an outstanding player. He’s left footed, he played for me in NPL and NYL (National Youth League) a lot at left centre-back so it’s not unfamiliar to him or me,” he told Paramount +.
“Right now, with (James) McGarry coming in, it just gives us good balance on that left hand side. Brian (Kaltak) back in his familiar right hand side.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the back four tonight.”
Paramount + expert and former Matilda Grace Gill was also very impressed with his performance, believing he forged a great tandem on that left-hand side with McGarry.
“I thought the combination with him and McGarry worked really well on that left hand side,” Gill said.
“What Farrell has in his locker is a brilliant left foot and on a couple of occasions we saw these delightfully hit diagonal balls from the centre of the field and that just opened things up.
“I thought he was fantastic tonight.”
Farrell may be called upon again to start in centre-back when they take on Western Sydney Wanderers next week, with Kaltak facing suspension for his third red card of the season and Triantis still on international duty with the Young Socceroos.
