Central Coast Mariners have announced young duo Bailey Brandtman and Nicholas Duarte have signed two-year scholarship extensions with the club.
Brandtman (20) and Duarte (21) are both graduates of the Mariners academy who first signed scholarships together in October 2023.
Despite injury difficulties in the last couple of years, the pair have gained experience in both the Isuzu UTE A-League and AFC competitions over the last two seasons. They are now fit and raring to in 2025-26 .
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Duarte made his professional debut in the 2022-23 season, before enjoying a breakout year in 2024-25 as he made 12 first-team appearances and scored his first goals for the club – away to Shanghai Port in the AFC Champions League Elite, and against Auckland FC in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
“I’m grateful to keep calling the Central Coast home. I want to achieve more great things with this group, and repay Mark Jackson, Matt Simon and the club for their trust in me.” Duarte said.
Brandtman, meanwhile, was handed his first appearance for the club by Jackson in January 2024.
His standout moments for the club so far came in the AFC Champions League Elite last season, as he found the back of the net against Vissel Kobe and Shanghai Shenhua.
“I’m very happy to have re-signed at the Mariners,” Brandtman said.
“There is a lot of potential in this team, and I can’t wait to play my part in achieving that over the next two years.”
After securing two promising young players to his squad for the 2025-26 season, head coach Mark Jackson added: “I’m really pleased that we have been able to secure two young prospects in Bailey and Nico.”
“I am looking forward to continuing to work with them and seeing their progress and development in the next two years.”
