Central Coast Mariners captain Trent Sainsbury said the club’s crop of talented youngsters are ready to shine in the Isuzu UTE A-League after what was a brutal introduction to professional life last season.
Having swept all before them in season 2023-24 with an unprecedented Premiership, Championship and AFC Cup treble, Mark Jackson’s Mariners then plummeted back down to earth last term.
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The departures of key players Josh Nisbet, Max Ballard, Dan Hall and Jacob Farrell plus former club captain Danny Vukovic’s decision to retire ahead of the 2024-25 campaign severely hampered Jackson’s side going into a season where they also had to juggle AFC Champions League Elite duties.
Ultimately, the defending champions finished the season in 10th place whilst also securing just a solitary point from their league-stage matches.
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However, the underlying positive from last season was the fact that so many of the club’s young talents were exposed to the highs, lows and demands of first-team football.
Among those to have played their part were now 17-year-old midfielder Haine Eames – who aged just 16 became the Mariners’ youngest ever player, starter and goalscorer, while fellow young talents Bailey Brandtman, Arthur De Lima and Dylan Peraic-Cullen all featured regularly for the Mariners.
“I think last year was kind of like they’re all new to the scene type thing, and they got chucked in with the sharks, and now they know what to expect,” said Sainsbury when he spoke with aleagues.com.au.
“There’s not gonna be any surprises, really, for them (this year). Everything that could be chucked in last year was chucked in; the travel, the fatigue of games, the competitions, everything you could think of, plus injuries, and they all got their opportunities.
“Now this year we’ve only got the Isuzu UTE A-League to focus on and the squad is set. There are no more excuses. So I think the boys are in a rock-steady position, more so than they were last year.”
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There’s been plenty of comings and goings at polytec Stadium throughout the course of the Isuzu UTE A-League off-season with several high-profile names opting to move on from the Central Coast.
Chief among them is fan favourite Brian Kaltak, who has flown west to join Perth Glory on a multi-year deal, while creative Brazilian playmaker Mikael Doka also left to join Japanese side Ventforet Kofu on a season-long loan deal.
Central Coast have moved to bring in some experienced heads with the signings of Sydney FC legend Andrew Redmayne and ex-Western United defender James Donachie, however the plan for season 2025-26 looks to be centred around the club’s crop of young talent.
“I kind of think we see it as us against the world type scenario at the moment, because it feels like the club’s trying to pick itself up,” Sainsbury said.
“After the success that they had for the treble-winning season and the season before that, and then obviously everything that could go wrong last season went wrong.
“So the only thing that the boys can focus on is what’s in front of them and on the pitch, and I think Jacko has taken the approach of ‘the fittest will survive’ – and it’s been a hell of a pre-season.
“The boys are going to be stronger for it, though.”
Sainsbury will be forced to cheer on his side from the stands at the beginning of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 campaign as the Socceroo continues to recover from an Achilles rupture picked up towards the end of last season.
“It’s coming along,” said the Mariners skipper when asked about his injury. “The boys that I have spoken to in the past that have had injuries similar to this or the exact same always said to me, it’s gonna be ups and downs.
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“For two weeks, you feel like you’re flying and then you’ve got a little something that comes up and then you need your rest week. Then you’re back flying for two weeks and it’s actually been like that for me.
“Everyone keeps asking when you’re going to be back and stuff, and I always give the same answer. I’ve just taken it literally one day at a time, because this injury could flare up one day to the next.
“So it’s actually been a slow grind, but positive signs are I’m ahead of where I should be, so that’s always nice.”
Unfortunately for the seasoned defender he did have a slight setback, which means it will be a little while yet before fans get to see him back on the field.
“So I started running, and then the flare-up happened, and then (I had) a few tests and all that sort of stuff. So then it’s like ‘hopefully back next week’ (running) and start trying again,” he added.
“You just keep developing but then it’s two steps forward, one step back, that sort of thing. Hopefully I’ll get to a stage when everything’s gravy, and then I can really push and try and come back as quickly as possible.”
The Mariners kick off their Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 campaign on Sunday, October 19, with a home F3 Derby clash against Newcastle Jets.
