Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au brings you all the biggest talking points from each round of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Read on for all the biggest talking points from Round 26, thanks to Mitre.
BUY TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE!
City coach’s ‘selfish’ advice for on-loan Socceroo
If Aurelio Vidmar has his way, loanee Marco Tilio will be at Melbourne City for another season.
Tilio is in the midst of his second loan spell with City from Scottish champions Celtic following his transfer from Casey Fields in 2023.
MATCH REPORT: Argentine ace delivers as City go second after edging five-goal thriller
The Socceroos attacker struggled for game time in Glasgow, prompting a temporary return to Melbourne initially for the second half of the 2023-24 campaign, before securing a season-long loan this term.
After an injury-interrupted start to 2024-25, Tilio has rediscovered his best form with four goals, including a goal in Friday night’s thrilling 3-2 win over Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park. He also has two assists to his name for second-placed City.
REACTION: Socceroo back to his brilliant best as coach’s half-time spray works wonders
Asked about Tilio’s future, City head coach Vidmar told reporters: “On a selfish point of view, I’d love to have him another year.
“What’s really important for him, we have to remember what he’s done over the last 15 or so months, he hasn’t played a hell of a lot of football.
“To get a big bunch of games. He’s played most of the year this season. If he can play another 30 next season, it will really put him in a better position.
“What I wouldn’t want is that if he goes back to Europe, whether he is at Celtic or loaned out somewhere else and it’s not the right club where he struggles to play or struggles to fit in, it will be another year lost for him.
“Again selfishly, have him another year – what he is doing now and be super, super consistent next year, with a few more Socceroo caps under his belt, that would be the way I see.
“But I’m not making those decisions. He talks with his agent and then maybe it’s all out of our hands and then Celtic just bring him back.
“We will see where it goes.”
Victory star ‘coming into his own’ amid red-hot run
Beware, there is plenty more to come from Melbourne Victory’s Socceroo Nishan Velupillay.
That is according to head coach Arthur Diles following Saturday’s 3-2 win away to Wellington Phoenix.
MATCH REPORT: Victory fend off Phoenix charge as brilliant blows exchanged in five-goal thriller
The 23-year-old’s opening goal made it six goals in his last six games for Victory and the Socceroos. He has also supplied three assists in that period.
Velupillay has now scored a career-high seven A-Leagues goals this season
“Nish is just coming into his own,” Diles said in his post-game press conference.
“Today I think was his 100th game for Melbourne Victory and it takes time for players to mature. He is still a relatively young man. It needs consistent seasons of football.
“Last season was probably his first consistent season where he started a lot of games. This season he has kicked on.
“He had a little bit of an injury early on in the season with the Socceroos when he came back injured. Maybe that halted his progress a little bit.
“Since then, he has recovered really well. He is just going from strength to strength. That is the player he is.
“His ceiling is much higher still, don’t worry about that. He has a lot of growth in him still.”
Diles added: “He is growing physically and he has grown mentally. He is maturing really well this season. That’s a part of his game that he has done a lot of work on to put him in the position he is currently in.”
‘My left foot is a sledgehammer’
“My left foot is a sledgehammer and I know if I pull that trigger, I back myself to score from anywhere,” the young gun told Network 10 post-match.
MATCH REPORT: Segecic-inspired Sydney chased down in thrilling Auckland surge as epic battle ends all square
Segecic was speaking after scoring twice in the draw against visiting Auckland at Allianz Stadium, where the joint-Golden Boot leader flourished in a rare start for the Sky Blues – who stayed a point inside the top six.
The 20-year-old scored twice inside the opening 32 minutes, including a thunderous 12th-minute opener to draw level with Adelaide United’s Archie Goodwin atop the goal charts.
Segecic has been a substitute in 11 of his 22 appearances this season. Yet, he still shares the Golden Boot lead with a goal every 90.3 minutes – a figure that blows his rivals out of the water.
‘HOW CAN YOU LEAVE HIM OUT?’ Latest instalment of ‘The Segecic Show’ reignites debate
“Sega has been great,” Sydney head coach Ufuk Talay said in his post-game press conference.
“He’s been consistent all season. Whether he has started or come off the bench, he’s definitely influenced the game.
“I think he’s having a great season. The spell going and getting game time overseas on loan has definitely helped him and his game. He’s come back with a lot more confidence.
“He has a good understanding with what we want from him. He is still young and he can only grow and get better as well.”
Stanton’s plea after history-making F3 Derby rout
Rob Stanton has urged Newcastle Jets to keep the squad together as he prepares to farewell McDonald Jones Stadium.
It has been confirmed that Jets head coach Stanton will leave the club at the conclusion of the campaign following two seasons in the Hunter region, where A-Leagues great Mark Milligan has been tipped to take over.
MATCH REPORT: Unstoppable Jets hit 10-man Mariners for SIX in historic victory
Newcastle equalled the biggest winning margin in the derby’s 20-year history.
Afterwards, Stanton issued a plea to the Jets, with Callum Timmins and Daniel Wilmering among 10 players out of contract at season’s end.
COACH’S APOLOGY: ‘Embarrassed’ boss’ message to fans and players following Mariners’ historic F3 Derby loss
“That [player retention] should have been done two or three months ago,” Stanton said.
“That is not my area at the moment. Once I knew what was happening with me, that is someone else’s job now.
“I started recruitment in my first year in round three. If that is not done now, they might be a little bit behind.
“Players are selfish. If a player is doing really well he might get an offer overseas. That would mean money for the club which could help bring further resources to the club.
“You want to see this group stay together and keep growing as a group. We will see.
“There will be other players come in and step up. There will be players come in and make a name for themselves. It is a good club to do that in.”
Outgoing Adelaide boss left stunned as drought continues
In the week Adelaide confirmed Veart will not continue as coach in 2025-26, the slumping Reds were comprehensively beaten by Perth at HBF Park, where Jaylan Pearman’s double ignited the Glory.
MATCH REPORT: Perth rip Reds apart in stunning upset inspired by 18yo gem as top-six race flipped on its head
Adelaide have lost four straight games, conceding 17 goals in the process to slip down to seventh in the table and a point outside the top six. In fact, Veart’s side are now eight matches without a win, dating back to February 7.
‘PRINCE OF PERTH’: Glory gun discusses imminent overseas move alongside fellow Aussie after fuelling shock rout
“It’s a hard one to explain our performance tonight,” Veart told reporters.
“It was well below our level.
“Yes, at times we looked okay with the ball, but our effort and intent when we turned the ball over was fairly non-existent for most of the night.”
He added: “You just have to look at the four goals we conceded. All were in transition. We gave the ball away and didn’t defend well enough as a unit.
“It’s sort of been our Achilles heel this year — we control games and then switch off and concede soft goals.”
Pressed on the news of his imminent departure and the impact it may have had on the team, Veart replied: “These things happen in football.
WONDERKID WATCH: Aussie great’s son who ‘can create a goal out of anything’ eyes A-Leagues call
“We want to make Finals and have some success — and to do that, you have to win games.
“Tonight we weren’t ourselves, and that’s something I have to fix. We’ve worked extremely hard to get into this position, and we have to keep fighting together.”
He continued: “This is my club. I’ve always wanted success for Adelaide United, and that won’t change. I’ll push the players hard for these last three games.
“We let our fans down, and we have to respond.”
Wanderers boss discusses ‘one of the recipes for success’ in Western Sydney
Alex Gersbach’s performance went beyond his goal; it highlighted the success of Western Sydney Wanderers and why they are in contention for a title this season.
MATCH REPORT: Red-hot Wanderers strike blow to rivals’ Premiership hopes as Socceroo scores landmark goal
“He was due. He was one of the few left in the squad who hadn’t score so lucky for him (smiling),” said head coach Alen Stajcic.
“But nah, he’s obviously a fantastic talent and that’s why we brought him to the club.
“He’s a good contributor to the team. Good for Gers to give him that little bit of confidence.”
The Socceroo has been forced to bide his time for regular football at fourth-placed Western Sydney since returning from Europe in January.
Of his seven appearances for the Wanderers, only two have been starts and they have come in the past two weeks against Auckland FC and Western United.
“They all have to fight for their spot,” Stajcic said. “Doesn’t matter who you are, what position you are or what your history is, everyone has to fight for their spot.
“When you’re in a winning team and winning momentum, there’s a lot of confidence and belief in the team.
“But at the same time, we have a squad of 20-22 players who are all fighting for spots. It makes it even tougher and even more competitive.
“That’s one of the recipes for success. Everyone has to fight for their game time, whether you have come from Europe or not, I don’t really care.
“The boys who are going onto the pitch are performing and trying to hold onto their shirt which is really important for us moving forward.”
