Australian football: This Central Coast image could become iconic

A photo snapped at Central Coast Mariners’ end of season awards event on Monday night could become iconic for Australian football if two teenagers continue their current trajectories.

Mikael Doka and Taylor Ray scooped the major gongs at the 2024-25 Mariners Medal as the Central Coast reflected on a season of transition for their Isuzu UTE A-League side, while their Ninja A-League side are still in the hunt for a spot in this season’s Grand Final.

Head coaches Mark Jackson and Emily Husband rewarded Nathan Paull and Jessika Nash with their Coaches’ Player of the Year awards, while Alfie McCalmont and Sarah Langman picked up the respective Players’ Player accolades.

EVERY ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE SIDE’S END OF SEASON AWARD WINNERS
EVERY NINJA A-LEAGUE SIDE’S END OF SEASON AWARD WINNERS

However, when the glitzy evening is looked back on in years to come, the most memorable image may be the winners of the clubs’ Newcomer of the Year awards for this campaign.

Teen stars Haine Eames and Tiana Fuller took out the gongs; a deserved reward for their outstanding breakout seasons. At 17 and 16 years old respectively, neither was old enough to enjoy a drink on the night, but both are already making their mark at professional level.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Central Coast Mariners (@ccmariners)

This season, Eames has become the youngest debutant, starter and scorer in Mariners history.

He also became the youngest player ever to wear the captain’s armband in the AFC Champions League Elite in the closing stages of the club’s group stage clash against Kawasaki Frontale.

In total, Eames registered 20 appearances in his first Isuzu UTE A-League season, clocking up 1,094 minutes of action to go with two goals and two assists. In fact, only Alou Kuol, Arthur De Lima and Mariners Medallist Doka scored more goals for the club this term.

The midfielder only turned 17 in February.

Meanwhile, Fuller has been a revelation in the Ninja A-League, making 21 appearances. The teen goal machine has found the net six times in just 708 minutes of football, which comprised four starts.

Among players to score five or more goals, only Melbourne City’s Golden Boot winner and Matildas star Holly McNamara (59.5) boasted a better minutes per goal rate than Fuller (118).

At a club well known for producing young talent that go on to represent Australia – think Maty Ryan, Trent Sainsbury and Tom Rogic among many others – these two budding teens have broken records in 2024-25.

Past winners of the Mariners’ Newcomer of the Year Award include Nectar Triantis (Hibernian), Jacob Farrell (Portsmouth), Alou Kuol and Peta Trimis, who continues to be earmarked as a star of the future.

If Eames and Fuller continue on their current development trajectories, the image of the pair smiling and holding their awards from this night could soon become a collectors item.