From wooden spooners to Semi-Finalists in one year, Adelaide United’s remarkable turnaround has been one of the stories of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League campaign.
The Reds finished dead last with 15 points from 22 games last season but instead of making a knee-jerk reaction to the grim reality of a wooden-spoon finish, the club backed in head coach Adrian Stenta to turn the ship around.
The result of Adelaide putting their faith in Stenta has been quite astounding.
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Adelaide accrued 45 points in 2024-25, to secure a second-place finish and a spot in the Elimination Finals.
The Reds beat Western United on Sunday afternoon to progress to a two-legged Semi-Final against Melbourne Victory – the club’s first-ever Finals Series win ensured the fairytale journey would continue for at least two more games as Stenta’s side prepare to battle their Original Rivals, Victory for a place in the 2025 Grand Final.
In the aftermath of Adelaide’s Elimination Final triumph over Western United, A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzeri and Sydney FC legend Teresa Polias joined host Amy Duggan on this week’s episode of Dub Zone, where they praised both the club and Stenta for breaking a 17-year Finals Series hoodoo to reach the Semi-Finals.
“Important for Adelaide to get over that hump,” Pellizzeri said. “I mean, 17 years is a long time to be in this competition with a reputation for never having won in the finals. And now, I think they can cast off doubts, they can cast off the history, and they can write their own.
“It must be so exciting to be part of that Adelaide spirit.”
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“Yeah, and against the team who knocked them out in their last finals run,” replied Polias. “lots of play for they’ll be absolutely pumped for it, and hopefully the crowd come back in numbers.
“I think Adrian Stenta spoke about the team-first culture and attitude – they’ve shown that all season.
“His recruitment was spot on, and I think a lot of coaches will look at what he’s done and who he’s brought in, and try and emulate that in their own way next season. He’s just got the balance perfect.”
Stenta’s off-season recruitment was indeed pivotal to Adelaide’s transformation from cellar dwellers to title contenders.
Kiwis Hannah Blake and Rosetta Taylor left the club – as did American duo Jenna Holtz and Mariah Lee, and Dutch defender Maruschka Waldus.
In the place of Adelaide’s former foreign imports came American forward Erin Healy, Dominican Republic international Lucía León and Englishwoman Fiona Worts, who returned to the Reds after a one-year stint at Sydney FC.
All three players have been pivotal to Adelaide’s success this season on the road to the Semi-Finals.
“They got their foreigners wrong last season,” Pellizzeri said. “They brought on players who weren’t good enough for the Ninja A-League and they brought in ones who are significantly better this season, and they had to cut their losses and move on from the players that weren’t good enough, and replaced them with better ones – and credit to them.”
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Equally important to Adelaide’s resurgence, however, was the return of Australian international Matilda McNamara. The South Australian centre-back played 33 games for Adelaide between 2015 and 2022 but returned for a third stint at her hometown club on a one-year deal.
Alongside Young Matilda Ella Tonkin at the back, and in front of emerging New Zealand goalkeeper Claudia Jenkins, the trio have been the bedrock of Adelaide’s squad in 2024-25.
After Sunday’s Elimination Final win over Western United – a 1-0 result decided by McNamara’s towering first-half header – Stenta backed Jenkins, Tonkin and McNamara to contend for CommBank Matildas call-ups after respectively brilliant seasons in Red.
“We know how good Claudia, Ella and Matilda have been all year,” Stenta said. “Especially Matilda and Ella – I think national team selectors should take note because they’re fantastic players, and deserve an opportunity at some point.”
The Dub Zone panel reinforced Stenta’s push for his core defensive duo to receive international recognition.
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“The last time we had and U23s squad, Ella Tonkin started all three games. So to be fair, she is on the national team radar – it’s just the U23s haven’t played in almost a year,” Pellizzeri said.
“McNamara’s a little bit older; she’s 26 now and got that one cap when she was playing overseas in Denmark, and has been in the mix, in that Chinese Taipei extended squad. Do you think we see her for the Argentina series (in June)?
“Because she has had a good season, but she is now in the prime years of her career – it’s kind of now or never, given she’s already tried overseas once and come back. You know if she’s going to kick on again, there’s going to be pressure to go back overseas and try it a separate time.”
“Teresa: “I’ve always said I don’t think age is a factor,” Polias replied. “If you’re considering all the players in form and at their best. She is definitely one of those and should be considered.
“She was fantastic in the game (against Western United). She blocked so many shots, and copped so much.
“She’s an absolute warrior out there.”
Adelaide will host the first leg of their Semi-Final clash with Melbourne Victory at Coopers Stadium on Sunday, May 4 at 2pm AEST.
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