Central Coast Mariners defender Brian Kaltak gave an interview to remember after an inspiring performance in a comeback F3 Derby win over Newcastle Jets in Unite Round.
The club’s vice-captain, who has worn the armband in the absence of injured skipper Trent Sainsbury through the first five rounds of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season, was best afield in the Mariners’ 2-1 win over the Jets.
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The centre-back scored the equalising goal at Allianz Stadium, bravely heading home among a sea of bodies to bring his side back into the contest just two minutes after falling behind.
Buoyed by their matchday captain’s leveller, the reigning Isuzu UTE A-League Champions went on to take the lead and win the game 2-1, notching their first victory of the season after three draws and one defeat to begin the campaign.
Kaltak played 75 passes at 86% accuracy in the F3 Derby. He made 11 final third entries and five interceptions – including a crucial block on a cross destined for Eli Adams to deny the Jets midfielder a big chance to open the scoring in the first half.
After the 2-1 win, Kaltak joined Daniel McBreen, Phil Moss and host Scott Mackinnon on the Network 10 post-game show.
“What a performance,” Mackinnon began. “You’re scoring goals, you’re saving goals – what do you give yourself out of 10 tonight?”
“I would say 10 out of 10!” Kaltak replied with a smile.
“It’s a big game,” he added. “Leading up to it we knew we prepared really well. We stuck to the process, we knew that it would come, we just had to keep that consistency and we believed tonight in the changing room, it was a different atmosphere. You knew we were going to go out there and fight.
“Today you could see this fight everywhere, putting your body on the line to save us – and of course getting the three points, everyone (is) really happy about it.”
Playing alongside 21-year-old centre-back Nathan Paull, Kaltak is relishing his role mentoring the young defender – a job he’s performed valiantly throughout his time at the Mariners. In his first season at the club he helped Nectar Triantis develop into one of the best central defenders in the league; then it was Dan Hall who struck up a partnership with Kaltak in the club’s second-consecutive Championship in 2023-24.
“As a part of this club, I’m helping the young boys improve,” Kaltak said.
“I think that’s what a senior player should do. I’m proud of them, they’re stepping up every game.”
Friday night’s win over the Jets saw history repeat for the Mariners, who went winless through their first four games in 2023-24 before a drought-snapping F3 Derby win in Round 5.
Last season, that first win over the Jets was the spark for the Mariners’ incredible run to a top-of-the-table finish by the end of the regular season. They lost just two more games for the remainder of the campaign, on their way to securing both the Premiers Plate and the Championship title.
If head coach Mark Jackson is to repeat the feat in his second season in charge, he’ll be relying on Kaltak to continue to produce the type of performance he put in throughout Friday’s F3 Derby win.
Speaking to Network 10 post-game, Jackson highlighted the importance of Kaltak’s role at the club, and lauded the Vanuatu international for stepping into the captaincy role in Sainsbury’s absence.
“He’s really growing in that role,” Jackson said. “Trent got an injury and Brian was vice-captain, and he’s come in and had to take over that lead role quite early.
“He’s not the most vocal person, Brian, but what he does is he leads by example on the pitch. Every day the way he conducts himself, he’s a real example to these young lads – and the older lads as well.
“We’re very privileged to have him on our team, it was a standout performance form him and a really brave goal today he got as well. I’m delighted for him.”
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