2020-21: 42 points, 35 goals
2021-22: 42 points, 49 goals
If Alen Stajcic’s heroics with Central Coast Mariners last season was heralded as one of the great Isuzu UTE A-League seasons, what does that make Nick Montgomery’s effort in his maiden season as a first team boss?
Stajcic’s side finished third, and Montgomery’s men have finished fifth.
But when you consider the loss of Alou Kuol overseas, and stalwart Matt Simon to injury, Central Coast’s late season surge to the finals is extraordinary.
In the space of five games in February, Macarthur, Perth, Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United all stole points off the Mariners in the 90th minute or beyond, while Melbourne City scored a 74th minute winner in a controversy riddled 3-2 win.
The third youngest side in the competition, packed with players stepping up from the club’s academy, could have collapsed at that point.
It is no coincidence that they didn’t, or that the youngsters have flourished, or that that youthful exuberance has translated to a more potent attacking machine.
“When Monty first came in he said: I want to score goals,” midfielder Josh Nisbet explained to KEEPUP.
“He put a bigger expectation and objective to score goals.
“The 14 goals extra this season proves that and the success he has had, but when you have players up front scoring their chances it always helps.”
Nisbet is referring, of course, to the likes of Jason Cummings, Marco Urena and Moresche, some of the experienced names that off-set the youthful brilliance elsewhere in the XI.
“We’ve had good signings; the mixture between youth, foreign and older boys is perfect,” he reflected.
“Also the personalities. Everyone’s enjoying each other’s company; everyone is getting along and when that happens, you usually perform better on the field.”
Since January, that’s included the infectious personality of Jason Cummings.
“When we got told he was coming in, the description was a colourful character!
“We were expecting a good bloke, someone funny and he has delivered … and he also produces on the pitch.”
Cummings will be key to the side’s finals prospects in Sunday’s Elimination Final in Adelaide, where, once again, Central Coast are out to prove people wrong.
“It’s pretty incredible,” he admitted. “At the start of the season a lot of people wrote us off, not expecting us to be where we are, off the back of five wins, with excitement, knowing we can do it.”
That sense of belief comes from a club legend, Montgomery, who earned the trust of so many of the players by entrusting them as they were coming through the club’s ranks.
Nisbet says: “Monty brings in experience, inspiration, motivation – it is always good to see someone from within, so when the boys realised Monty was going to be the gaffer, with the style he wants to play, you hope you are going to replicate (last season’s heroics).”
In fact, of the five nominations for the A-Leagues Young Footballer of the Year award, to be presented at the Dolan Warren Medal, three of the nominees are from the Mariners: Jacob Farrell, Nisbet, and Garang Kuol.
“When you have mates for a few years … and then you’re in the A-League with each other week in week out, doing something you love with your mates, it gives you confidence and pride, understanding in how far you’ve come and who you’ve come with.
“It helped with the culture of the team.”
It is a culture, and team unit, that Montgomery feels like he has experienced before.
When asked to compare this unit with the Central Coast’s iconic 2013 Championship-winning vintage, featuring the likes of Mat Ryan, and Trent Sainsbury, Montgomery mused: “I really do see a lot of comparisons.
“A really tight knit group, everyone in it together, no selfish players – except for Daniel McBreen in front of goal!’
“He was a great team player, put the effort in for the boys, I always have that banter with him, still a good friend of mine.
“Definitely comparisons: a really hard working, honest group. That’s what we’ve got this year.
“You’ve seen how galvanised we’ve been over the last 15 games … the (COVID period) was tough for everybody especially with a small squad.
“We’ve had a lot of adversity, on and off the pitch, and a lot of outrageous decisions that have gone against us, but definite comparisons, and some fantastic young players I feel have massive careers in the game.
“I think there a lot of comparisons to that Championship team.”
