Flying high ... but can Tomas Rogic and the Central Coast Mariners go all the way this season? Source: News Limited
With almost half of the A-League season completed, we canvas the experts to see who they think will play in April's grand final.
Miron Bleiberg
The former Queensland Roar and Gold Coast United coach tips Adelaide United and the Central Coast Mariners.
Melbourne Victory is the only other team that might have a chance, but unless they go to the transfer market in January, with their current defence they probably aren't good enough.
All the rest of the teams are not good enough. Perth, who have the depth, are too far behind.
The Mariners are not that great a team, but the others are not good enough to challenge them.
It's just their consistency that makes them better than the rest. As the cliche goes, a champion team is better than a team of champions.
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Coast | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 27 |
| 2 | Adelaide | 13 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 25 |
| 3 | Victory | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 20 |
| 4 | Western Sydney | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 19 |
| 5 | Perth | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 17 |
| 6 | Newcastle | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | -7 | 16 |
| 7 | Brisbane | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| 8 | Wellington | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 13 |
| 9 | Heart | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 12 |
| 10 | Sydney | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | -12 | 10 |
Craig Moore
The Socceroos great and former Brisbane Roar skipper says Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United are the teams to beat at the moment.
But what's interesting is the upcoming transfer window. Are Central Coast Mariners going to lose some players?
It'll be a lot clearer after the window, but the Mariners are a given.
They have a like-for-like structure. It's between Adelaide, Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory for the other spot. Glory didn't really get on their run until this time last year.
They're coming off a good away win over Roar and if they can get any momentum going now, they just might get to the decider again.
If Victory can manage to defend better they're a chance and who can write Adelaide off. They really toyed with the Victory. On their day, Adelaide are very good.
Simon Hill
I like the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory.
The Mariners are the most consistent team in the competition, and Victory have got a bit of the X-factor with Marco Rojas, Archie Thompson, Gui Finkler and Marcos Flores, who are all great attacking options.
They have also got Ange Postecoglou, who knows what he's doing.
The Mariners are the same week in, week out - they don't drop their level.
Some of the A-League clubs fluctuate quite a lot from week-to-week, but the Mariners don't. Even with their dip in the final 20 minutes against Phoenix away last week, they still managed to get a point. I can't see them dropping away - they're too good.
Last week Adelaide United had a bad day, and they got absolutely smashed. Can you imagine the Mariners getting beaten 6-1? It just wouldn't happen. Adelaide will get to the finals, but I can't see them making the grand final.
The best Brisbane can hope for is getting into the top six. Given their start, that would be a huge achievement.
Damian Mori
Central Coast Mariners and Perth Glory for me, with Western Sydney Wanderers to be the dark horse.
The Mariners are just consistently good. They are also the most organised and disciplined team in the competition. Even when they're bad, they're still good, that's the sign of a good team.
Perth are solid and have a very experienced team.
The Wanderers look half decent and hardly concede any goals. I don't know if Victory have got the necessary defence to go all the way, and I think Adelaide United will capitulate.
Robbie Slater
I'm going with Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory.
The Mariners are the best team. They missed out on the grand final last season after winning the Premier's Plate.
The season before we all know about what happened against Brisbane in the grand final. With Tom Rogic in there now, they've got that little bit of extra quality.
Of course, come finals time you always need that bit of luck, but the Mariners seem to make their own.
The Victory are getting better. Defensively they still have some problems, but going forward with Archie Thompson and Marco Rojas they are potent.
Marcos Flores hasn't been at his best really this season, but his combination with Gui Finkler is getting better and better. I can see them making a charge for second spot.
I still think the Roar can make the six but a lot's going to be depend on how the players react to what's going on. Mike Mulvey has to do something different.
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