Saturday afternoon’s game between Central Coast and Melbourne Heart sees Mariners defender Alex Wilkinson become just the second player to notch 150 A-League games, and the first to do it with one club.
Saturday afternoon’s game between Central Coast and Melbourne Heart sees Mariners defender Alex Wilkinson become just the second player to notch 150 A-League games, and the first to do it with one club.
The 27-year-old defender has been with the Mariners from the outset and has been the heart and soul of the side as he joins one of his opponents, Heart’s Matt Thompson, in the 150 club.
The Mariners are undefeated at home this season and have only lost once at Bluetongue Stadium in 2011, while Heart are on a three-match unbeaten streak on the road and are hoping for consecutive away victories for the second time in their history.
“I’m extremely proud to be captain of this club and to have played with so many great players and friends over the past seven Hyundai A-League seasons,” Wilkinson said.
“Lawrie (McKinna) handed me the armband a few years ago and I was delighted when Graham Arnold showed faith in me to continue to captain the team when he came in.”
“It will definitely be a special day for me and my family,” he said.
The round opener at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night sees the Newcastle Jets looking to shake the highway blues and break a seven-match losing streak. They are looking to post their first win away since January 8 this year, when they defeated North Queensland Fury. Another loss would mean they have set a new mark for consecutive road defeats for any active club in the league.
The Jets are searching for just their third win in the City of Churches and their first in almost two years. The Reds are striving for consecutive home wins for the first time this season.
Despite so much being made about the form crisis at Melbourne Victory, the two-time Hyundai A-League champions will actually be looking to match a club record eight-match unbeaten streak at home in Sunday’s clash with Gold Coast United at AAMI Park, their first match at the ground this year.
Victory may have yet to win at home in season 2011-12, but they have yet to lose as well, meaning they have not been beaten in a home match since January 9.
Conversely, Gold Coast take a five-match winless streak on the road into the match and if they should lose again would slump to their worst losing run in their two-and-a-half year history, having already lost three on the bounce.
The match represents Adama Troare’s 50th appearance, making him the first Ivorian to reach that mark and one of the youngest ever overall at just 21.
Brisbane Roar are going for their 36th match without defeat against Perth Glory on Saturday. lf they should achieve that milestone in what is Ivan Franjic’s 50th match, they will claim the longest unbeaten streak of any elite level sports team in Australia.
