Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar: Prediction, Lineups, Kickoff Time | A-League 2025/26

On: December 29, 2025 5:44 PM

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar: Prediction, Lineups, Kickoff Time | A-League 2025/26

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Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Match Preview

The A-League’s most festive tradition returns as the Central Coast Mariners host their annual New Year’s Eve fixture at Central Coast Stadium on Wednesday, 31 December 2025. The fireworks are scheduled for post-match, but the home side desperately needs a spark on the pitch. The Mariners sit rock bottom (12th) with just 8 points and have lost four of their last five matches, including a deflating 1–3 loss to Wellington Phoenix. Conversely, Brisbane Roar arrive in Gosford flying high in 3rd place (15 points). Despite a narrow loss to Macarthur last week, the Roar have been one of the season’s surprise packages and will look to spoil the party on the Coast.

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Match Info

Competition: Isuzu UTE A-League (Matchday 10)
Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford (Capacity: 20,059)
Date: Wednesday, 31 December 2025
Kickoff: 19:00 AEDT | 08:00 GMT
Referee: Alex King (AUS)

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Match Stakes

Central Coast Mariners (12th — 8 pts):

Win → Moves to 11 pts; lifts them off the bottom of the ladder (leapfrogging WSW and Perth).
Draw → Stops the bleeding but extends the winless run to 6 games.
Loss → Ends 2025 in last place; pressure mounts significantly on the coaching staff.

Brisbane Roar (3rd — 15 pts):

Win → Moves to 18 pts; solidifies Top 3 spot and keeps pace with leaders Auckland FC and Sydney FC.
Draw → A decent away point, but risks dropping to 4th/5th if Adelaide/Macarthur win.
Loss → Back-to-back defeats; raises questions about their title credentials.

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Team News

Central Coast Mariners:

Redmayne A. — Available (Starting GK – likely to be busy).
Ngor S. — Available (Top Scorer – the main threat).
McCalmont A. — Available (Midfield engine).
Defensive Issues: Conceding 15 goals in 9 games (-5 GD) suggests a fragile backline that misses the leadership of departed stars.

Brisbane Roar:

O’Shea J. — Available (Captain & Creative Hub).
Waddingham T. — Available (Young striker leading the line).
Struggle for Goals: Despite being 3rd, Roar have scored only 9 goals (lowest in the top 6). They rely on a rock-solid defense (only 5 conceded).

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)

Central Coast Mariners

21/12 — 1–3 vs Wellington Phoenix (A-League)
12/12 — 1–2 vs Auckland FC (A-League)
06/12 — 1–2 vs Sydney FC (A-League)
29/11 — 0–0 vs Melbourne City (A-League)
22/11 — 2–3 vs WS Wanderers (A-League)

Brisbane Roar

19/12 — 1–2 vs Macarthur FC (A-League)
13/12 — 0–0 vs WS Wanderers (A-League)
07/12 — 1–0 vs Adelaide United (A-League)
28/11 — 1–0 vs Melbourne Victory (A-League)
23/11 — 1–1 vs Auckland FC (A-League)

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)

24/08/2025 — Brisbane Roar 2–0 Central Coast Mariners (Friendly)
02/05/2025 — Central Coast Mariners 1–2 Brisbane Roar (A-League)
03/01/2025 — Brisbane Roar 1–3 Central Coast Mariners (A-League)
27/01/2024 — Central Coast Mariners 2–0 Brisbane Roar (A-League)
21/12/2023 — Brisbane Roar 0–3 Central Coast Mariners (A-League)

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)

Central Coast Mariners (4-4-2)

Redmayne; Roux, Hall, Paull, Mauragis; Theoharous, McCalmont, Steele, Edmondson; Brandtman, Ngor

Brisbane Roar (4-2-3-1)

Freke; Hingert, Trewin, Aldred, Brown; Caletti, O’Shea; Mileusnic, Jelacic, Lofthouse; Waddingham

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Impact Bench

Central Coast Mariners: Duarte (Young striker option), Warshawsky (Backup GK)

Brisbane Roar: Berenguer (Experience), Halloran (Pace on wing)

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Tactical Analysis

Central Coast Mariners

The Mariners are in a slump. Defensively, they are disjointed, often getting caught out in transition (as seen in the 1–3 loss to Wellington). At home on NYE, they will try to attack, but this plays into Brisbane’s hands. They need Sabit Ngor to hold up the ball and bring Alfie McCalmont into play to unlock the league’s best defense.

Brisbane Roar

Brisbane are efficient. They don’t score many (9 goals), but they don’t concede (5 goals). They will be happy to sit back, absorb the Mariners’ desperate pressure, and hit on the break through Jay O’Shea’s precise passing. The Roar have won 4 games this season often by a single goal margin; they know how to grind out results.

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Key Battles

Ngor vs Aldred — Mariners’ pacy forward vs Roar’s defensive rock.
McCalmont vs O’Shea — Battle of the creative midfielders.
Redmayne vs Waddingham — Veteran GK vs Young gun striker.
Mauragis vs Mileusnic — Pace battle on the flank.

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Spotlight Players

Central Coast Mariners — Andrew Redmayne

The “Grey Wiggle” joined CCM to stabilize the defense, but he has been overworked. On NYE, he needs to produce a vintage performance to keep the Roar at bay.

Brisbane Roar — Jay O’Shea

The Irish maestro is the heartbeat of this team. Everything good Brisbane does goes through him. If CCM don’t man-mark him, he will control the game from start to finish.

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Prediction

Central Coast Mariners 1–1 Brisbane Roar

Brisbane are the better team on form, but the Mariners always lift for the New Year’s Eve fixture. The crowd will be electric, and desperation often breeds results. Expect a tight, low-scoring affair where both teams share the spoils before the fireworks begin.

Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar — Betting Insights

Double Chance — Brisbane Roar or Draw (Mariners struggling to win).
Under 2.5 Goals — Likely (Roar have the best defense, CCM struggle to score).
Both Teams to Score — YES.