The one they have all been waiting for is finally here! League leaders and conquerors of all in front of them Melbourne City are once again vying for A-League glory, as they take on the perennial underdogs Central Coast Mariners
Like many finals of flagship events, the narrative inevitably surrounds how one team is expected to win and the other is just pleased to be in contention, but that storyline would be doing Central Coast a huge disservice and it should be a battle for the ages, with A-League glory on the line.
Regardless of how the final game of the season pans out, it will be pleasing for all of the A-League king makers to see the speculation and conjecture surrounding the scheduling of the game stop and it will be time for the football to do the talking,
Here are our picks for the 2022/23 A-League Grand Final:
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A-League Grand Final Predictions
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Melbourne City vs Central Coast Mariners – CommBank Stadium
Melbourne City ($2.10)
Central Coast Mariners ($3.40)
Draw ($3.90)
Fittingly, it is the top two sides from the regular season table that do battle in the A League Grand Final this term, with both sides having been the standout performers in the division.
Melbourne City have been dining at the top table of Australian soccer for over 5 years now and remain the side to beat, whilst for Central Coast Mariners, reaching the final is a fitting reward for a few seasons of good progress.
Melbourne City
Defending champions and league shield winners Melbourne City continue to have a sense of expectation around them and they are undoubtedly the team to beat.
Comfortably seeing off Sydney FC in the semi-finals was a potential banana skin that they were very keen to avoid, and confidence should be high in the camp heading into this one.
Jamie Maclaren leads the way on the scoring chart for Melbourne City this season and his clinical finishing could prove invaluable in a one-off game such as this.
Central Coast Mariners
It has been a season to remember for the Central Coast Mariners, who remain on course for their maiden A-League title.
Seeing off Adelaide United with the relative ease they managed to in the semi-finals was a real mark in the sand and there is seemingly no limit to what this team can achieve this season.
Goal machine Jason Cummings netted for Central Coast in the semi-finals and should be bag again here, Central Coast could be on the verge of something very special indeed.
Odds and Predictions
Whilst finals do tend to be cagey affairs, both sides play their best stuff on the front foot, meaning goals look to be on the cards in this one.
Both teams to score – YES – $1.80
Melbourne City will look to take the initiative and goal-machine Jamie Maclaren could be the man that breaks the deadlock for them.
Jamie Maclaren to score anytime – $2
This will be a really close match and writing off Central Coast Mariners seems a little ill-advised, but Melbourne City live for games such as this and they have the title within touching distance.
Melbourne City to win the match – $2.10
Score Prediction:
Melbourne City 3 – 1 Central Coast Mariners – $14
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