Who’s Nik Mrdja? Good question. He’s the player at the centre of the A-Leagues latest and most exciting scandal. Name calling, corruption charges, possible fines, moral panic, outrage, we have it all but before trying to explain who Nik Mrdja is, let’s take a step back and look at the context.
The A-League, Version 5.0, is now in its last week of season proper. Out of the 27 games in the regular season 26 have been played and this is how things stand.
If you’re not familiar with this league this is all a precursor to the finals series and the top six teams get to compete for the major premier crown. Although this means that whoever finishes 6 out of 10 can, in theory go on to win the season’s ultimate honours and entry in to the lucrative Asian Champions League it’s not clear sailing. Coming top is preferable, since it guarantees the other Asian Champions League spot and coming top two gives you a second bite of the cherry.
Put simply the top six teams play off thusly. 1st plays 2nd and the winner proceeds to the final. 3rd plays 6th and 4th plays 5th. The winner out of 3rd and 6th and 4th and 5th then play off for the chance to play the loser of 1st and 2nd. The winner of this game then challenges the winner of the first 1st v 2nd for the major crown. Simple.
Whilst the order of 3rd-6th is still to be decided Gold Coast United have secured third no matter what whilst two points separate the top two, Melbourne Victory leading Sydney FC who they visit on Sunday. 26 rounds down and the title comes down to the biggest rivals in the league, a one-off that’s sure to be a classic on a Sydney Football Stadium pitch struggling to recover from the thousands of stamping feet that marched across it last weekend for the military tattoo, a tattoo which exiled the team across the city to Parramatta for its spectacular 3-2 win over the Perth Glory.
What happens below that is much of a muchness, with an Adelaide Utd win and a North Queensland Fury loss the only way to stop the South Australians getting the wooden spoon, but without relegation this isn’t such an issue beyond pride. Which brings us to Nik Mrdja.
The 31 year old striker has played 43 A-league came, scoring 13 goals for the Central Coast Mariners, a rather unremarkable career capped by one 11 minute substitute appearance for Australia against Argentine in 2007. Then he was playing for Graham Arnold and following the Mariners 7th place finish it’s Graham Arnold who’ll be his manager at the Central Coast next season, Lawrie McKinna stepping in to a management role having helped bring the former Socceroos manager to Gosford. What’s unusual about Mrdja, who’s played for the Mariners this season and will do next season, is that for the remainder of this season, he’s playing for the Melbourne Victory.
Taking advantage of a loop hole that allows temporary outside of the transfer window for emergency replacements the Central Coast released Mrdja from his contract, got him to sign a new contract for next season and then Victory signed him to play for the finals series and beyond, including the Champions League, should Melbourne qualify.
The backlash has been sharp. Gold Coast Utd asked to be allowed to sign Robbie Fowler for the remainder of the season, more in jest than anything presumably, and Branko Culina of the Newcastle jets wondered aloud to the press:
“It’s not outside the rules in what they are doing but it’s not in the spirit of the game that we’d like to see. I don’t see how Nik Mrdja can go out there and kiss the badge if he scores tomorrow when he’s only just got there. Then he goes to the ACL, then back to the Mariners. How do the Central Coast supporters take that on board?”
All good questions. The FFA have agreed to review the rule to prevent this happening, the crux being that by releasing Mrdja the Mariners have made him a free agent. Not that Mrdja minds. Having been part of an underperforming team he now has the chance to clinch two titles by month’s end. And even if they do close the loophole he doesn’t seem concerned about the possibility of a ‘Nik Mrdja rule’.
”That’s always a positive, too – my name is always going to be there as the guy who done it.” He said.
True enough, even if it does leave a bit of a bad taste in some mouths given that he’s come in under the special circumstances injury replacement rule, as a replacement for midfielder Billy Celeski. FFA boss Archie Fraser has agreed to have a look at the rule come the end of the season, but until then there’s nothing to stop him playing against Sydney on Sunday.
I’ll be there, supporting Sydney and hoping that Mrdja plays (with his scoring record I doubt the Sydney back line are concerned) so that I can write all about it next week. Cue ‘Nik of Time’ puns, cue ‘This Game was Mrdja’ puns, cue “Victory for the Victory” or “Defeat for Victory” or “Melbourne Nik Victory” or… You get the idea.
NOTE
It doesn’t fit in here but Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer has been rattling the bars again, accusing the FFA of conspiracy and generally letting it all hang out like he does. Great stuff – read more here
Written by Adoni Patrikios
Tags: A-League, Adelaide United, Central Coast Mariners, football, Gold Coast FUnited, hyundai a-league, Melbourne Victory, Newcastle Jets, North Queensland Fury, Perth Glory, soccer, Sydney FC, Wellington Phoenix
This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 and is filed under Australia A-League & Socceroos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
