IF THERE were an A-League Award for Jekyll and Hyde performances, The Mariners would win hands down.
After Round 13's lacklustre showing in Canberra, surely not even the most biased Mariners' fan would have predicted that a week later we'd equal our best ever win with a sensational defeat of the Premiers on their home turf.
Make no mistake, this was not simply a glorious victory and a much-needed three points, it was arguably the best performance by the Mariners in the past year. (OK, start the argument !) Hey, even Nik Mrdja scored at last - we had to pinch ourselves to know we weren't dreaming.
Last week left me wondering where the goals were coming from, this week the answer was : Everywhere. Not just Simon, Mrdja and a valiant strike from Kwassie, but Heff as well and fantastic shots on goal from former Youth Team debutant Matty Lewis. It was like we were watching a different team.
But the truth is, the current Mariners squad have always had this kind of performance up their sleeve. The quality of the players has never been in doubt, but it's when they turn up the grit factor that we really get to see what they're capable of : beautiful football that never gives their opponents an inch. The defence was impenetrable, the midfield gloriously fluid (Pedj and Travis were on fire !), the strikers in the right place at the right time.
Every single player, from the stunningly good Vukes onwards gave 150% over the full 90 minutes. This was a thoroughly disciplined, determined and classy performance that brought tears of joy to every Mariners fan and surely a modicum of fear into the hearts of the Top Three teams.
"Be Afraid ! Be Very Afraid ! You'll never know when we can pull off a performance like this. Underestimate us at your peril. We've got something you'll never have : Class A Team Spirit."
Or as Hutcho might say : "Balls of Steel". (Luckily he's just had a baby.)
But seriously, wouldn't you like to know what happened at training in the week before this match ? What sort of motivational talk (subtitles provided on request), or secret formula did Lawrie give the team ? Did the club promise them free beer at Iguana Joe's for a month if they pulled off a win ?
All I know is, if you could bottle the self-belief this team showed against Victory, you'd be richer than Frank Lowy. We can only hope they maintain this confidence in the weeks ahead, because they have every right now to aim for the sky (blues).
That the Mariners could perform so well on the same night Pohang Steelers won the ACL Final seemed rather poignant. They gave a good account of themselves against the Steelers during their ill-fated ACL campaign. Who knows what might have been, had our defence been in its current top form and confidence higher ?
But regrets are futile, especially when our current goal difference shines like the Central Coast sun. Has there ever been a more beautiful statistic to put on your fridge or desk ? Personally, I could look at it all day.
What the Mariners have already achieved this season is truly inspiring. It gives me such hope and reminds me never to listen to the prophets of gloom who can so easily drag us down.
And now it's got me dreaming of the long hot summer of 2010 : The Finals Series...The Grand Final...Lawrie being ever such a good sport as he shakes defeated Miron's hand. (Sadly, Sydney just didn't quite make it...)
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Here's how it will go : week by week we will grind them down. Early goals, suffocating the opposition, denying them opportunities, more goals to seal the deal.
We will do it because we can. We will do it because we believe in ourselves. We will do it for the sheer pleasure of seeing our critics squirm.
The Victory fans reminded us that Saturday was the sad anniversary of Johnny Warren's death. If there's one thing that Johnny stood for it was surely the power of teams believing in themselves.
Come February, The Mariners and their fans will have earned the right to say "I told you so".
Sad to be losing Boogs. That photo of him dressed as a baby will haunt me forever.
