A-League 2026/27

Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners A-League Round 3 Tips & Prediction - Victory under pressure

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Fri. 30 Oct. 2026 01:43

Andrew Hendrie 1 hour ago

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Melbourne Victory vs CC Mariners predictions for Sunday's A-League R3 game
Victory in poor form, but should grind out narrow win at home here
Mariners can get on the scoresheet in defeat
The game is scheduled for kick off at 3.00pm AEDT on Sunday November 1

Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners A-League Round 3 Tips & Prediction

Both teams are tipped to score as Melbourne Victory welcome Central Coast Mariners to AAMI Park for A-League Round 3 action on Sunday afternoon.

Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners A-League Round 3 Tips & Prediction
Melbourne Victory vs CC Mariners Predictions & Best Bets
Melbourne Victory vs CC Mariners Head To Head
Melbourne Victory Form Analysis
Central Coast Mariners Form Analysis
Melbourne Victory vs CC Mariners Team News

It's tough to trust Victory at the moment given their current form, but this Mariners squad is literally a bunch of kids, so if they can't win this game at home new manager Giovanni Savarese will be under immense pressure.

Can't take Victory at $1.40 odds H2H, but a smaller stake on a 2-1 correct score appeals, with Oli Lavale and Matt Grimaldi also backed in player props.

Melbourne Victory vs CC Mariners Predictions & Best Bets

Bet	Odds	Reasoning
BTTS - Yes	$1.70 @ CrownBet	Victory have conceded 1+ goal in five of their last six games in all comps & lost vs Persib in ACL 2 mid-week. Mariners have scored vs Victory in nine of the last 12 meetings
Matt Grimaldi 1+ Shots On Target	$1.62 @ Unibet	Grimaldi has registered 1 shot on target in both games so far this season
Oli Lavale 1+ Shots On Target	$2.20 @ bet365	Lavale has been lively with six total shots in his first two appearances, hitting the target in both games (four in total)
Victory 2-1	$8.50 @ Dabble	Mariners have conceded exactly two goals in their opening two games vs Jets & Phoenix - surely Victory win this at home, so scoring twice with Mariners getting on the scoresheet looks the most likely option

Melbourne Victory vs CC Mariners Head To Head

Victory hold a 21-10 H2H advantage over the Mariners, with 14 draws.

Last 5 Meetings

Date	Competition	Home Team	Away Team	Score
21 March 2026	A-League Men	Melbourne Victory	Central Coast Mariners	4–1
1 February 2026	A-League Men	Central Coast Mariners	Melbourne Victory	1–0
8 March 2025	A-League Men	Melbourne Victory	Central Coast Mariners	3–0
18 October 2024	A-League Men	Central Coast Mariners	Melbourne Victory	0–0
25 May 2024	A-League Men Playoff	Central Coast Mariners	Melbourne Victory	3–1

Melbourne Victory Form Analysis

Tough period at the moment for Victory.

They were stunned in the Australia Cup final by South Melbourne and lost their A-League opener to Wellington Phoenix 2-1.

Victory couldn't hold on to their early advantage in the derby last week vs City as they settled for a 1-1 draw before a hugely disappointing mid-week defeat in the AFC Champions League 2 against Persib, falling 2-0 to the Indonesian champions.

Central Coast Mariners Form Analysis

It's expected to be a challenging season for the Mariners, who's average squad age is less than 22.

Central Coast capitalised on two penalties to earn an opening round 2-2 draw at home with rivals Newcastle.

However, the Mariners were outclassed in all aspects as they went down 2-0 across the Tasman to Wellington last week.

Melbourne Victory vs CC Mariners Team News

Josh Inserra is out indefinitely following an injury picked up last week in the derby.

Keegan Jelacic and Charles Nduka combined brilliantly for the opening goal vs City and Victory fans need the pair to maintain a high level, with the team struggling to create in the final third.

Melbourne Victory Possible Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Jack Warshawsky, Harrison Shillington, Philipp Ziereis, Tom Lockyer, Franco Lino, Xavier Stella, Denis Genreau, Matthew Grimaldi, Keegan Jelacic, Clarismario Santos, Charles Nduka.

Meanwhile, Max Naylor and Callum McCaskey have been left out of the Mariners squad this week.

Central Coast Mariners Possible Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Andrew Redmayne, Ty McKibbin, Diesel Herrington, Noah McCann, Lucas Mauragis, Chris Donnell, Ali Auglah, Bailey Brandtman, Haine Eames, Alexander Jesse Bolton, Oliver Lavale.

Verdict

Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners

Both teams are tipped to score, with Grimaldi & Lavale featuring in player props.

BTTS - Yes

Both Teams To Score

$1.70 - 2 Units

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Matthew Grimaldi 1+

Total Shots On Target

$1.62 - 1 Unit

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Oli Lavale 1+

Total Shots On Target

$2.20 - 1 Unit

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Victory 2-1

Correct Score

$8.50 - 1 Unit

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