<p>Welcome to Sportsbet’s A-League Grand Final Tips &amp; Predictions for season 2023/24.</p> <p>It is the Central Coast Mariners taking on Melbourne Victory. And this year, after last year’s shemozzle where the Mariners saved the APL from almost complete embarrassment, the game will be played at their home ground in Gosford.</p> <p>The Mariners are on the cusp of a nice slice of history. Not only are they chasing back-to-back A-League titles, but they are also chasing a historic treble after claiming the A-League premiers’ plate and being crowned AFC Cup champions.</p> <p>The men from Gosford have had a season to remember and will enter Saturday's showdown as favourites after finishing top of the table throughout the regular season.</p> <p>Standing in their way though is the mighty Melbourne Victory.</p> <p>The boys in blue have done it the hard way, facing both penalty shootouts and extra time to scrape their way back to the last day and chasing a fifth A-League championship and a chance to level up with Sydney FC.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne Victory Predicted Lineups</h2> <p>The Mariners fielded unchanged starting XIs across both Semi-Final legs against the Sky Blues, with the squad seemingly pulled up well enough after their quick sojourn over to Oman.</p> <p>It would be a big move for coach Mark Jackson to change a winning formula.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>CCM predicted lineup:</strong> <em>D Vukovic, M Doka, B Kaltak, J Nisbett, M Balard, C Theoharous, A Kuol, S Roux, J Farrell, &nbsp; D Hall, B Tapp</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Victory are set to be boosted by the availability of Frenchman Zinédine Machach who is now free to play in Saturday’s Grand Final after serving a two-game ban for a red card he collected in his side’s win over Melbourne City in the Elimination Finals.</p> <p>The midfielder has been one of Victory’s best performers this season, scoring seven goals and notching five assists.</p> <p>While it is not the most stacked Melbourne Victory side that has ever made it to the Grand Final and bought championships home, Tony Popovic still has quite a handy squad of names to pick from.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>MVFC predicted lineup</strong>: <em>P Izzo, A Traore, J Geria, R Miranda, D Da Silva, Z Machach, R Teague,R Bonevacia, N Velupillay, D Arzani, B Fornaroli</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne Victory Preview</h2> <p>There is not a lot splitting these sides.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>They met three times this season already. For two draws in both rounds six and unite round before the Mariners got over the Victory 1-0 in round 18.</p> <p>There are storylines everywhere in this one.</p> <p>Let us start with the veterans. In the yellow corner, there is Danny Vukovic. The 39-year-old who was in the A-League back in season one, through all its peaks and troughs and is now gunning to captain his side to back-to-back titles.</p> <p>In the blue corner, there is Leigh Broxham. The 36-year-old one-club player who announced his retirement from football on the eve of the finals, has one last dance and a chance to bring home another Championship title.</p> <p>From the old to the young, your eyes are drawn to the centre of the park. The midfield battle between two of Australian football’s rising stars- Josh Nisbett and Ryan Teague. Both are entrusted with dictating play and pulling the strings in midfield.</p> <p>Nisbet scored one of his three goals for the season in the first leg of the Mariners’ 2-1 aggregate Semi-Final win over Sydney FC; his nine assists for the season are the most league-wide – two more than Victory’s best creator (Daniel Arzani – seven assists)</p> <p>Then there are the matchups at the Victory front end, and just how will the likes of Daniel Arzani and Bruno Fornaroli manage Jacob Farrell and Brian Kaltak, respectively. Both have formed significant pieces in the Mariners' defence.</p> <p>For everything Fornaroli has done in the A-League and his adopted country, has never won a Championship. Him having the better of Kaltak is imperative to Victory’s cause as his opportunities for silverware in this league fade the later, he gets in his career.</p> <p>And then there’s Victory coach Tony Popovic. So often the bridesmaid on Grand Final day has made the big dance four times and lost them all. Now at his third club, will he finally salute?</p> <p>And if they do somehow salute, what does that do to his plans? With the rumour mill in overdrive about what his plans for next season may be.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Central Coast Mariners vs Melbourne Victory betting Tips &amp; Predictions</h2> <h3>Head-to-head</h3> <p>It is a Grand Final and especially here in the A-League, we know anything from the sublime to the ridiculous can happen.</p> <p>Just ask Victory fans how they won their last title.</p> <p>With that said, The Mariners have been the best side all year and will be favoured. Especially given it's on their home deck.</p> <p>Expect the Vuck to sit back, park the bus, and try to hit on the counterattack, But the defensive wall of the Mariner might be too tough to penetrate.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip</strong>: Mariners 1-0</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goal</h3> <p>Alou Koul has been scoring goals all year. While he did not manage to find the back of the net during the Semi-Finals, we see no reason why he will not be able to open the scoring and be the difference here.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Alou Koul</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/ Under</h3> <p>These games are always tight but they either produce a lot of goals or little goals. Then you throw in the added element of a Grand Final and playing for keeps.</p> <p>With two rock-solid defences and organized lineups, we see this being under the 2.5-goal line.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip</strong>: Under 2.5 goals ($1.82)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Match Details</h2> <p><em>Saturday, May 25th, kick-off 7:45 PM AEST</em></p> <p><em>Industry Group Stadium – Gosford.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Match Odds</strong></h2>