The highly anticipated A-League Women's F3 Derby between the Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners has been pushed back due to a severe heatwave forecast to hit the Hunter region this weekend.
Kick-Off Time Changed as Temperatures Soar
The Newcastle Jets announced on Friday that their Saturday clash against local rivals Central Coast Mariners will now commence at 7:00 PM, a two-hour delay from the originally scheduled 5:00 PM start time. The decision was made proactively due to predictions of "extreme heat" across Newcastle, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting temperatures to reach a scorching 40 degrees Celsius.
This move comes as the region braces for what is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far. The match will still be played at No.2 Sportsground in Newcastle.
History Repeats as Heatwave Disrupts Fixture
This is not the first time extreme weather has interfered with this fierce rivalry. Just last month, in early December, the two teams' previous encounter in Gosford was postponed for 26 hours after temperatures also peaked around 40 degrees.
Interestingly, on that same December day, the Newcastle Jets' A-League Men's team played their match at McDonald Jones Stadium as scheduled. While officials deemed the conditions there to be in the 30s, Jets men's coach Mark Milligan publicly criticised the governing body for allowing the game to proceed.
A Season-Defining Fortnight for the Ninth-Placed Jets
The rescheduled derby marks the start of a critical period for the Newcastle Jets' season. The team is poised to play four matches in just 10 days, a gruelling schedule that captain Cassidy Davis acknowledges could make or break their campaign.
Currently sitting in ninth place on the ALW ladder, a victory over the fourth-placed Mariners is crucial to keep their hopes of a top-six finals berth alive. The Mariners convincingly won the last derby encounter 4-1 in December.
"I don't like to say it is, because if we don't do well, then we don't want to write ourselves off," Davis said of the pivotal fortnight. "But I'm confident that we can get points from these next few games... It's a massive two weeks."
The Jets' challenging schedule after the Mariners includes away trips to face Sydney and Melbourne City, before returning home to host Adelaide United on January 21.
Meanwhile, the Newcastle Jets' A-League Men's side is set to play in Melbourne on Sunday at 5:00 PM, where conditions are expected to be far milder in the low 20s.
