The Newcastle Jets' highly anticipated A-League Women's away fixture against the Central Coast Mariners was abruptly postponed on Saturday afternoon, leaving fans and players in limbo. The decision was made just sixty minutes before the scheduled 5:00 pm kick-off at Gosford's Industree Group Stadium, with extreme heat cited as the primary reason for the call.
Scorching Temperatures Force Safety First Decision
According to data from the Bureau of Meteorology, the temperature in Gosford had soared to a peak of 40.8 degrees Celsius at 3:00 pm. While it had dropped to 35.1 degrees by 4:00 pm, conditions were still deemed unsafe for elite competition. The Central Coast Mariners confirmed the postponement via a social media post at approximately 4:20 pm, stating the club would share a new date once confirmed.
Newcastle Jets captain Cassidy Davis expressed the team's collective frustration but underscored the importance of player welfare. "You get prepared for a game and it's disappointing when you can't play," Davis told the Newcastle Herald. "But we understand there is a heat policy in place and we have to go with decisions made. The temperature was too hot to play and we'll just have to deal with it and move on."
Stop-Start Season for Undefeated Jets
The postponement adds another layer of disruption to the Jets women's campaign, which has already experienced a fragmented start to the 2025/26 season. The team has had two weekends off within the first five rounds. Despite the irregular schedule, the Jets have made their best-ever start to an A-League Women's season, remaining undefeated in their three matches and sitting third on the competition ladder ahead of the postponed Mariners clash.
The match was meant to be part of a Mariners double-header, with the club's men's team still scheduled to host Sydney FC later that evening at 7:35 pm. Meanwhile, the Jets' A-League Men's fixture against Melbourne City at Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium proceeded as planned on Saturday afternoon.
Looking Ahead and Historical Context
While a new date for the women's match is yet to be officially locked in, sources suggest it could be rescheduled as early as Sunday night. The late call-off highlights the ongoing challenges posed by Australia's summer climate for sporting organisations. The issue is not new to the region; a National Premier Leagues Women's match in Northern NSW between New Lambton and Adamstown had to be abandoned at half-time in March this year after multiple players showed signs of heatstroke.
The decision, while disappointing for supporters who had travelled or planned to watch, reinforces the league's commitment to its extreme heat policy and the safety of its athletes above all else. All eyes will now be on the league administrators to find a suitable time to replay this crucial fixture.
