Aussie Star’s J.League Journey Ends with Tough Loss
The 2024 J.League season was full of drama, with Australian striker Mitch Duke in the spotlight. He played for Machida Zelvia, a team making its debut. They led the title race for much of the season but couldn’t finish strong. In the end, Vissel Kobe took the title again, leaving Machida Zelvia in third place, six points back. Aussie Star’s J.League Journey Ends.
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Machida Zelvia’s Strong First Season
Mitch Duke was a big part of Machida Zelvia’s first season in Japan’s top league. Even though they didn’t win the title, they did really well. They met their goal of finishing in the top five and qualified for the AFC Champions League. Duke said:
“We aimed for a top-five finish and got into the ACL, which was great. We led the J.League for about 70% of the season, so it’s tough to miss out, but it’s a good lesson for us.”
What Went Wrong
Machida Zelvia started strong but struggled during a key part of the summer. Duke shared that coach Go Kuroda pointed out the team’s fitness was a problem during the hot months. He said:
“The coach said our dip in form happened in the summer. He thinks we weren’t fit enough to keep up our level. So, he’s focused on fitness for this year.”
Learning and Building a Stronger Team
Eager to improve, Machida Zelvia has added new players for the upcoming season, especially with the ACL ahead. Duke feels confident about the team’s depth:
“We brought in more players and now have two strong starting lineups. This depth means we can rotate without losing quality, helping us stay competitive.”
Goals for the Future
Looking ahead to the 2025 J.League season, Coach Kuroda has set new goals. He doesn’t expect them to mirror last year’s title chase but wants them to win trophies:
“The coach wants us to aim for a top-five finish and to qualify for the ACL. But this time, he wants us to win a trophy—whether it’s the J.League, a domestic cup, or the ACL. We need to be in the mix for every title.”
The Road Ahead
Duke knows the J.League is tough and that every match counts:
“Last season, we dropped most of our points against teams lower on the table, which shows how hard it is. Every team has quality, and there are no easy games. But with our changes, I believe we can do even better this year.”
The 2025 J.League season starts on February 14, with Gamba Osaka taking on Cerezo Osaka. Fans can catch the games on Optus Sport. Aussie Star’s J.League Journey Ends.
