There are few players more capable of destroying an opposition defence in Australia than Melbourne-born winger John Hutchinson. After enjoying a highly successful eight-year long spell in the NSL with the Eastern Pride and Northern Spirit, Hutchinson’s signature may well prove to be one of the Central Coast Mariners most significant. In his NSL years, Hutchinson matured into one of the country’s most potent left sided players still playing in Australia. In three years on the north shore with the Spirit, Hutchinson struck 12 goals from midfield in 77 starts, playing a major role in helping the Spirit to two of their most memorable seasons. Many Australian football pundits are miffed as to how this quick and fleet footed attacker has avoided representative duties thus far in his career, although hopes are high that the Mariners will be next to benefit from one of the country’s most pleasant to watch midfielders.

Luckless midfielder Hutchinson’s bittersweet season in 2005/06 embodied the rugged determination that was testament to the Central Coast Mariners’ successful debut campaign. Having spent the greater part of the early stages of the season on the sidelines or the substitutes bench, Hutchinson was eventually given his chance in the Mariners starting side midway through the Hyundai A-League season due a chronic shortage of strikers available for selection. The country-Victorian born attacker did not disappoint, making the most of his opportunity to contribute six vital goals in eight matches at the height of the Mariners mid-season revival. The Mariners trip to Aussie Stadium in Round 18 ended Hutchinson’s season prematurely after an innocuous challenge forced the former Eastern Pride and Northern Spirit midfielder to undergo knee reconstructive surgery.