A-League A-League Men Round 1 - Kicking Off The 20th Season Of Our Beautiful Chaotic League

[giggler99]

A-league Round 1 we are back and this season we are Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the A-League who would have thought that we would have reached 20 season the way the league has been run in recent year but here we are and loving it! What a way to kick off the season with a replay of last seasons Grand Final between the Central Coast Mariners V Melbourne Victory on Friday night. Than on Saturday afternoon we welcome the newest club to the A-League family when Auckland FC play their inaugural match against Brisbane Roar. Saturday night is the big one the Sydney Derby between the Western Sydney Wanders V Sydney FC sure to start the season with some sparks! arrr its good to have the A-League back and looking forward to the season ahead and celebrating 20 seasons of the A-League.


A-League Men Round 1

Friday 18th October
Central Coast Mariners V Melbourne Victory 7:35pm ESDT, Industree Group Stadium

Saturday 19th October
Auckland FC V Brisbane Roar 3:00pm ESDT, 2:00pm EST, 5:00pm NZLT Go Media Stadium
Newcastle Jets V Melbourne City 5:00pm ESDT, McDonald Jones Stadium (Live on 10 Bold, Check local guides)
Western Sydney Wanderers V Sydney F.C 7:35pm ESDT, CommBank Stadium (Live on 10 Bold, Check local guides)

Sunday 20th October
Wellington Phoenix V Western United 2:00pm ESDT, 4:00pm NZLT, Sky Stadium
Macarthur F.C V Perth Glory 4:00pm ESDT 1:00pm WST, Campbelltown Sports stadium

Bye: Adelaide United

Predictions: CCM V Vic 1-1 Auck 2-0 City 1-0 WSW V Syd 1-1 Nix 3-1 Mac 2-0

Enjoy the football this weekend

 

[giggler99]

Celebrating 20 seasons of the A-League Welcome to season 20!

​

 

[AJ_2000]

I'm tipping 6 X 0-0 draws to start the season

 

[AJ_2000]

Sadly the tiebreaker is no longer on wins.... Back to boring Goal Difference

 

[giggler99]

Sadly the tiebreaker is no longer on wins.... Back to boring Goal Difference

Least the APL let us know at the beginning of the season this time

Ladder change reverts as A-Leagues confirms updated rules & regulations for season 2024-25

Following a thorough review and consultation process, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has today confirmed the key rules and regulations updates ahead of the 2024/25 A-Leagues season.

aleagues.com.au

 

[CakeEater]

Woo, Glory are undefeated.

Its going to be our year.

 

[giggler99]

Woo, Glory are undefeated.

Its going to be our year.

Only way is up mate

 

[CakeEater]

Only way is up mate

I dont know, our capability to plumb new depths is unparalleled.

 

[jd2010]

Auckland close to a 25k sell out for their first game. Will be the 2nd highest first game crowd behind Sydney FC

 

[SM]

Going to be some big crowds and then they've got to maintain it.

 

[burge13]

Sadly the tiebreaker is no longer on wins.... Back to boring Goal Difference

Should be goals scored - reward going for it IMO

 

[AJ_2000]

Should be goals scored - reward going for it IMO

It was the weirdest hidden rule change of all time.... Peak A League

 

[Zidane98]

Going to be some big crowds and then they've got to maintain it.

 

[Zidane98]

Sounds like Auckland game heading for a sellout too.

 

[Zidane98]

Auckland close to a 25k sell out for their first game. Will be the 2nd highest first game crowd behind Sydney FC

You going? how is the media with Auckland FC going? Surprised they didn't get Chris Wood onboard. He would be an ideal marquee signing.

 

[Zidane98]

My crowd predictions

CC vs Victory 10k
Auckland vs Roar 24k
Newcastle vs Melbourne City 6.5k
WSW vs Sydney FC 30k
Phoenix vs WU 9k
Macarthur vs Glory 5k

 

[Zidane98]

What exactly are Macarthur doing to engage the community and build up their fan base? They should be following the Mariners model really.


Starting the club when we were in lockdowns and fans couldn't attend really was a mistake IMO. Stopped the community building a connection with the club and they've struggled to make an imprint since.

If they don't improve I actually would like their license given to Illawarra.

 

[gaskin]

They should have given the license to Illawarra in the first place instead of another not needed team in Sydney.

 

[burge13]

My crowd predictions

CC vs Victory 10k
Auckland vs Roar 24k
Newcastle vs Melbourne City 6.5k
WSW vs Sydney FC 30k
Phoenix vs WU 9k
Macarthur vs Glory 5k

Seems optimistic? Last time I watched their home game they had little more than the ball boys, cameramen, and some family in the crowd. Little more

With the decline in FFA funds this year, those crowds are going to need to be sustained all year to remain viable.

 

[Zidane98]

They should have given the license to Illawarra in the first place instead of another not needed team in Sydney.

Agreed. Although had such a club started during lockdowns I believe they would have faced the same issues as Macarthur did.


Behind the scenes I would hope that the APL are telling Macarthur that they've got 2 seasons max to establish themselves and that a failure to do so sees their license handed over to Illawarra..

 

[giggler99]

Agreed. Although had such a club started during lockdowns I believe they would have faced the same issues as Macarthur did.


Behind the scenes I would hope that the APL are telling Macarthur that they've got 2 seasons max to establish themselves and that a failure to do so sees their license handed over to Illawarra..

Can't just point the finger at Macarthur, Western United haven't exactly set the league on fire with fans poring in to watch them play either and they've won a Championship! Both those expansion clubs where a mistake placed in the wrong market at the wrong time nothing to do with COVID yes it didn't help at the time but I doubt either club would be fairing any better if COVID never hit. The FFA at the time were misguided by Fox the broadcaster who advised them that derbies are the way to go and will bring the highest ratings therefore a bigger TV deal and the biggest markets for derbies are Sydney and Melbourne, so the theory goes. Fox then pulled one over the APL and the FFA by backed out of the next TV deal in fact offered a ridiculously low price. It's like football in this country never learns being dictated by broadcasters then getting screwed.

 

[Zidane98]

Can't just point the finger at Macarthur, Western United haven't exactly set the league on fire with fans poring in to watch them play either and they've won a Championship! Both those expansion clubs where a mistake placed in the wrong market at the wrong time nothing to do with COVID yes it didn't help at the time but I doubt either club would be fairing any better if COVID never hit. The FFA at the time were misguided by Fox the broadcaster who advised them that derbies are the way to go and will bring the highest ratings therefore a bigger TV deal and the biggest markets for derbies are Sydney and Melbourne, so the theory goes. Fox then pulled one over the APL and the FFA by backed out of the next TV deal in fact offered a ridiculously low price. It's like football in this country never learns being dictated by broadcasters then getting screwed.

WU haven't had a home ground until now, they deserve more leeway.

MacArthur had a ready to go home ground from day one right in the heart of their community with good transport links.

 

[giggler99]

WU haven't had a home ground until now, they deserve more leeway.

MacArthur had a ready to go home ground from day one right in the heart of their community with good transport links.

I understand that. my point being, it was the wrong time and the wrong place to make that next expansion into the two biggest markets just for the sake of derbies. Now both clubs are pretty much always playing catch up. I think they will be fine in the long run both areas are growth corridors, just got to keep a presence in the communities and hit the kids moving into the areas. by all reports WU are doing a great job at that. Not sure about Macarthur.

 

[Zidane98]

I understand that. my point being, it was the wrong time and the wrong place to make that next expansion into the two biggest markets just for the sake of derbies. Now both clubs are pretty much always playing catch up. I think they will be fine in the long run both areas are growth corridors, just got to keep a presence in the communities and hit the kids moving into the areas. by all reports WU are doing a great job at that. Not sure about Macarthur.

Maybe WU will be known as Red Bull Tarneit FC soon.....

 

[giggler99]

Maybe WU will be known as Red Bull Tarneit FC soon.....

Redbull will be better off sponsoring Macarthur the name is already in the club.