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Brisbane v Newcastle at Suncorp Stadium 8.00pm
Head to Head: Roar 12 Jets 12 drawn 8
Last clash: Round 8 2015-16 – Jets 1 drew Roar 1 at Hunter Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Roar $1.35 Jets $7.50 Draw $5.00
Confidence is high in Brisbane after last weekend’s 4-0 mauling of a terrible Central Coast outfit, and a chance for a third consecutive win beckons against another bottom-four side, Newcastle. With Henrique cleared of injury, Jamie Maclaren in arguably Socceroos-level form and his partner-in-crime Brandon Borrello this week extending his contract with the Roar for a further two years, expect more of the same from John Aloisi’s in-form side. While the Jets impressed with an upset 2-1 win over Melbourne City last week, beating Brisbane at home remains one of the A-League’s toughest assignments and it will take Newcastle’s best effort of the season to snatch all three points from the title-hungry Roar.
Key: Corona had a day out against the Mariners, but is in for close attention from the Jets after coach Scott Miller tagged him as Brisbane’s dangerman.
Tip: Brisbane
Sydney FC v Perth at Allianz Stadium 5.15pm
Head to Head: Sydney 15 Glory 7 drawn 9
Last clash: Round 7 2015-16 – Glory 0 drew Sydney 0 at nib Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Sydney $1.65 Glory $4.50 Draw $4.00
An intriguing one. It’s been nearly a month since Sydney’s last win, a smash-and-grab derby victory over the Wanderers, while the Glory are daring to dream of a possible top-six finish, having won their past three. A mid-season recruiting drive, headed by the return of Andy Keogh, has turned Perth into a different side to the one who battled through the first half of the season. They’ll trouble the Sky Blues, who have been playing far from fluent football in the absence of their inspirational skipper Alex Brosque. Fortunately for Graham Arnold, Brosque returns from a hamstring injury this week, and will start along with former teammate David Carney in what should be one of Sydney’s best-looking teams this season – on paper, that is.
Key: Can Brosque and Carney pick up where they left off, 10 years ago?
Tip: Draw
Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park 7.30pm
Head to Head: City 6 Victory 8 drawn 4
Last clash: Round 11 2015-16 – City 2 bt Victory 1 at AAMI Park
Tab Sportsbet: City $2.50 Victory $2.45 Draw $3.75
This derby will be instructive as to the legitimacy of the Melbourne clubs’ title ambitions. It’s also a must-win with City and Victory six points adrift of the top two, and both equal on points with fifth-placed Sydney FC. City need to bounce back after their 2-1 loss to lowly Newcastle, an unexpected hiccup in what has otherwise been an impressive patch of form. Victory, the defending champions, need as many wins as possible as they brace for the impact of their forthcoming Asian Champions League campaign. Alex Wilkinson is set for his A-League return, with City having beaten their crosstown rivals to his signature, a moment that perhaps speaks to a changing off-field dynamic in Melbourne.
Key: With Victory struggling in midfield without captain Carl Valeri, Leigh Broxham’s job on Aaron Mooy will be match-defining.
Tip: Melbourne City
Central Coast v Adelaide United at Central Coast Stadium 3.00pm
Head to Head: Mariners 16 Reds 11 drawn 6
Last clash: Round 15 2015-16 – Reds 3 bt Mariners 1 at Coopers Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Mariners $3.75 Reds $1.85 Draw $3.75
They’ve not been great all season, but the Mariners slumped to a new low in their big loss to Brisbane at the weekend – far too loose in defence, and lacking any real vibrancy in attack. That has to change or the Reds, who only have the A-League to focus on following their midweek Asian Champions League qualifier loss, will dish out further punishment. Spanish veteran Luis Garcia is in line to make his first start for Central Coast, and coach Tony Walmsley will be counting on his guile to help turn the Mariners into an attacking threat again. Adelaide will be minus defender Iacopo La Rocca, who is suspended for three games for an elbow on Sydney FC striker Matt Simon.
Key: How well United negotiate the five-day break between A-League and ACL games could well dictate how this one pans out.
Tip: Adelaide
Western Sydney v Wellington at Pirtek Stadium 5.00pm
Head to Head: Wanderers 4 Phoenix 4 drawn 2
Last clash: Round 7 2015-16 – Wanderers 2 bt Phoenix 1 at Pirtek Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Wanderers $1.35 Phoenix $7.50 Draw $5.00
Having dodged a bullet following FFA’s decision to not strip them of points – at least not immediately – due to fan misbehaviour, the Wanderers will look to put a rough week behind them and there is no more therapeutic way than with a win at home. The Phoenix are ripe for the picking and their injury crisis shows no sign of abating, with Alex Rodriguez (knee) the latest to be ruled out. As if things weren’t bad enough for Wellington, there’s a chance new Birmingham City loan signing Alex Jones might not figure at all this season due to a paperwork gaffe by New Zealand Football. Western Sydney, though, will need to deal with the absence of their key Spanish trio Dimas, Alberto (both suspended) and Andreu (hamstring).
Key: If Mitch Nichols and Mark Bridge continue their hot form, the depleted Phoenix won’t stand a chance.
Tip: Western Sydney
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