The 2012 AFC Champions League kicks off next week with three Australian teams in action: Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners, and Adelaide United.
Adelaide, of course, were runners up in the competition in 2008, but apart from this, the impression is that Australian teams have generally performed poorly to date. From 10 attempts, Adelaide have passed the group stage twice and Newcastle once.
How then will Australia’s trio fare this year?
First up, it must be pointed out that prior to 2009 only one team from each group progressed. If the current system had been in place, Sydney would have also progressed in 2007 and Melbourne in 2008, giving Australia a much more respectable five out of 10.
This would suggest that Australia is not as far off the pace in the ACL as some might think.
This year is also the first time that three teams from Australia have been granted entry. While Adelaide is struggling in ninth place, this will be the first time the top two “in-season” A-League teams, Brisbane and Central Coast, are both competing in the ACL.
Brisbane and CCM have been the dominant teams of the last 18 months. With 25 wins from 46 matches between them this season, their records are historically better than any Australian club previously heading into the ACL.
They also have two of the best for and against records of any club in the history of the A-League.
Their current records though will mean little in the cauldron of ACL competition. Melbourne in 2010 went into the ACL with a season record almost as good, but failed dismally and finished last in their group.
In the same year though, Adelaide claimed the wooden spoon, but went on to top their group, only to lose in extra time in their first knock-out match.
What does all this mean then? Who knows?
What I do know is that most attention is likely to be on Brisbane Roar. The Roar are regarded by many as the best club side ever seen in Australia. With a first up home game against FC Tokyo on Tuesday night, they will be under huge pressure to perform.
Are they as good as people have suggested? Is their widely applauded tactical approach one that will work in Asia? Can Australia really produce a team that truly is competitive in the Asian region, or do we still have a long way to go?
The answers to these questions and more will be revealed in what from here looks like an exciting couple of months on the Aussie football calendar. Hopefully, Brisbane, Mariners and Adelaide will do all Australian football supporters proud this year.
Brisbane kick things off at home at 7:30pm on Tuesday March 6, with the other two sides playing away. Check the club websites for details. Go to the games or watch on TV if you can.
This year might just be the coming of age of the A-League in Asia.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Central Coast Mariners are premiers of A-League Men for the first time in 12 years after defeating Adelaide in the season finale.
Central Coast sit second behind Wellington, and a victory over Adelaide will see them finish the regular season on top of the ladder.
Joe Lolley was outstanding for the Sky Blues, scoring a brace as Sydney FC equaled their biggest ever victory.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
It was not too long ago that it was no guarantee that the best youth talents from South Australia would make their A-League debuts…
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
