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Football Federation Australia has pushed the end of the A-League season back even further, with the 2013/14 grand final to be contested on May 4 – the latest finish ever.
FFA chief David Gallop announced the draw on Wednesday in Sydney, with the biggest change being an end date that further incurs on the AFL and NRL’s respective fixture lists.
The grand final was held in February as recently as 2009, but has been getting later ever since.
The latest change brings the code more into line with European soccer seasons, but Gallop confirmed the main reason was to help those Socceroos playing in the A-League put their hand up for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“It’s a little bit longer season … that’s something that accommodates national team requirements, as they prepare themselves for Brazil,” Gallop said, confirming the season will open with Sydney FC hosting Newcastle on October 11 at Allianz Stadium.
Reigning champions Central Coast start their season with a grand-final rematch against Western Sydney, in Gosford on Saturday night.
October 12 will also feature a Melbourne derby.
“It’s going to be a massive game, the first grand final replay up there,” Wanderers captain Michael Beauchamp said of his side’s first clash, which will be followed by a round-two derby against Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium.
The code will maintain its presence over the festive season, with 16 matches to be held over 18 days, including Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve.
Season nine of the A-League will mark the first time A-League football is broadcast on free-to-air television, with SBS2 set to show one game per round in the Friday night timeslot.
Tellingly, none of the blockbuster derbies will be staged during this timeslot, which indicates Fox Sports’ influence as the chief broadcaster.
Brisbane Roar will appear the most on free-to-air with nine games during the season, followed by Adelaide United with eight.
The talking points
• Season nine will kick off on Friday, October 11 with Alessandro Del Piero’s Sydney FC visiting Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium.
• No Melbourne, Sydney and Melbourne/Sydney derbies will be held on Friday night during the SBS free-to-air timeslot.
• Reigning A-League Champions Central Coast Mariners will begin their championship defence with a Grand Final rematch against Western Sydney Wanderers at Bluetongue Stadium in Round 1. The game will be the first half of a bumper opening Saturday night, with the Melbourne Derby to follow.
• The first Sydney derby of the season will be hosted in Round 3 on Saturday, October 26, with the following two derbies falling in Round 14 and 22.
• Townsville, Albury and North Sydney are all set to host matches.
• The FFA will continue to push the A-League during the festive season, with 16 matches held in the 18-day period between 19 December and 5 January.
• The A-League will host its Grand Final in May for the first time in its history, meaning that the end of the A-League season will compete directly with the 2014 Super Rugby, AFL and NRL seasons.
Click here to see the full fixture list for the 2013/14 A-League season
– With AAP.
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