The Roar’s A-League expert tips and predictions: Round 1

Welcome aboard for another season of tips and predictions from the Roar experts. This year Mike Tuckerman, Roar Editor Daniel Jeffrey and I will throw our opinions and selections your way – and give you the opportunity to better us with your own!

In what could be a huge year for Australian football, many questions surround the thirteenth incantation of the A-League.

Are Sydney FC impressive enough to suggest that back-to-back is a serious possibility? Can Melbourne Victory, the Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar raise their levels to find a way past the Sky Blues?

Could a revitalised Mariners, Jets or Adelaide squad shock them all? Perhaps Perth, Wellington and Melbourne City will surprise everyone with a season that exceeds early expectations.

However things play out, it looms as a fascinating season. To get things underway, here are the tips and predictions for Round 1 from the Roar experts.

Your opportunity to outwit us all lies in the tipping form below.

Good luck, and welcome to A-League 2017/18.

Daniel Jeffrey
City, Newcastle, Sydney, Draw, Western Sydney

First game of the season, I’m tipping Melbourne to get off the mark with a win. City were listless in their FFA Cup loss to Sydney FC a few weeks ago, but it’s hard to know how much stock to put in what was essentially a pre-season game.

They should be too good for Brisbane, but I’m interested to see what impact Massimo Maccarone has for the Roar.

I’ll take the Jets over Central Coast in their first derby of the year. Both were disappointing last season, but Newcastle should improve this year – from all accounts, Ronald Vargas will prove a good signing, and Roy O’Donovan is a proven quantity in the A-League.

As for the Big Blue, I can’t go past Sydney FC. Any side with Adrian Mierzejewski, Bobo, Alex Brosque and Milos Ninkovic is going to be awfully hard to keep out, and we all know how good Sydney’s defence is.

I’ll take a draw between Wellington and Adelaide across the ditch, and reckon the Wanderers have improved enough over the off-season to account for the Glory, who struggled on the road last year.

(AAP Image/Paul Miller)

Mike Tuckerman
Draw, Newcastle, Sydney, Adelaide, Draw

The A-League is back! Almost five months after Sydney FC lifted the championship trophy, how sweet it is to see the return of the round-ball game to our stadiums and screens for the summer.

The new season kicks off with an intriguing looking clash between Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar, with both clubs having plenty to prove following scratchy off-season campaigns. Will it turn into a battle of the marquee strikers? Either way, it’s likely to finish all square at AAMI Park.

The new-look Newcastle Jets could get the better of Central Coast in the F3 Derby in Gosford, while Sydney FC will go into their Big Blue clash with Melbourne Victory as favourites, owing to the fact Victory are missing a few key players to international duty. The Sky Blues look likely to prevail.

The two Sunday games see Wellington Phoenix host unknown quantities Adelaide United – expect the Reds to take all three points in that one – while the newly manager-less Western Sydney Wanderers welcome Perth Glory to Spotless Stadium.

In a clash given added meaning thanks to the sudden departure of Tony Popovic, both sides could potentially cancel each other out, with this Sunday afternoon showdown likely to finish all square between two evenly-matched sides.

Stuart Thomas
Draw, Central Coast, Sydney, Adelaide, Draw

Melbourne City have shown fragility in their preparations for this season and Brisbane Roar have done little more in their pre-season encounters. Simply, they can’t be split and a spirited draw seems the most likely result.

While much has been made of the Jets’ new signings and their undoubted improvement, the Mariners have recruited well. At home, they will get the job done, as the long term vision of Paul Okon slowly takes shape.

Sydney FC will have a solid win against an undermanned Victory, with international representatives out of the squad. Watch for Mierzejewski, he is a star.

Wellington and Adelaide looks like a battle between two teams desperately searching for a positive start to the year.

Adelaide have shown improvement in the pre-season and Wellington have recruited well. I cannot split them yet my gut says Adelaide.

The Wanderers versus Glory encounter looks awful for punters. Personally, I feel the Wanderers’ recruitment is outstanding, however the trio of Spaniards that the Glory possess will scare the heck out of every team in the competition. Too close to call and a high scoring draw seems likely.

Good luck everyone and don’t forget to use the form below to let us know how you think things will pan out.