Taking a punt on the Central Coast Mariners last weekend proved to be foolhardy after my hot streak of tipping had tightened up the race for tipping honours in 2018.
Having a good look at this coming weekend’s action, I am fairly confident of a positive rebound. Daniel Jeffrey holds a two game with Mike Tuckerman and the author hell bent on a strong finish over the final five rounds.
Make sure you enter your tips in the sheet below as your part of the voice of the crowd. Good luck with your tips and your team and let’s hope the A-League action picks up where it left off a few short weeks ago.
Mike Tuckerman
Draw, Jets, Roar, Victory
It’s been a fractured few weeks in the A-League, with the split rounds robbing many teams of continuity in the run-up to the final few weeks of the regular season.
Adelaide United and Melbourne City have had a fortnight off, and both are coming off last-start defeats. The Reds, in particular, could do with the three points here, however, I suspect they’ll share the spoils at Coopers Stadium.
Despite the loss of a few key players in recent weeks, the Newcastle Jets should have too much firepower for the hapless and hopeless Wellington Phoenix, while Brisbane Roar could spring an upset against Sydney FC, who look like they’ve lost their unbeatable aura following that recent loss to the Jets in Newcastle.
Melbourne Victory expended plenty of energy in beating Kawasaki Frontale in the AFC Champions League in midweek, but they’ll appreciate being at home for the second game in quick succession, and they should be good enough to take all three points from a Central Coast Mariners side which has flattered to deceive all season.
The Victory should be too strong for Central Coast. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)
Stuart Thomas
Draw, Newcastle, Sydney, Victory
Hard to get a handle on the Adelaide versus City clash in the city of churches and subsequently I am tipping a draw. The Reds have been unimpressive of late and City come off the back of consecutive losses to Perth and Victory in the Melbourne derby.
A dour draw wouldn’t be an ideal start to the weekend, yet a predictable one.
Newcastle should be too strong, with far too much to play for, when they visit Wellington in the early Saturday game. Restructuring after the farewell to Andrew Nabbout and the return of Ronald Vargas will be a challenge, yet quality will shine against a seemingly disinterested Phoenix.
A Sydney FC team that must surely be starting to feel a little low on petrol takes on the Roar in the second match of the night. John Aloisi has done well to get his squad to this point and will feel that they are now a real shot at the finals.
Even a loss in this one won’t kill off their season completely, but it will look incredibly difficult from that point on. Sydney to win in a very tight affair, as Brisbane throw everything on the line.
After their midweek heroics, Victory will be buoyant and should account for the Mariners in Melbourne. This could lock up a top-four Kevin Muscat’s team that started the campaign slowly.
With a win in this one and a potential gap opening up between themselves, Western Sydney and Adelaide, Muscat will be eying a home final.
Daniel Jeffrey
Draw, Newcastle, Sydney, Victory
Yet another brief weekend of A-League action – although thankfully a more substantial one than last time – kicks off with the toughest match to tip, although not for the right reasons.
Both Adelaide and City had last week off and neither have won since the first week of February, making their form lines difficult to split. So, I’ll go with the default option when I’m not entirely confident in either team, and sit myself quite firmly on the fence.
Roy O’Donovan will be missing due to his soft – but still warranted – red card against Sydney, but even without him Newcastle should be far too good for Wellington. The Phoenix snagged a win over the Jets when they visited the Hunter in January, and we’re likely to see the away side succeed once again.
Wellington are unlikely to be celebrating in their rematch with Newcastle. (AAP Image/SNPA, Ross Setford)
Brisbane have shown some glimmers of form in their recent matches, but Sydney FC should prove far too strong for the Roar at home.
The Sky Blues have been wobbly recently, with a rare loss in the A-League to the Jets and some disappointing results in Asia proving the side is vulnerable – or at least as vulnerable as they’ve been in the past two seasons, so expect them to turn things around with a commanding display.
The final match of the round looks to be a straightforward affair. The Mariners are in a horrible rut, their brief top-four appearance earlier in the season well and truly forgotten, while the Victory will be full of confidence following their gutsy last-gasp win in the ACL mid-week.
Melbourne will win, and the more interesting contest may be between Besart Berisha and Kevin Muscat on the sideline.
Alan Kearney
City, Newcastle, Sydney, Victory
Both sides are struggling for form approaching the business end of the season with Melbourne City losing three on the bounce and Adelaide two in a row. The home side welcome back Danish winger Johan Absalonsen and will hope he can provide the spark to turn around their slump in form. City has the edge over the Reds the season winning the previous two games and will hope that will provide the confidence to get the three points on the road. I am going to go with previous results and see a City win on the cards here.
The Phoenix will want to finish what has been a disappointing season in a strong manner at home against the Jets. It will be interesting to see how they go under the influence of Chris Greenacre in the remaining games. Newcastle lost the services of Andrew Nabbout recently but can call on Ronald Vargas once again as the influential playmaker makes his long-awaited return from injury. Newcastle will continue their good form and run out winners.
Sydney are in a bit of a form slump at the moment which is something I didn’t think I would say this season, although two of their recent losses have come in the Asian Champions League. They will look to bounce back at home to Brisbane. Brisbane will look at the fact Sydney are coming off a midweek loss and will fancy their chances. The Roar are still in with a shout of making finals and need the three points but I am going for a Sydney win, as the champs get back to winning ways.
Victory had massive win midweek in the Asian Champions League and will be flying with confidence coming into this game. Kevin Muscat will be happy with how his team have played in recent weeks and if results go their way they will leapfrog City into third. It will be interesting to see if Besart Berisha will play a part from the start after his reaction to being substituted midweek. The Mariners are trying hard to avoid the wooden spoon but I feel a loss here will put them in further trouble in claiming the unwanted tag. Victory are in good form so I am going with a home win.
| Round 23 | Mike | Stuart | Daniel | Alan | The Crowd |
| ADE vs MCY | DRAW | DRAW | DRAW | MCY | DRAW |
| WEL vs NEW | NEW | NEW | NEW | NEW | NEW |
| SYD vs BRI | BRI | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD |
| MVC vs CCM | MVC | MVC | MVC | MVC | MVC |
| Last week | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Previous Total | 45 | 46 | 47 | 46 | 45 |
| New Total | 47 | 47 | 49 | 46 | 47 |
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