Without a doubt, this is the most intriguing round of A-League action we have seen this season and the ramifications are both season-ending and season-making.
With a perfect four correct tips last week, Mike Tuckerman rode the coat tails of the giant-killing Brisbane Roar and moved to within one game of Daniel Jeffrey who holds onto the slender advantage he has held over the past few weeks.
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The crowd is hot on his heels and Alan Kearney is well within touching distance with sixteen matches remaining in the home-and-away season.
This week looms as a game changer for tipsters and every match has a part to play in the slow unravelling of the semi-final picture and the club’s positions as the enter the knock-out phase.
Good luck this week and don’t forget to enter your tips into the sheet below to have your say as a member of the all-important crowd.
Here’s how the experts see things unfolding this week.
Mike Tuckerman
Draw, Sydney FC, draw, Roar, Victory
The league ladder is looking increasingly precarious for Adelaide United, who really missed a chance to add some distance between themselves and Brisbane Roar last weekend.
They face a tough test against Newcastle Jets, but can the Novocastrians continue their outstanding campaign now that key man Andrew Nabbout has flown the coop to Urawa Reds? This one could finish in a stalemate.
Central Coast Mariners have an interim coach in Wayne O’Sullivan in the dugout, but it’s unlikely to propel them to any great heights against a Sydney FC side who should put them to the sword.
Melbourne City and Western Sydney Wanderers could finish all square at AAMI Park, while Brisbane Roar will be desperate to get the job done against Wellington Phoenix, with John Aloisi’s side set to take plenty of confidence from their last-start win over Sydney FC.
Any hopes Perth Glory had of reaching the finals will surely be derailed for good should they lose at home to Melbourne Victory on Sunday evening. Have they got what it takes to claim all three points off Kevin Muscat’s side?
I doubt it.
Stuart Thomas
draw, Sydney, City, Brisbane, Victory
Friday night’s opening match between Adelaide and Newcastle could kill off the race for the Premier’s Plate or inflame it significantly. A Jets win will rock the Sydney fortress even further and a stunning victory for Adelaide would see them stay in the six come Sunday night. It is tough to call and I envisage a draw.
Sydney will bounce back against the Mariners and steady themselves in Gosford. The week the Mariners have just experienced might just break their backs for this season and the visitors cannot afford another slip.
Melbourne City and Western Sydney will rumble at AAMI Park in the second Saturday game and a dart might be the best method to get this one right. I am going with City, thinking the home ground may help yet the Wanderers are more than capable of continuing their recent good form.
The Roar play with their season on the line for another week and Wellington will be a tricky proposition at home after their improved effort against Newcastle last week. I’ll tip Brisbane in this game, without much confidence, based on the fact that they have plenty of confidence of their own right now.
By Sunday night and the earlier results, Perth will know exactly what they need to do to keep their remote chance of making the finals alive. With a slip up from Western Sydney, Adelaide or Brisbane, the Glory have a chance to move into serious contention with another nine points on offer to them after this weekend.
The difficulty will be the impressive form of the Victory and as much as I might like to see the bottom of the six tighten up even further, logic tells me that Melbourne will be too strong.
Daniel Jeffrey
Newcastle, Sydney, City, Brisbane, Victory
Finally, for the first time in a month we have a full five-game weekend of A-League action on our hands, and it starts off with an intriguing clash between the Jets and Reds. Newcastle are creeping up on Sydney at the top of the ladder, and they should be good enough to keep the pressure on the Sky Blues with a win on the road.
Sydney, however, have been gifted just about as easy a fixture imaginable to get out of their slump. They might be away from home, but playing a Central Coast side that has hardly won this season – and who had their coach walk out during the week – should not pose so much as an iota of a challenge for Graham Arnold’s men.
Melbourne City’s clash with the Wanderers has serious finals implications, with both sides fighting for a solid post-season position. I’ll back City to get the job done here. The Wanderers will likely be a little rusty having had last week off, and home ground advantage plays into Melbourne’s hands.
I’m predicting no such luck for the home side when the Phoenix host the Roar on Sunday. Brisbane’s stunning win over the Sky Blues has them in the running for a finals berth while Wellington’s post-season chances are non-existent.
Suddenly the Melbourne Victory are looking like the perennial title challengers we’ve come to expect from Kevin Muscat’s men. Admittedly a trip to Perth is a tougher assignment than dealing with the horrid Mariners at home, but the Victory are firing. Besart Berisha is back on the scoresheet, and the Jets and Sky Blues atop the ladder should be at least a little wary – if not completely concerned – that this side is peaking at the right time.
Alan Kearney
Newcastle, Sydney, City, Brisbane, Victory
Adelaide drew last time out against City and sit just inside the top six. The Reds need the three points to stay in with the chance of claiming a finals spot. Newcastle suddenly find themselves within touching distance of Sydney.
For so long it looked like Sydney would run away with the Premiers Plate but after last week’s loss Newcastle, they have the opportunity to pile on the pressure by getting the win in the first game of the round.
Vargas came off the bench last week and could start to help the Jets cause. Newcastle didn’t play particularly well last week but got the job done and that’s the sign of a good team. I expect Newcastle to get the win on the road.
This is an interesting clash between two clubs that have endured a difficult week. The Mariners parted ways with Manager Paul Okon after another difficult season for the Gosford outfit. While his team have entertained at times the results have been poor since the ex-Socceroo has been in the hot seat.
Sydney are in a form slump and their recent excursions in the Asian Champions League seem to have taken their toll on Graham Arnold’s men. A loss last week puts a bit of pressure on the Sky Blues to get a result and keep some breathing space between themselves and Newcastle. I backed the Champions last week and I will do the same this week as I feel they will have a point to prove.
The Wanderers should be well rested coming into this game as their last outing came two weeks ago. Only four points separate these two teams and both will be desperate for the three points as it gets closer to finals time. I’m leaning towards the home side with Bruno Fornaroli to play a big part.
The Roar had a massive result against Sydney last week. It puts them right in the mix for finals and a win on the road could see them sneak into the top six at the right time. Brisbane are in great form winning five of the last seven games.
As for Wellington, another defeat last week keeps them bottom of the ladder. With the Roar in such good form and for what’s at stake, I can only see them getting the win.
Perth are desperate to stay in touch with the top six and really need the win to have any realistic hope of playing finals. Victory are in good form and playing really well which should be a warning to the rest of the competition. Victory are too hot for me at the moment and I see them wining here comfortably.
| Round 21 | Mike | Stuart | Daniel | Alan | The Crowd |
| ADE vs NEW | DRAW | DRAW | NEW | NEW | NEW |
| CCM vs SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD |
| MCY vs WSW | DRAW | MCY | MCY | MCY | MCY |
| WEL vs BRI | BRI | BRI | BRI | BRI | BRI |
| PER vs MVC | MVC | MVC | MVC | MVC | MVC |
| Last week | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Previous Total | 47 | 47 | 49 | 46 | 47 |
| New Total | 51 | 50 | 52 | 48 | 50 |
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