Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory are on the gurney and heading off to the football morgue for season 2021, yet the remaining A-League clubs have plenty to play for as we enter the final flurry of matches.
Those cheering on Melbourne City know their men are a lock for finals action and just a win away from securing the premiership plate. Supporters of Central Coast, Sydney FC, Adelaide United and Macarthur FC will be confident of booking their places in quick time, with a four point gap now having opened up between fifth placed Bulls and the chasers.
Just a spot remains for those on the outside looking in, barring an embarrassing crash from any of the aforementioned teams above them and the frantic dash to the finishing line looks as unpredictable as the entire season has been to this point.
Just three points separate five teams still hopeful of qualifying for finals’ play. So who looks likely and/or unlikely, considering their run home?
Brisbane Roar
Form: LDLWD
Remaining opponents: Newcastle (A), Melbourne City (H), Western Sydney (A), Perth Glory (H), Sydney (H)
Brisbane have an extra match up their sleeve on the run home yet no form of which to speak. They face tough match-ups against City, Sydney and an in form Perth Glory. While grabbing all three points against Newcastle looks likely, as do losses in three of their final five matches.
Wins against the Jets and Wanderers are mandatory and Roar fans may well be left biting fingernails and hoping that 37 points is ultimately enough to qualify the men in orange.
(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Western Sydney Wanderers
Form: LWWLL
Remaining opponents: Sydney (A), Wellington (H), Brisbane (H), Adelaide (A)
Similar to Brisbane, the Wanderers are in patchy form and will be embarrassed by the towelling they were dealt up in Perth on Sunday night.
The penultimate match of the season against the Roar looms as vital the deeper one analyses the run home. Three points appear unlikely against Sydney FC despite the Wanderers’ recent derby dominance, Wellington will be equally as desperate and Adelaide on the road is a tough proposition.
Western Sydney will need two wins to have a chance of playing knockout football and it is hard to see where they come from based on current form.
Wellington Phoenix
Form: DDDWD
Remaining opponents: Western United (H), Western Sydney (A), Perth (H), Macarthur (A)
The Phoenix could well be the determining factor when it comes to the final spot in the top six, with three of their four matches involving other teams in the mid table log jam.
Should Wellington manage wins against Western United, Western Sydney and Perth, they will be dancing all the way to the finals.
However, should the reverse results play out they will stand no chance whatsoever. Most likely will be a final round battle for three points against Macarthur FC; with other teams also hanging on the result.
Perth Glory
Form: WWWLD
Remaining opponents: Adelaide (H), Macarthur (H), Wellington (A), Brisbane (A), Newcastle (A)
Based on an extra match to snare points and sheer football form, Perth look the one most likely. A solid argument could be mounted for victory in each of its five remaining matches, although the trip to Brisbane and the Reds’ visit to Perth could well prove stumbling blocks.
Something tells me the clash with the Roar could well decide the fates of both clubs and based on what we have seen from Richard Garcia’s men over the last fortnight, I would not be betting against them.
Western United
Form: LLLLD
Remaining opponents: Wellington (A), Melbourne Victory (H), Macarthur (H), Central Coast (A)
It is almost impossible to tip Mark Rudan’s men in their current form; belted in two of their last three and unlucky against Sydney FC last weekend.
Coach Mark Rudan of Western United (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
United could well be the next club statistically eliminated from the finals’ race, although should they bank three points against Victory, hopes will remain alive heading into the final two matches.
Both will be tough, with Mariners fans certain to be out in force for their final match of the season and Macarthur potentially needing three points to secure a top-four spot of their own.
Whatever the outcome and whichever club does manage to nab sixth place, it is all to play out in the blink of an eye.
A chaotic 24 A-League matches in 19 days will determine who makes it and who does not.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
expected them to win there 2 matches at home, they've got 3 on the road to finish the season; i don't think they're going to get much change out of those 3
Tigertown
Guest
After a very slow start, Perth are gaining some serious momentum. Maybe they are the dark horse team?
Midfielder
Roar Guru
$city P Ants Smurfs Mighty Mariners Purr Glory
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
Are you serious? the closest season by a country mile was 07-08, before the last round all 4 top teams were on the same score and a goal difference of 1 (+superior goals for) was the only thing that separated 1 and 2. Everything else pales in comparison to that year.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
last season you had 7 teams with 8 points difference. now at this point its 9 teams.
BennoFootball
Roar Rookie
1. Maybe The FFA ( Football Australia ) has to take the blame much More??? 2. So ALL The Champions Leagues played throughout The Whole World with an Initial League Format followed by a Knockout Stage Culminating with The Final .... is STUPID??? So I Declare that ALL Winners of The Champions Leagues Over the Past 20 Years or so aren’t Really the Champions .... I’m sure you’ll All Agree??? FORZA BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB!!!
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Western United were better with that Spanish player, if he is injured then thats it for them. Durante is a bit of a liability. They are clearly finished. I would favour Brisbane most of the bordeliners, Champness has been great and Danzaki good. Dylan Wenzel Halls mystery as to why he looks a bit out of it and lacks intensity, he used to play with intensity. As I predicted losing Aldred is not a loss . WSW are unpredictable you dont know which side of the bed Troisi gets out of, they wont abandon their back 3 even though they brought in an extra midfielder. They could well miss out because of that. Perth to me part of their recent success is they alternated Fornaroli and Castro at times during those periods where only one was on the field they scored 6 of their recent goals in about 120 minutes.I think their coach will go back to it and they will miss out. Wellington Phoenix they didnt bend over to City like other teams have, but I just see them falling just short in a lot of matches. The 2-5th teams any one of them could easily find themselves out of the 6th. Sydney showed the issues Corica has made by not hiring one good striker who is not over age at the start of the season , Buhagiar has the speed but cant finish, Bobo is great in the air but is old lacks speed to get to anything other than a ball across goal and poor workrate and pressing, La Fondre isnt young either 34, he is faster than Bobo but he looks to have lost quite a bit and unable to trouble defences ,will work somewhat harder than Bobo but hasn;t got the aerial threat and he is just out of a hotel. Macarthur never that impressed by them , Derbyshire finishing has been good, does nothing else. A few of the younger faster guys seem to be their threats with passing from their continental midfielders. Adelaide to me their strength is the hack attack of Mauk, Darrigo, Strain,Cavallo,Yengi and Halloran. Hack the opposition dont get called cause a turnover and then counter attack. Weakness if the hack attack players passing especially Darrigo at the back, can go to the opposition. Juande and Lopez are both incompatible with the hack attack style weak defensively. Caletti to me is their best option over the two old guys and a reliable distributor unlike Darrigo. CCM they lost their intensity, Bozanic was the leader earlier in the season, and like Adelaide they depend on causing turnovers as well. They need both De Silva and Bouman to be on the sides to play effectively otherwise. The Socceroos selection could well decide the top six and the finals. City if they lose Connor Metcalfe as well gone , they can survive without McLaren and Good but at least they get a title. Sydney will be hamstrung without Grant, losing McGowan doesn't matter losing Caceres its over. Adelaide if they lose Mauk its over, either of Halloran GOodwin they are hamstrung, Juric a favour. The others dont think anyone will be called maybe Champness which means goodbye Brisbane, Milligan that would help Macarthur if anything.
Zant
Roar Rookie
Yea the top of the ladder gets the group stage spot for the ACL where the grand finalists and ffa cup winner getting half a spot, But that will be changing, as starting from next season the winner of the Grand Final wont get an ACL spot at all and it will go to 1st, 2nd and the FFA Cup winner.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
The closest is the season 2015 to 2016. Final results: AU 49 WSW 48 BR 48 MC 44 PG 43 MV 41 The champ and the 2 runner ups are separated by 1 point. The 4th, 5th and 6th are separated by 3 points.
Winter A League is Awesome
Guest
Its the closest season that I can remember.
Winter A League is Awesome
Guest
Play offs for AFC and FFA Cup are enough imo going forwards. Don't see why a 6th spot team can have the opportunity to represent the Country in the AFC.
Winter A League is Awesome
Guest
Yeah if you take out half a squad from City, it will be tough in the finals. I do hope that the top ladder spot has entry to the AFC from this season. Otherwise City got snookered this season.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Nix to scrap it into 6th!
pete4
Roar Rookie
I'm going with: 1. Melbourne City 2. Sydney 3. Adelaide 4. Central Coast 5. Macarthur 6. Perth
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
I know my memory isn't the best, but is this the closest finish to any A League season? So many 'ifs, buts and what evers' to be played out. Tomorrow night's match in Perth and hosting WSW in the last game to be absolute ball busters. Although by then WSW fate may already be known and it will be just another game to be ticked off.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Is that right, doesn't mean we have to follow suit. First past the post = the best team in the comp.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
LOVE IT what sense of humor Ben. 2051 can't come soon enough for some people.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
You do know the whole concept of finals/playoffs were invented in Australia Right?
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
city are going to be easy beats in the finals. When you factor in injuries and australian call ups they will potentially be missing maclaren/nabbout/good/metcalfe/atkinson & i would not be shocked to see tilio and oneil also called up I don’t know about you, but i dont have an issue playing them during the series the best team in the country all season long just to be knocked out in the finals series. What a stupid system we have in Australia
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
I would be expecting wellington to win both matches in new zealand and take some points from there away games. They'll either just scrape in or just miss the finals, regardless they will have a say who makes the 6 with all their matches being almost knock out games. western united i had a lock before the season started as being in the top 6, but they have been incredibly unlucky in recent weeks. Every game is a must win for them now, i just don't see them taking 3 points off wellington in the next fixture; which could be the dagger to the heart of their season. I have been enjoying rudans press conferences though lol glory have to win there 2 home games to have any chance of qualifying, if they don’t win the next 2; they're in trouble because 3 on the road in a road is tough and i can’t see them taking many points from those away games. if wanderers beat sydney (which i think they will) i would be expecting them to get at least 3 points from there last 3 games and qualify. brissy i just can’t see making it, that run in of a game every 3-4 days is too tough with a small squad. They are in the box seat currently, but if they don’t get 3 points off Newcastle (which is a tough match on a short turn around) they will be in real trouble it’s between the wanderers and phoenix for my money. Phoenix are a lot more consistent, however there is an x factor about the wanderers; let’s see how good a coach robinson is i actually don’t think any team is safe in the 6 except for city. Every other team can be dislodged from their current spot. Adelaide is in a very precarious position; perth away, victory away, sydney home & wanderers home is a tricky run in coupled with the injury crisis and we're definitely not safe. I think 38/39 points will be enough for finals action, so we need to pick up 6 points at least to be safe