And so the 2020-21 A-League season comes to an end. It would not be fitting for the sailing to be smooth in the lead up to the climax of the season and the virus has well and truly made that a reality.
There will be a crowd of sorts at AAMI Park come Sunday afternoon and the hard-core Melbourne City fans will get to cheer on their premiership winning team and hope for redemption, after falling to their opponents Sydney FC at the final hurdle last season.
It stands to be a cracking affair and potentially a grand final for the ages. Congratulations to Paul Nicholls on a fine year of tipping and the title for 2021. Well played Paul!
Good luck with your tip for the big one and be sure to enter it in the sheet below to have a say as the second placed voice of the crowd.
Here is the way the panel sees the final match of the season panning out in Melbourne.
Mike Tuckerman
Sydney
As impressive as Melbourne City have been, I’m tipping Sydney FC to gate crash the party on grand final day. The Sky Blues should have beaten City at Leichhardt when the two sides last met, only for a Jamie Maclaren penalty in stoppage time to salvage a point for the visitors and they’ll go into this game on the back of a six-game winning run.
They also beat Melbourne City in last season’s decider at Parramatta, but more than that, I reckon it’s the absence of Maclaren that will really hurt the hosts.
Not only have City been decimated by international call-ups and injuries in recent weeks, but the build-up to this game has been less than ideal, with the grand final only confirmed to be taking place at AAMI Park on Tuesday.
I still think City will be a formidable side to beat and like last season’s decider, this one could go into extra-time. But I’m tipping Sydney FC and all their big-game experience to prove the difference in this one.
Stuart Thomas
City
I know no one deserves anything in sport, but City have been the best side all season, won the premiership and been decimated during the final by unavailability.
Still they have made it through to the final day and in my opinion, should be rewarded for the season Patrick Kisnorbo has guided them to.
Patrick Kisnorbo coach of Melbourne City (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
Frankly, he should be the coach of the year irrespective of the result and playing with a sense of redemption in front of a desperate and passionate home crowd, I’ll tip the ‘other sky blues’ to win their first premiership against a brave Sydney FC.
It would be the best thing for the A-League.
Paul Nicholls
Sydney
We’ve finally reached the end of the road. Just when we thought we were getting back to some normalcy, COVID-19 has again played havoc with the fixtures, although Melbourne City will definitely host the Grand Final.
The game marks the end of Fox Sports’ long association with the game. Here’s to the Channel 10/Paramount future.
Both teams go into the Grand Final with solid wins under their belts. Sydney were all over Adelaide in the first half before easing up and Melbourne City wrestled hard to gain ascendancy over Macarthur by the second.
Sydney’s quiet achievers all played well in the semi-final. Alex Wilkinson kept a pumped up Tomi Juric in check and the work rate of midfielders Luke Brattan and Anthony Caceres was sensational.
Alexander Baumjohann filled in more than adequately for the injured Milos Ninkovic as the Steve Corica coached team showed how much depth their squad has.
Patrick Kisnorbo has done a great job in charge of City and given their injury and Socceroo-depleted roster, their semi-final win was a fine performance. They undoubtedly miss Jamie Maclaren but to see youngsters Marco Tilio and Stefan Colakovski step up as they did must delight City fans.
The second goal was a treat: Colakovski controlled the ball beautifully, had the vision to pick out Tilio who still had plenty to do. Along with the other talented youngster Nathaniel Atkinson, City have a strike force to give Sydney FC nightmares.
Sydney’s grand final experience is the key and they should complete a hat-trick of Championships.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Texi Smith
City
We’re pretty much back to where we were at the start of the season with Covid dictating who plays where and who can attend and it’s a fitting end to a tumultuous season that has entertained and delighted all of us.
It has been a pleasure to be part of this journey and once Euro 2020 finishes I’ll not know what to do with myself. I tipped with my head early on and held my nerve against these three seasoned tipping veterans.
The early season promise evaporated as I got more and more desperate to see a shock score line, and it is no surprise to bring up the rear in fourth place.
Thanks to everyone for taking part and enjoying this rollicking A-League season.
Kosta Barbarouses of Sydney (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Melbourne City have home ground advantage and have had a little longer to get over their escape from Sydney. They have the means at their disposal to exact the perfect revenge for last year’s low-key final at Bankwest where a meagre crowd created a fantastic atmosphere for the home team at the height of the pandemic.
This time around, Naoki Tsubaki will return to the starting line-up and will be on fire. With Marco Tilio sparkling against his old club, Sydney will be unable to find any rhythm as they spend the whole first half on the defensive.
The introduction of Milos Ninkovic with 20 minutes remaining will stir the visitors into action and Bobo will have a point-blank header saved with a Gordon Banks-esque dive by Tom Glover.
Extra time will see Sydney snatch a surprise lead, Adam Le Fondre smashing home from ten yards on the rebound, but City will equalise minutes later to take the game to penalties.
The unlucky Tom Heward-Belle will miss the crucial penalty as the sequence threatens to go around again, and City will prevail with the final spot kick converted by Glover, racing off to celebrate with the home fans. It will be a suitably dramatic end to a memorable season.
| Grand final | Mike | Stuart | Paul | Texi | The Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCY vs SYD | SYD | MCY | SYD | MCY | ? |
| Last week | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| New total | 66 | 67 | 76 | 64 | 72 |
josh
Guest
I'm just here to revel in Mike's misfortunes
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Well how did that result fit into your scenario's? Oh wow, SFC had a player set off, had a VAR go against them and got played off the park. All in one game, the most important game of the season for them. Like the rest of us, except City, they ended up with nothing.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Thanks for that Andy - Not sure I agree with everything you say, but that is what makes the world go round. Difference of opinions. You said 'Sydney have always been favoured by the refs, especially in finals games.' well they got some of their own medicine yesterday, deservedly so, in my mind the best team all year has come out on top and now can claim the title and be known as the Champions. I agree with you re supporters of financially strong clubs do tend to be pains when they win and when they don't, then disappear after a few lean years. We saw it with Victory this season and I am pretty certain when it is Sydney's turn their support, what there is of it, will go into free fall too. The East Coast bias thing is like talking to a brick wall, those who live on the East Coast can't or refuse to see it or even acknowledge it. Those of us who don't live over there not only realise it is 'a thing' but it is a substantial 'thing'.
Micko
Roar Rookie
1-1 MC-penalties
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
MCY 2 - 1 SYD (A.E.T)
Punter
Roar Rookie
I'm tipping SFC to win it with goals from Bobo & Alfie & Corica to be chaired around the stadium.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
money is nothing to be jealous about when it comes to football, its what has continually destroyed the soul out of the game since the late 80’s. especially when owners have no affinity to a club, eg all the americans and middle eastern owners of massive teams in europe. the problem is the arrogance that comes with it, what fans of these wealthier clubs dont realise is without money they’d be nothing. sydney have always been favoured by the refs, especially in finals games. Ask any rival fan and they will all say exactly the same, it doesnt change as you saw in the recent semi final. do you honestly think its a coincidence that every fan says the same thing? even outside of the pitch, sydney are favoured. How many games have you watched where the pundits continually talk about sydney even when theyre losing in a match? happens all the time. what about player of the year? king beating metcalfe to young player is a travesty. Even ninkovic (phenomenal player) winning best player is wrong considering he had an average season by his lofty standard i was bitter for about 2 hours after the match, but a combination of multiple beers, a wet beanie and arrogant sydney fans were the cause lol. we lost just as many clear cuts stonewall VAR decisions compared to the ones we actually got as well. Every team in the league had wrong decisions go against them When you have refs and var officials that have different views on virtually every aspect of the game, this is going to happen. scheduling the last 2 seasons has heavily favoured NSW teams as well (yes covid blah blah blah), all non nsw clubs were fighting uphill battles. But to have 2 other clubs coaches, beside our own come out and discuss the east coast bias multiple times this season shows you its there. its just unfortunate alot of the FA are part of the NSW bandwagon we can go back and forth about whether the season was a success or not, but adelaide accomplished our 3 pre requisites as a club. One of city and sydney will fail with theirs, thats the difference the only issue is we have to sell players this off season again, we lost 13 players last year (imagine sydney doing that) we’re about to let go of several more (including some that will upset loyal supporters) + big changes in the backroom and administrative side of things – but thats life, we’re a small fish in a big pond
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Andy, that's very naughty of you to take just 3 words out of a whole sentence to make your point or press your point of view. This is what I said "I dislike what SFC has come to represent." This is my perspective on what I dislike about that club:- A. I believe they don't have a football club soul. B. I believe that as a club they are not parochial about their State or their city. C. That they are able to use the salary cap to it's full extent every season. [OK this last one may have a touch of jealousy about it] The argument some have put forward that they are more favoured by match officials or the FA, is just nonsense. We all saw how the masses turned on Adelaide when we came from behind to beat the Mariners with 3 penalties. That will live in many fans minds forever and a day. PS - all 3 penalties were legit .
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
come to represent ? they've been like this since the introduction of the a league lol exactly the same fans like peak 90's utd, or juventus fans for the better part of the past decade and bayern munich All big team fans are like that, they don't live in reality; they are so out of touch with what's actually happening because all they know is money. i saw a report that utd are trying to tie pogba down to a deal of $400k a week, way too much money in football. the money there is should be going down the ladder to grass roots levels, not single players.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
All that is true Andy, and probably a lot more that the likes of you and I won't ever get to know about. The debate over them owning football clubs around the world and whether it is right or wrong, needs a wider audience than just us here. I am certain there have been some investigative journalists who have done the research and will no doubt never get published. But my thoughts are, who do I want to win? To me it is a no brainer! In my bubble, it is City. I don't follow them but I think because it was of their beginnings as the Melbourne Hearts, their poor run of success, the living in the shadows of Big Brother Victory and their small numbers of supporters up against the monolith of Australian football. I dislike what SFC has come to represent. They don't represent anything that remotely resembles a football culture. They are not parochial about their city, they have no soul. They can afford to buy the better plays available to A League clubs, not fantastic players by world standards, but quality players just the same. So, of the two evils I am leaning towards the club from Melbourne just because of their humble beginnings oh and that it will annoy the crap out of Victory if they do.
Jordan
Guest
Outside of extra time, the last three grand finald have produced one goal total so lets hope for a few more in this one, send Foxtel off with a bang!
Jordan
Guest
I have written an article about this joke on the roar. When do we ever hear people talk about an Ipswich A-League team except in the context of building a stadium for rugby league? Football is a pawn here make no mistake. Brisbane Roar the existing A-League team need a 20k stadium (as well as QLD Reds) before you start building stadiums for teams that don't exist.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Hoping for a MC win as I can't stand SFC
Nick Symonds
Guest
3 of the top 4 oldest teams are from Sydney, although Wanderers are equal with Phoenix. Sydney FC Macarthur FC Perth Glory Western Sydney Wanderers Wellington Phoenix
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
Absolutely, this season has been a great turn out by the active support for most games with the chants going from kick off to the final whistle just like the City Winter Press.
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
I thought the day would never come
Chopper
Roar Rookie
I think the old heads of Sydney will prevail with Bobo getting the first with a HEADER AND ALF SCORING A GOAL IN EACH HALF.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
City with third youngest side against the aging, oldest side SFC. https://www.ultimatealeague.com/records.php?type=cl&show=asa Team ave age Melbourne Victory 23.84 Central Coast Mariners 24.27 Melbourne City 24.35 Adelaide United 24.53 Newcastle Jets 25.25 Brisbane Roar 25.46 Western United 25.84 Wellington Phoenix 26.15 Western Sydney Wanderers 26.15 Perth Glory 26.82 Macarthur FC 26.88 Sydney FC 27.01 Kudos to Paddy, what a job you've done. Kudos to the players. Kudos to the rusted on fans who kept turning up. I've got my ticket. I'll go an enjoy the moment. Maybe a second bit of silverware, who knows. But the crowd is gonna make some noise Sunday arvo' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grem
Roar Rookie
Sydney's missing players - Redmane, Zullo, McGowan, Ryan Grant (virtually all their defence), Nieuenhoff, Zuvella, Buhagiar and possibly Ninkovic. Don't talk about missing players. The referee - Sydney have less than a 50% win ratio under him and they've dominated the comp for a few years. VAR and referees being paid off - indicates our competition is corrupt and it definitely isn't.
Tigertown
Guest
This is awesome news. The A-League has finally gone mainstream.