The Roar's A-League Men tips and predictions: Match Week 24

With nine teams still in the hunt for a place in the A-League Men finals, the pressure is on, not only for the clubs but also the Roar tipsters, after one came back to life with superb results in Match Week 23.

No one performed better than Network 10’s Simon Hill, who was perfect heading into the final match on Wednesday night between the Wanderers and the Jets at CommBank Stadium and he cashed in a rare perfect round when the red and black started brilliantly.

There are slim pickings available this weekend, with just five matches slated and the absence of two powerful clubs being noticeable on the schedule.

Macarthur FC will be desperate for points against Victory on Friday night, Saturday sees another edition of the F3 Derby and Adelaide should chalk up an easy three points against the hapless Perth Glory on Sunday evening.

Good luck with your tips for the round and be sure to enter then in the sheet below to have a say in the second placed voice of the crowd. Here is the way the panel sees the five matches playing out as we draw ever nearer to the 2021-22 A-League Men finals.

(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Mike Tuckerman

Draw, Draw, Wellington, Adelaide, Roar.

Not that I think Macarthur are a terribly proficient side, but they’re always tough to beat in Campbelltown.

The games are coming thick and fast for Victory, so this one could finish in stalemate.

The Jets have arguably been the most luckless side in the league this season. They’ll want to dig in against the local rivals, but the Mariners are flying under Nick Montgomery. I can’t split these two.

Can things get much worse for Perth Glory? They surely will on the back of another inevitable defeat to Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium, not least because Glory have conceded 13 goals in their last three games.

Another big crowd should turn out at Eden Park in Auckland, with the Phoenix looking to cement their place in the top six. Time looks like it has run out for the Wanderers, so this one should be a win for the Kiwis.

More than just the honour of hosting an ANZAC Day fixture, Brisbane Roar should look forward to facing a Melbourne Victory side backing up from a game on Friday. It’s a crazy fixture list and one the Roar should take full advantage of.

Simon Hill

Victory, Draw, Wellington, Adelaide, Victory

Stuart Thomas

Victory, Central Coast, Wellington, Adelaide, Victory

Macarthur FC appear to have hit a speed bump over which they cannot roll and the early season promise has proven an inaccurate guide.

They need wins and quickly but up against the freight train that is the Melbourne Victory attack, it seems unlikely to occur. The Vuck have not lost in the A-League Men since mid-February and will be far too good for the Bulls in this one.

Newcastle versus Central Coast should be a ripping affair and I’ll stick with the team that has been good to me all season in predicting a win for the men from Gosford.

Wellington should be far too good for the Wanderers at Eden Park in front of a healthy crowd on Sunday and Adelaide may as well chalk up the three points they will gain against Perth Glory a few hours later right now, with the West Australians seemingly capitulating right before our very eyes.

The final match of the round sees the Roar takes on the Victory after a short turnaround, potentially with a brilliant opportunity to topple them at Moreton Daily Stadium.

While there is some logic in that thinking, I’ll stick with the Victory, especially considering how much there is at stake and that the lure of second on the ladder will be within their reach after a pair of victories this weekend.

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Texi Smith

Victory, Newcastle, Wellington, Adelaide, Victory

Macarthur will be smarting after their defeat in Tasmania, a game they should have won, even when reduced to ten men.

Melbourne Victory looked terrific in their win at the Jets and they will fancy their chances of another big away win in Campbelltown.

Adrian Mariappa will be a big miss and with James Meredith looking off the pace, there are some areas of the field that will be of concern to the home team.

Victory have quality all over the park and if Nick D’Agostino can fire like he has recently, this could be another fine win. Victory by the odd goal, but definitely not an easy win.

A spicy Saturday night encounter in Newcastle sees the Jets and the Mariners face off for local pride. Of course there is much more at stake.

If the home side can get this win, they will put themselves back in contention. Defeat is unthinkable and would take the Mariners up into the top six.

Central Coast were efficient in their 4-0 thumping of Wellington last weekend and they will look to build on that here.

The Jets though are made of stern stuff and an Archie Goodwin bicycle kick late in the game will win it for them and send the home fans away smiling.

The majestic Eden Park in Auckland will welcome Wellington and Western Sydney on Sunday afternoon for another blockbuster game to showcase New Zealand football and its popularity to Australia and the world.

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The Phoenix either get smashed or hand out their own thumpings, it is so comically unpredictable that they could fancy their chances against their former manager.

Such is Mark Rudan’s challenge at present, I can see it happening. Jaushua Sotirio to score the winner in a dazzling second half that edges the game 3-2 and gives the Phoenix a great chance of finishing in the top six come season’s end.

Perth Glory are this season’s tragedy. Their much-vaunted acquisition of a global superstar has backfired spectacularly and along with other big injuries, it has left them rattling the can for players who have a pedigree to progress them in the A-League Men.

Adelaide United are looking like a cohesive unit, and they will be favourites to win this one. In a surprising opening half, Perth and Daniel Stynes will come out all guns blazing and produce an early goal. However Adelaide will go on to knock in two more to give the score line a more realistic look.

It is an Anzac Day special in Redcliffe where the Roar at home to Victory should give us the match of the round.

When Jay O’Shea feeds Henry Hore for the first goal early on, the crowd will be given a platform to work on and with refereeing inconsistencies firing up the vocal support, the atmosphere will be hostile to the visitors.

Josh Brillante will score a cracker from outside the box to equalise as the second half starts to heat up and Francesco Margiotta will roll the ball past Jordan Holmes for a classy winner on the break in the last five minutes.

Victory are smelling a premiership right now. Could the ultimate turnaround in fortunes happen?