The A-League is Australia’s premier national football competition, having replaced the defunct NSL in 2004. Kicking off its inaugural season in 2005-06, the A-League currently features ten teams – nine from Australia and one from New Zealand. The 2018-19 season will be the competition’s 14th instalment.
2018-19 A-League fixture and draw
The A-League commenced its ninth season in October 2013 with the league scaled back to ten teams after the removal of North Queensland Fury, two years after expansion saw both the Fury and Gold Coast United enter the A-League, and Melbourne Heart following the year after. Melbourne Heart have since been renamed Melbourne City after their takeover by the owners of English Premier League club Manchester City. The Western Sydney Wanderers were the latest team to be added to the league, in 2012/13.
In what was one of the sporting stories of the season, the Wanderers captured the premiership plate with their first attempt, but failed to convert that into a maiden title. Two more grand final appearances later, and the men from Western Sydney are still waiting to get their hands on their first premiership.
Sydney FC made it three titles to go equal top of the honours list during the 2016-17 season after a thrilling grand final. They were the dominant side all year, winning the premiers plate but the Victory ensured the grand final was anything but one-sided.
With scores locked at 1-1 after regulation time and again at the end of extra time, the game went to penalties with the men in sky blue holding their nerve to win 4-2.
Melbourne Victory claimed the lead back at the top of the champions honour roll though, beating the Newcastle Jets 1-0 in 2017-18 with a ninth-minute goal sealing the deal.
Previous winners of the A-League include Sydney FC (twice), Melbourne Victory (three), Brisbane Roar (three), Newcastle Jets, Adelaide United and the Central Coast Mariners. Currently, the two highest-ranked teams gain entry into the group phase of the Asian Champions League.
Full list of A-League champions
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Grand Final score | Minor premiers |
| 2005-06 | Sydney FC | Central Coast Mariners | 1-0 | Adelaide United |
| 2006-07 | Melbourne Victory | Adelaide United | 6-0 | Melbourne Victory |
| 2007-08 | Newcastle Jets | Central Coast Mariners | 1-0 | Central Coast Mariners |
| 2008-09 | Melbourne Victory | Adelaide United | 1-0 | Melbourne Victory |
| 2009-10 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 1-1 (4-2) | Sydney FC |
| 2010-11 | Brisbane Roar | Central Coast Mariners | 2-2 (4-2) | Brisbane Roar |
| 2011-12 | Brisbane Roar | Perth Glory | 2-1 | Central Coast Mariners |
| 2012-13 | Central Coast Mariners | Western Sydney Wanderers | 2-0 | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| 2013-14 | Brisbane Roar | Western Sydney Wanderers | 2-1 (extra time) | Brisbane Roar |
| 2014-15 | Melbourne Victory | Sydney FC | 3-0 | Melbourne Victory |
| 2015-16 | Adelaide United | Western Sydney Wanderers | 3-1 | Adelaide United |
| 2016-17 | Sydney FC | Melbourne Victory | 1-1 (4-2) | Sydney FC |
| 2017-18 | Melbourne Victory | Newcastle Jets | 1-0 | Sydney FC |
