A-League fixtures released: Scheduling nightmare as clubs scramble for venues
The A-League’s return is just 15 days away – but there remain countless hurdles to clear before the unprecedented 32 games in 39 days arrives. FULL SCHEDULE INSIDE.
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The A-League is coming back with a bang, with an unprecedented football extravaganza on offer for football-starved fans.
But the return, announced by FFA on Wednesday, comes with some fairly hefty question marks still hanging over how the competition will play out – with all but one of the scheduled games to take place in a NSW hub, and seven fixtures yet to have a venue locked in.
The run home will be crammed into a chaotic six-week period across six venues, with 32 games set to take place in just 39 days – including the remaining 27 regular season fixtures in 28 days starting from the season reopener on July 16 between Melbourne Victory and Western United.
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“Over the past three months all stakeholders have been working hard together with one goal in mind – to finish what we started,” said FFA’s Head of Leagues, Greg O’Rourke.
However, uncertainty surrounds Victoria’s precarious Coronavirus situation, with a recent spike in Melbourne causing Premier Dan Andrews to reimpose lockdown laws in the hardest-hit suburbs.
It means seven of the remaining fixtures – including all home games for the trio of Victorian clubs – have been announced without venues.
“We know the COVID-19 environment has been very difficult for many people in our community and we hope that delivering an extravaganza of matches will allow our fans to basically see a game everyday will be a unique experience for those who have stood by us,” added O’Rourke.
“As we are a truly national game, the current border controls means that some of the match day venues may need to change, however we have secured venues in both a NSW Hub model and a hybrid hub model which has most games in NSW but allows for a few games in other states.
“Whilst we don’t see the draw changing, the planning we have undertaken provides us with agility to shift between certain states if required. This version of the draw displays our current venue plan.
“We will continue to work with the federal and state governments to ensure the health and safety of our players, coaches and other stakeholders and have detailed and practical protocols in place for all parties involved in training and match days.
Queensland is set to reopen its borders on July 10, allowing A-League clubs to avoid the political red tape that has only allowed NRL teams to fly in and out with special permission for the past five weeks.
But Brisbane Roar will play just one home game on Queensland soil – that being the July 19 clash against Adelaide United at Gold Coast’s CBUS Stadium. Their remaining home fixture, against Sydney FC, will be played at ANZ Stadium.
Adelaide’s home clashes are either at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney – or yet to be confirmed.
Melbourne remains the concern, however. Victory had expected to play their opening fixture, against Western United, at AAMI Park – though that remains firmly up in the air. A fortnight later they are scheduled to host the Roar.
There remains a strong possibility that the three Victorian clubs – Victory, City and Western United – will have to relocate games to Sydney, at least until they receive clarification at government level about border crossings.
Further muddying the waters, the NRL is back in full swing with Super Rugby to soon follow – causing a scheduling nightmare for the rival codes trying to finish off their COVID-19-interrupted seasons.
It will have been 115 days between drinks when the competition is reignited on July 16, kicking off an unprecedented bonanza of action that culminates in an August 23 grand final.
FULL FIXTURE LIST
July 16: Melbourne Victory v Western United, TBC
July 17: Sydney FC v Wellington Phoenix, Jubilee Stadium
July 18: Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners, Central Coast Stadium
July 19: Brisbane Roar v Adelaide United, CBUS Stadium
July 20: Western United v Melbourne City, TBC
July 21: Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets, Jubilee Stadium
July 22: Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory, Bankwest Stadium
July 23: Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix, Jubilee Stadium
July 24: Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets, Central Coast Stadium
July 25: Sydney FC v Western United, Bankwest Stadium
July 26: Wellington Phoenix v Adelaide United, Bankwest Stadium
July 27: Central Coast Mariners v Western Sydney Wanderers, Central Coast Stadium
July 28: Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar, Bankwest Stadium
July 30: Adelaide United v Perth Glory, Bankwest Stadium
July 31: Western Sydney Wanderers v Wellington Phoenix, Bankwest Stadium
August 1: Melbourne City v Sydney FC, TBC
August 2: Newcastle Jets v Western United, McDonald Jones Stadium
August 3: Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners, TBC
August 4: Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory, Bankwest Stadium
August 5: Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar, Bankwest Stadium
August 6: Adelaide United v Sydney FC, TBC
August 7: Western United v Western Sydney Wanderers, TBC
August 8: Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory, Bankwest Stadium
August 9: Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix, McDonald Jones Stadium
August 10: Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC, ANZ Stadium
August 11: Melbourne City v Adelaide United, TBC
August 12: Perth Glory v Western United, Bankwest Stadium
ELIMINATION FINALS
August 15: Team 4 v Team 5 or Team 3 v Team 6
August 16: Team 4 v Team 5 or Team 3 v Team 6
SEMI-FINALS
August 19: 1 v Lowest Ranked EF Winner or 2 v Highest Ranked EF Winner
August 20: 1 v Lowest Ranked EF Winner or 2 v Highest Ranked EF Winner
GRAND FINAL
August 23: Winners Semi-Final v Winner Semi-Final 2
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