A-League fixture may play into hands of powerhouse club Melbourne City

The A-League’s mid-July restart could play right into Melbourne City’s hands, allowing them to avoid leaving their home city.

Star City striker Jamie Maclaren at a training session at La Trobe University on Wednesday Picture: Getty Images

The A-League’s mid-July restart could play right into Melbourne City’s hands, allowing them to avoid leaving their home city for at least the remainder of the regular season.

Previously, plans for a NSW hub would likely have resulted in second-placed City playing fellow Victorian club Western United at AAMI Park before shifting north for their home games against Adelaide and Sydney FC.

But with COVID-19 restrictions around interstate travel starting to lift, there is now a possibility City could play those three home games in Melbourne, boosting their top-two hopes.

“(It’s a) massive advantage if you can play those games that were meant to be at home; it’s a big advantage,” City midfielder Josh Brillante said on Wednesday.

“You’re at your home, you get to train at your facilities, you’re playing at your home ground that you’re used to throughout the season.”

PFA president Alex Wilkinson admits players remain anxious despite resuming training on Wednesday, with the A-League’s future still clouded by broadcast uncertainty.

The Sydney FC skipper was relieved to finally have some clarity surrounding the fixture to finish the interrupted season.

Watch Kayo-Mini Football Replays On-Demand with KAYO. A-League, Socceroos, Matildas plus European and English leagues. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

His table-topping Sky Blues will take on Wellington Phoenix at Jubilee Stadium on July 17 in the second of 27 regular season matches to be crammed into a 28-day window.

Perth and Wellington will see out their remaining regular-season matches in NSW.

But a giant question mark still hangs over whether football fans will be able to tune in, with FFA and longtime partner Fox Sports yet to come to terms on a revised broadcast arrangement for the rest of the season.

While some other teams will have to complete up to six games, compared to Melbourne City’s three, Brillante said longer breaks between encounters wasn’t necessarily a positive.

“It can go both ways,” he said.

“Having less games means less competitive matches leading into finals.

Players have already agreed to take, on average, a 50 per cent pay cut for three months to finish the season But several high-profile imports won’t return from the COVID-19 shutdown, including departed Melbourne Victory captain Ola Toivonen.

Wilkinson holds no grudges against those who opted for long-term security, given A-League contracts were originally due to expire on May 31 before being extended to August 31.

“If players are overseas and foreigners especially, and their contracts are running out in three months time and they’ve got an opportunity at another club, then you can’t really blame them can you,” Wilkinson said.

“Every individual’s got a different situation. But I know at our club everyone’s committed to finishing the season and we look forward to starting where we left off.”

AAP