A-League boss adamant further postponements won’t cause late finish to season

Covid-19 continues to cause A-League men’s matches to be postponed, but officials are planning a ‘magic round’ to help clear the backlog of games.

Melbourne Victory’s Jason Geria (left) and Adelaide United’s Nestory Irankunda battle for the ball in a 1-1 weekend A-League draw. Picture: Graham Denholm / Getty Images

A-League officials plan to stage a tinkered version of the NRL-inspired “magic round” to help ensure the season finishes as scheduled in late May.

Just a day after Australian Professional Leagues CEO Danny Townsend said the season would finish, as scheduled, on the current grand final date of May 28 – despite a backlog of Covid-caused postponed matches – three more games that had been scheduled for this weekend have been postponed.

Several Covid-19 cases within the Wellington Phoenix men’s football department has led to the postponement of the club’s scheduled game on Saturday in NSW against Perth Glory.

The Western United-Macarthur FC battle which was due to take place on Friday night has also been postponed, as has Sunday’s game between Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory at Commbank Stadium.

Victory players tested positive to Covid-19 on Monday and Tuesday via RAT and PCR tests.

It is close at the top 💥@MelbourneCity move up the A-Leagues Club Championship table to stay in close distance with @SydneyFC and @gomvfc.

Which club will close the gap on third spot? 🤔#WeAreALeaguespic.twitter.com/EJBjJ4mTHy

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) January 10, 2022

“Protocols put in place by the A-Leagues continue to be effective for screening and subsequent RAT or PCR testing in detecting the virus and ensuring immediate isolation,” an A-League statement said.

“We continue to work closely with each government health department to implement the relevant state health directives in clubs where Covid cases are present.

“Our primary concern is for the health, wellbeing and safety of all players, staff and their families.

“We will continue to work with all clubs to confirm a new schedule for all postponed matches as soon as possible.”

Townsend on Tuesday remained adamant the season would finish, as scheduled, on May 28 with the grand final.

“We will meet to discuss our options for playing the postponed games, one of which is a ‘magic round’,” Townsend said.

In the NRL’s ‘magic round’, an entire round of eight matches is played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium over three days.

Townsend envisaged the A-League “magic round” to be played on a midweek night, with a full round of six matches to be equally divided between a Sydney venue and a Melbourne venue.

“That’s going to help us finish our season on time,” Townsend said.

Postponements have also affected the FFA Cup this year, with the Sydney FC-Brisbane Roar quarter-final that was due to take place last month to be played on Wednesday night at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

The winner will host the Central Coast Mariners in a Cup semi-final.

The other semi-final is between the Victory and Phoenix.

The Victory knocked out Cup holders Adelaide United in the quarter-finals, while the Phoenix earned a place in the last four with an upset win – via a penalty shootout – over reigning A-League champions Melbourne City.

Originally published as A-League boss adamant further postponements won’t cause late finish to season