A-Leagues rivals come together to call for big crowds at Unite Round

Big-name players from around the A-Leagues have challenged fans to fill the stands at both Allianz Stadium and Netstrata Jubilee Stadium for the A-Leagues’ Unite Round, kicking off in Sydney this weekend.

This year, Unite Round is being held in Sydney between November 22 and 24, featuring 12 games: six in the Ninja A-League Women, and six in the Isuzu UTE A-league Men.

Netstrata Jubilee Stadium will stage the six Ninja A-League Unite Round fixtures, while the men’s action will all take place at Allianz Stadium.

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UNITE ROUND ULTIMATE GUIDE: Schedule, what’s on, events, ticket details

In both competitions, you can enjoy two games on Friday, two on Saturday and two on Sunday over the weekend of November 22-24.

This week, all six Ninja A-League Women games were moved to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium after a pitch inspection on Monday at Leichhardt Oval, the venue initially selected to host the Unite Round fixtures.

As a result, the APL announced all six Ninja A-League Women Unite Round fixtures would be free to all football fans, with no ticket required to gain access to the venue.

Speaking at a media event on Thursday, Central Coast Mariners star Taylor Ray praised the move and encouraged as many fans as possible to get down to Kogarah for the six games scheduled across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“I’ve actually played at Jubilee quite a few times over the last few years, whether that’s NPL or in the A-League, this ground is a beautiful place,” Ray said.

“For our fans, we’ve actually offered buses for them to get on to come support us and I think that makes a big change and shift in the game.

“At the end of the day, we want to promote women’s football and bring everyone together- that’s what Unite Round is about.

“I think (free entry) is also a really big thing to offer as well. Sometimes we don’t get as many fans to our games, but giving that resource and that access shows with the change in facility, we still want people to be there and that’s what it’s all about, just bringing everyone together.

“I love Jubilee, yes Leichhardt has been a bit of a home to me personally as well, but the quality of the game needs to stay at (the) top level to promote our game as well so in all honesty, if that’s going to bring the best performances out of all the teams playing on the weekend then why not? I’m really stoked to be there.”

UNITE ROUND ULTIMATE GUIDE: SCHEDULE, WHAT’S ON, EVENTS, TICKET DETAILS

Ray and the Mariners face Melbourne Victory on Saturday, November 23 in the first game of Saturday’s double-header, before Newcastle Jets play Western United.

On Friday night the two-game schedule features Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney Wanderers v Brisbane Roar, before the Ninja A-League Women Unite Round action ends with Sunday’s double-header: Canberra United v Perth Glory, and Sydney FC v Melbourne City – the Grand Final rematch.

In good news for fans hoping to get out to Kogarah or Allianz Stadium for any of the 12 games on the Unite Round agenda, the proposed strike impacting Sydney’s rail network has been averted and trains will be running as planned.

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In the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, there are two derbies highlighting the Unite Round agenda – beginning with the F3 Derby between Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners on a cracking Friday night double-header at Allianz Stadium, with Perth Glory facing Western United in the early kick-off.

Jets signing Lachie Rose joined Ray at Thursday’s press event and was asked about the unique nature of Friday’s F3 Derby being staged in Sydney instead of Newcastle or Gosford; the last time the F3 Derby was played at the Sydney venue, the Jets beat the Mariners in the 2008 Grand Final.

“It is different,” Rose said. “We’re playing in Sydney so for both teams its like a neutral ground. For us, we still look at it as a home game for us. Every game we have to. I think for us it’s going to be a big task and hopefully all our fans get down.

“Unite Round is good, it brings everyone together form all clubs. I think for us, our fans have already planned to travel down by bus as well, so a lot of them are going to come down. Hopefully we get more (than the Mariners) – but we’ll see on the day.”

Bell Rolley and Lachie Rose of the Jets at Thursday’s Unite Round media event.

Following Friday night’s double-header at Allianz Stadium, the attention will turn to Saturday’s two-game spread as Brisbane Roar face Adelaide United before the blockbuster event of the weekend: the second Sydney Derby of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign between Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers.

Wanderers youngster Zac Sapsford knows what it’s like to be a Sydney Derby hero; in Round 5 of last season, he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over the Sky Blues at Allianz Stadium and is excited to return to the scene of his derby heroics as the Wanderers seek revenge for Sydney FC’s 2-1 win over his side in Round 1.

“It’s a great game, it’s the best game of the season so we all look forward to it, hopefully this game will go our way and we’re ready for it,” he said.

Asked whether facing Sydney FC in Unite Round gave Saturday’s matchup a different feel, Sapsford replied: “Maybe a little bit I guess but for me personally and our whole team, we see it as the same derby – and we need to win.

“It’s the best game for us, and we’ll work even harder in this game.”

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