The Ninja A-League continues this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 12 of the 2024-25 season.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 12.
TEAM NEWS: Double boost for Newcastle Jets as Matildas defender returns
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Western United v Melbourne City
Friday, January 17 – Ironbark Fields – 7.35pm AEDT
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Friday night in Tarneit is set to be a special occasion for former Western United and current Melbourne City full-back Tyla-Jay Vlajnic, who will make her 100th Ninja A-League appearance against her former side at Ironbark Fields.
Vlajnic’s Ninja A-League career began in 2016 at City. The 34-year-old spent two years at Western United between 2022-2024 before returning to City for 2024-25 and now, the defender is set to reach the significant 100-game milestone as her side looks to stay unbeaten through 12 rounds of the current season.
Vlajnic and City travel to Tarneit to take on an inconsistent Western outfit. Kat Smith’s side hasn’t registered back-to-back wins so far this season, and have backed up each of their last three wins with a defeat through the last six rounds of the season.
Western lost 2-1 to Canberra United last time out, and should they fail to beat the currently undefeated City, will be at risk of losing touch with the top six. City begin the weekend with 25 points from 11 games, while Western have just 14 points on the board – two points less than Central Coast Mariners in sixth.
Canberra United v Western Sydney Wanderers
Saturday, January 18 – McKellar Park – 5pm AEDT
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Canberra United are back at McKellar Park on Saturday afternoon, where they will welcome bottom-placed Western Sydney Wanderers in a fixture capable of firing the hosts right back into finals contention.
Canberra trail both the Mariners (sixth) and Wellington Phoenix (fifth) on the Ninja A-League table after 11 rounds and will feel confident in their ability to claim victory over a Wanderers outfit with just six points on the board to date. But, the visitors will be buoyed by the return of goalkeeper Sham Khamis who served a one-game suspension following a red card sustained in the Wanderers’ 3-0 loss to Wellington in Round 10.
Saturday’s clash at McKellar Park sees last season’s Julie Dolan Medallist Sophie Harding go head-to-head with last season’s Golden Boot winner Michelle Heyman in a battle between two of the competition’s top strikers; Heyman has four goals to her name this season – the most of any Canberra player – while Harding is yet to hit the ground running with just three goals from 11 games.
Rising star Sienna Saveska tops the scoring chart for the Wanderers this season with five goals and the visitors will hope the teenager can produce more of the magic that has seen her win Goal of the Week honours on two occasions through the opening 11 rounds of the season.
Melbourne Victory v Perth Glory
Saturday, January 18 – Home of the Matildas – 6pm AEDT
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Melbourne Victory will look to continue their push for a top-two finish when welcoming Perth Glory to the Home of the Matildas on Saturday evening.
Victory are level on 21 points with second-placed Brisbane Roar after 11 rounds, with both teams trailing leaders Melbourne City by four points. Aroutine 2-0 win over Newcastle Jets last weekend saw Victory capitalise on Brisbane’s loss to City and draw level with the Queenslanders; playing before the Roar this weekend, Jeff Hopkins side can heap the pressure on Brisbane to respond with a three-point display against the travelling Glory.
This is the second meeting between Perth and Victory this season, after a stoppage-time stunner from Alana Murphy sealed a 1-0 win and a valuable three points for Victory last time out. Glory welcome co-captain Izzy Dalton back from injury this weekend and will hope the midfielder can lead her side to a shock result on the road.
Glory are winless in their last four games and have picked up just two points from five away games so far this season.
Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets
Sunday, January 19 – Porirua Park – 2pm AEDT
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Wellington Phoenix have been the surprise package of the 2024-25 season so far, but will their surge up the Ninja A-League table continue in Round 12 when Newcastle Jets come to town?
Paul Temple’s side have won five of their last eight games after three defeats to begin the season, but their momentum ground to a halt on Sunday when fellow top-four aspirants Adelaide United defeated the ‘Nix 2-1.
Sunday’s clash with the Jets will be Wellington’s third game in 10 days but the Phoenix will be confident they can return to winning ways on return to Porirua Park.
Stood in their way is a Newcastle outfit bolstered by the return of both Matildas defender Natasha Prior from a two-game suspension, and former Young Matildas captain Sheridan Gallagher who served a one-game ban for the accumulation of yellow cards in Newcastle’s 2-0 loss to Victory in Round 11.
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday, January 19 – Leichhardt Oval – 5pm AEDT
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Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners will face off at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday evening, in a continuation of a NSW rivalry fuelled by last season’s tense two-legged Semi-Final between the two clubs.
The Sky Blues progressed to the Grand Final at the Mariners’ expense last season with a 2-1 aggregate victory across two Semi-Final legs; the result ensured Central Coast’s return season to the Ninja A-League ended in heartbreak but Emily Husband’s side enacted revenge in Round 1 of the 2024-25 campaign with a comprehensive 3-1 win over the reigning champions.
Results since will have Central Coast feeling confident of repeating the feat in Round 12, with Sydney sitting in the bottom half of the table while the sixth-placed Mariners continue their pursuit of a top-four finish.
The Mariners begin Round 12 three points behind fourth-placed Adelaide United and can draw level on points with the Reds with a win over Sydney, ahead of Adelaide’s road trip to Brisbane in the final matchup of the weekend.
Brisbane Roar v Adelaide United
Sunday, January 19 – Perry Park – 6pm AEDT
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Brisbane Roar’s Premiership hopes took a beating in Round 11 after a comprehensive loss to Melbourne City at AAMI Park. But how will they respond to the setback when fourth-placed Adelaide come to town?
The Roar notched three statement wins between Rounds 6-8 to fly up the Ninja A-League table but have since won just one of three games in a slight setback for Smith’s side. But there’s no better way to get back in form than with a clash against a top-six rival, and that’s the exact challenge presented to Brisbane as Adelaide arrive at Perry Park off the back of a 2-1 win over Wellington in Round 11.
The Reds have 19 points from 11 games this season, eclipsing their 2023-24 total of 15 points accrued through 22 games on the way to collecting the wooden spoon. The return of Fiona Worts has been pivotal to the resurgence, with the English striker’s seven goals putting her equal top of the Golden Boot standings.
Worts is level on seven goals with Melbourne Victory star Emily Gielnik and Brisbane Roar’s Laini Freier, who has been a revelation in her debut season for the Roar since overcoming a leg injury that kept her sidelined for the start of the season.
Read more about Laini Freier’s journey here
