The Ninja A-League is back this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 16 of the 2024-25 season.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 16.
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Western Sydney Wanderers v Newcastle Jets
Friday, February 14 – Wanderers Football Park – Kick-off 7pm AEDT
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Buoyed by the return of star winger Holly Caspers and a shock win over Brisbane Roar, Western Sydney Wanderers head into Round 16 intent on overcoming Newcastle Jets to climb off the bottom of the Ninja A-League table.
The Wanderers won for just the second time this season in Round 15, edging Brisbane 2-1 thanks to Caspers’ 88th-minute match-winner scored in her first game since November on return from injury.
The Jets, meanwhile, are 10th and sliding down the table having not won since mid-December. Ryan Campbell’s side have lost four of their last five games including back-to-back defeats to Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City heading into Round 16.
Newcastle have just 10 points on the board this season and seven of those were collected after six rounds; they’ve picked up just three of a possible 27 points since and are at risk of dropping beneath the Wanderers on the table should they lose on their travels to Wanderers Football Park on Friday night.
Adelaide United v Canberra United
Saturday, February 15 – Coopers Stadium – Kick-off 4.50pm AEDT
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Can Adelaide United extend their club-record unbeaten run to nine Ninja A-League games?
That’s the incredible feat Adrian Stenta’s side is trying to accomplish as they host Canberra United at Coopers Stadium in the first game of an A-Leagues double-header at the Adelaide venue on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds are running hot in the Ninja A-League, having not lost for eight consecutive games – a new club best – to surge to third on the table heading into Round 16. That eight-game run has featured six wins and two draws as last season’s wooden-spooners enjoy a phenomenal purple patch heading into the last eight rounds of the 2024-25 campaign.
Adelaide host a Canberra outfit unbeaten in four games, clinging onto seventh spot with the intention of breaking back into the top six. Canberra are two points shy of Central Coast Mariners in sixth heading into the weekend.
Saturday’s contest sees five of the league’s top scorers in action, with Canberra captain Michelle Heyman (six goals) and Adelaide quartet Fiona Worts (seven goals), Emily Condon (six goals), Chelsie Dawber (six goals) and Erin Healy (five goals) all within touching distance of the current Golden Boot leader Kahli Johnson, the Western United star with eight goals to her name.
Melbourne City v Sydney FC
Saturday, February 15 – AAMI Park – Kick-off 7.45pm AEDT
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League leaders Melbourne City are without defeat through 16 games this season as they host Sydney FC in a Grand Final rematch on Saturday night.
City have won 10 games and drawn six so far this season, with one of those six draws coming against the Sky Blues; City were without star winger Holly McNamara when they last faced Sydney FC but her return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury will spell danger for the reigning Champions on their travels to AAMI Park – the scene of their 2024 Grand Final triumph.
McNamara is simply flying in the Ninja A-League, having scored five goals in her last two games and 13 goals in her last 14 league appearances.
Sydney FC currently sit 11th on the table and are in danger of dropping to bottom spot should they fail to beat City and their local rivals Western Sydney overcome Newcastle Jets on Friday night.
Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners
Sunday, February 16 – Home of the Matildas – Kick-off 5pm AEDT
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Melbourne Victory have dropped off the pace in the race for the Premiers Plate off the back of two consecutive draws, but must remain motivated in their hunt for a highly-coveted top-two finish in the final eight rounds – beginning with a home clash against the hard-to-beat Central Coast Mariners on Saturday evening.
The Mariners are unbeaten in five games heading into Round 16, and boast the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just 14 goals in 15 games – less than league-leaders Melbourne City who have shipped 15 goals at this point of the season.
The last time these two teams met was in Round 4 when the two sides drew 1-1 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Brisbane Roar v Western United
Sunday, February 16 – Perry Park – Kick-off 6pm AEDT
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Considered a genuine title contender at the end of 2024, Brisbane Roar have endured a poor start to the New Year and have tumbled down to fifth after five losses from seven games. Now, they welcome Western United to Perry Park with the chance to turn momentum and climb back into the top four.
Brisbane were stunned by bottom-placed Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 15, falling to a 2-1 defeat. The result allowed Western United to jump above the Roar into fourth with a 2-1 win over Sydney FC.
Western’s triumph over the Sky Blues was settled by Kahli Johnson’s eighth goal of the season – a strike that sent the 20-year-old to the top of the Golden Boot standings.
Although in better form than Brisbane, Western will be wary of their Round 16 foes having lost 8-2 to the Roar in Round 8.
Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday, February 16 – Sam Kerr Football Centre – Kick-off 8pm AEDT
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The time is now for Wellington Phoenix to make a late charge toward the top six – but can the New Zealanders defeat Perth Glory in the Ninja A-League’s longest road trip?
Wellington travel to Sam Kerr Football Centre to meet Glory on Sunday night in the final game of Round 16, and begin the weekend four points shy of Central Coast in sixth. Paul Temple’s side have picked up just one point from their last three games in a significant blow to their finals hopes but all is not lost for the Phoenix as they take on 10th-placed Glory in the west.
These two sides last met on January 4 when Wellington defeated Perth 2-0 at Porirua Park. The Phoenix have picked up 13 of their 20 points this season at home and if they have any hope of reaching the post-season, they’ll need to improve their form on the road, beginning with Sunday’s clash with Perth – an away trip they did manage to take three points from last season.
