The Ninja A-League is back this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of final round of the 2024-25 season.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of the final round of Ninja A-League action.
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Adelaide United v Sydney FC
Friday, April 18 – Coopers Stadium- 4:50pm AEST
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Whilst both side’s fates have been sealed ahead of the final round of the season there’s still plenty to play for, especially from Adelaide United’s perspective.
Guaranteed to finish the season in third, Adrian Stenta’s side will now be hoping to end the regular season on a high as they head into a home elimination final against the team who finished sixth – would could be one of either Western United, Central Coast Mariners or Canberra United.
As for Sydney FC, the Sky Blues have missed out on playing finals football for the first time in club history.
Ante Juric’s side have been in excellent form of late winning four matches in a row, however their superb run came too late in the campaign.
Perth Glory v Melbourne City
Friday, April 18 – Sam Kerr Football Centre – 9pm AEST
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Whilst home side Perth Glory have little to play for except pride in the final round, they’ll no doubt still provide a stern test for Melbourne City under the lights on Friday.
With back-to-back defeats condemning them to at best a ninth placed finish, Glory will be looking to build heading into next season after what’s been a challenging first campaign in charge for head coach Stephen Peters.
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On the other side of the coin are Melbourne City who head to Western Australia with everything to play for.
Just one game away from registering an unbeaten season, City also know that a win will guarantee them the Premier’s Plate for a second-straight season having also clinched the Premiership in Perth at the end of the 2023-24 Ninja A-League season.
Furthermore, superstar Holly McNamara will be aiming to clinch the Golden Boot on Friday night as she currently sits on 14 goals for the season, two ahead of Melbourne Victory’s Emily Gielnik.
Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Saturday, April 19 – AAMI Park – 2:15pm AEST
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Melbourne Victory will head into Saturday afternoon’s clash with Brisbane Roar knowing what, if anything, they have to do in order to clinch the Premiership.
Should Melbourne City defeat Perth Glory at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Friday night then Victory’s hopes of lifting silverware will be extinguished while a draw won’t be good enough either given City’s far superior goal difference.
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However, should Perth manage to defeat City and bring about a dramatic end to their unbeaten run this season then Victory will know that a win over Brisbane Roar will see them lift the Premier’s Plate.
As for Brisbane Roar, a run of one win in their last 12 matches saw them slide down the table and miss out on playing finals football following a 4-4 home draw with the Wanderers last time out.
Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners
Saturday, April 19 – Maitland Sports Ground – 4pm AEST
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The Newcastle Jets head into Saturday’s F3 Derby with Central Coast with little to play for except local bragging rights this season.
Currently sat 11th on the ladder, Ryan Campbell’s side can finish as high as 10th on the final day however they’ll have to do it without both forward Sheridan Gallagher and Lorena Baumann, both of whom were sent off last time out against Melbourne City.
As for the Mariners, Emily Husband’s side have secured finals football for a second season running and the question for them now is how high can they finish.
Despite losing 1-0 to Melbourne Victory last time out, the Mariners booked their spot in the post-season thanks to results elsewhere and they know that a win against the Jets and a defeat for Western United will see them lock up snatch fourth spot and with that, secure a home elimination final.
Western Sydney Wanderers v Canberra United
Saturday, April 19 – CommBank Stadium- 4:50pm AEST
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Despite sealing a dramatic 4-4 draw with Brisbane Roar in the penultimate round of the season, Western Sydney Wanderers will finish the season in last spot on the Ninja A-League ladder.
Now switching their attention to next season, Geoff Abrahams will be hoping to end the current campaign on a high and potentially key to that is reigning Julie Dolan Medallist Sophie Harding, who was back amongst the goals last weekend following an injury-disrupted season.
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Canberra United head into the clash at CommBank Stadium on a high after sealing their return to finals football.
Madison Ayson’s goal proved to be the difference between Canberra and Wellington Phoenix last weekend with Antoni Jagarinec’s side back in the finals for the first time since the 2020-21 Ninja A-League campaign having finished last season in 11th place.
Wellington Phoenix v Western United
Saturday, April 20 – Porirua Park – 2pm AEST
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Despite playing some excellent football at times this season, Wellington Phoenix have narrowly missed out on playing finals football once again.
Paul Temple’s side were beaten 1-0 by Canberra United in the penultimate round of the season which officially brought about an end to their finals hopes but they’ll be hoping to end the season on a positive note in front of their beloved home crowd at Porirua Park.
Western United have plenty to play for when they head across the Tasman though, as Kat Smith’s side will be looking to seal the win which will guarantee them fourth spot.
Currently occupying fourth place, a 3-1 home defeat to Adelaide last time out has opened the door to Central Coast Mariners and Canberra United who are all now eyeing off that precious place on the ladder which will secure a home elimination final.
