The 2025-26 Ninja A-League season has reached it’s final round and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 22.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 22.
Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix
Friday, April 3 – Coopers Stadium– 4:50pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Current table position
Adelaide United: 7th
Wellington Phoenix: 8th
Round 21 result
Adelaide United: 3-1 loss to Newcastle Jets (H)
Wellington Phoenix: 1-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers (H)
Adelaide have taken some hits to their squad with Fiona Worts transfer to South Korean club Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels, injury, international duty and personal reasons seeing them down to a bare bones roster on game day.
This has shown in the results column, with a draw and two losses from their last three matches.
Wellington have lost their last two as well, with their 1-0 loss to Western Sydney taking them out of the running for the Ninja A-League Premiership.
Both Adelaide and Wellington are safely in finals, but they’ll both be fighting for the second placed-finish and the advantage of a weekend off that comes with it.
Wellington secured a 3-1 win when they met Adelaide in Round 14, Makala Woods scored one and Brooke Nunn scored two goals to make it 3-0 before Reds captain Isabel Hodgson scored a late consolation goal.
Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory
Friday, April 3 – Sam Kerr Football Centre – 7:00pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Current table position
Perth Glory: 8th
Melbourne Victory: 7th
Round 21 result
Perth Glory: 5-2 loss to Brisbane Roar (A)
Melbourne Victory: 2-1 loss to Sydney FC (A)
The equation is simple for Victory to make finals; win here and hope Central Coast lose to Sydney and/or Brisbane lose to Canberra on Saturday. A draw or loss will see them miss out.
Victory could have been in a much more comfortable position had they held on to their lead against Sydney last week, but a pair of defensive errors saw them come away from Leichhardt Oval empty handed.
The Glory had Brisbane tied at 2-2 early in the second half last weekend, but conceded three late goals to lose both the match and their finals chances.
Perth can mathematically still make finals, but it’s extremely unlikely. They’ll need to win, hope Central Coast lose, and overturn a 10 goal differential to the Mariners.
Round 5 was the last time these sides met, Victory running away with a 3-0 win after Kennedy White, Sofia Sakalis and Rhianna Pollicina all scored in the first half.
Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC
Saturday, April 4 – polytec Stadium – 2:15pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Current table position
Central Coast Mariners: 6th
Sydney FC: 11th
Round 21 result
Central Coast Mariners: 0-0 draw against Canberra United (H)
Sydney FC: 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory (H)
Central Coast can seal their spot in the top six with a win against Sydney, and if Adelaide lose to Wellington and Brisbane lose to or draw against Canberra they would go into fourth.
They may still make it with a draw or loss, but they would need Melbourne Victory to lose to or draw against Perth Glory.
Sydney pulled themselves off of the bottom of the table with their win over Melbourne Victory, only to be pushed back down there when the Wanderers won their game against Wellington.
With Western Sydney having the bye this weekend, Sydney can avoid the wooden spoon and make sure it goes to their cross town rivals with at least a draw here.
18-year-old Maddie Caspers scored the decisive goal in Sydney’s 1-0 win over Central Coast when these sides last met in Round 4
Canberra United v Brisbane Roar
Saturday, April 4 – McKellar Park – 3:00pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Current table position
Canberra United: 3rd
Brisbane Roar: 5th
Round 21 result
Canberra United: 0-0 draw against Central Coast Mariners (A)
Brisbane Roar: 5-2 win over Perth Glory (H)
Brisbane have gone on a rampage of late, scoring nine goals in their last two matches to come back into the top six.
The Roar can get themselves as high as third with a win and Adelaide losing against Wellington, or they can miss finals altogether if they lose, Central Coast defeat Sydney and Victory defeat Perth.
Canberra can finish anywhere between second and fifth depending on how other results go, but crucially they are guaranteed finals football.
When these sides met in January, Brisbane took a 3-1 win with Daisy Brown, Sharn Freier and Bente Jansen overpowering Sofia Christopherson’s opening goal.
Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City
Sunday April 5 – Maitland Sports Ground – 4:00pm AEDT
MATCH CENTRE | BUY TICKETS | HOW TO WATCH
Current table position
Newcastle Jets: 9th
Melbourne City: 1st
Round 21 result
Newcastle Jets: 3-1 win over Adelaide United (A)
Melbourne City: Bye
Melbourne City were crowned Ninja A-League Premiers last weekend, with the news of their latest tophy triumph coming through at half-time of their AFC Women’s Champions League quarter final win over PFC Nasaf. Their lead at the top of the ladder became unassailable when Wellington lost to Western Sydney on Sunday.
Newcastle did everything they could to keep their finals chances open, defeating Adelaide 3-1, but their fate was sealed when Central Coast drew against Canberra United.
So this match is the only one this weekend without finals ramifications, but it would be foolish to suggest it will be without meaning.
City will be gearing up for their finals clashes and Newcastle will want to show what they could have done against the top sides had they qualified.
Newcastle won when these sides met in Round 13; Kelli Brown, Libby Copus-Brown and Charlotte Lancaster all scoring for the Jets, while Holly McNamara scored from the penalty spot to make it 3-1.
