Strap yourselves in, we are almost in the end game now.
Just over two months remain in the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League season and the race for spots inside the top six is as close as ever – with all 12 sides still within a chance of finding themselves in finals action come May.
Incredibly, six sides – from second all the way to seventh – are separated by only three points, showcasing just how tight things are heading into the final stretch.
KEEPUP assesses the run home for each of the 12 sides and their chances of playing finals football this season.
READ: The run home: Liberty A-League finals race set for photo finish
THE RUN HOME
1. Melbourne City
- Games played: 16
- Points: 34 (10 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses)
- Goal difference: +22
Top of the table, with a seven-point gap and a game in hand (that they are leading 1-0)… Melbourne City could hardly be in a better position heading into the final two months of the regular season.
The reigning premiers are in a commanding position on top of the league standings and are en route to what would be an incredible premiership three-peat. Rado Vidosic has continued the good work put in place by predecessor Patrick Kisnorbo as the new head coach and maintained City’s stranglehold on top position.
In City’s last 10 games, they face five of the current top six, but could effectively wrap up the Premiers Plate well before their final regular season clash against Western Sydney Wanderers – particularly if they close out the restarted Melbourne Derby in April.
The next two games, however, could have a huge say in how the remainder of the season plays out, particularly if both Sydney and Adelaide can pinch points off City again.
The run home: Sydney FC (H), Adelaide United (A), Brisbane Roar (H), Macarthur (A), Newcastle Jets (H), Wellington Phoenix (H), Central Coast Mariners (A), Western United (A), Western Sydney Wanderers (H) – *also play Melbourne Victory. Game will take place in April and recommence from the 21st minute with City leading 1-0*.
2. Central Coast Mariners
- Games played: 17
- Points: 27 (8 wins, 3 draws, 6 losses)
- Goal difference: +10
A come-from-behind draw last weekend, coupled with Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers playing out a thriller 4-4 stalemate, means Central Coast Mariners keep their noses ahead of the trailing pack in second.
Nick Montgomery’s side have had a difficult last five games, only winning once, but are still in the driver’s seat to secure the all-important “week-off” come finals time.
The Mariners’ next two games, however, could have a massive say in how things are shaping up heading into the business end of the campaign – with clashes against Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney Wanderers up next – sides who they’ve played tight, fiery contests with already this season.
After that, it’s four straight games against sides outside the six right now – including the entire bottom three – before a tricky final three games; an F3 Derby on the road that’s sandwiched between clashes with City and Adelaide.
The run home: Wellington Phoenix (H), Western Sydney Wanderers (A), Macarthur (H – Mudgee), Melbourne Victory (A), Brisbane Roar (H), Western United (A), Melbourne City (H), Newcastle Jets (A), Adelaide United (A)
3. Adelaide United
- Games played: 17
- Points: 27 (7 wins, 6 draws, 4 losses)
- Goal difference: +2
Adelaide have quietly floated under the radar as one of the form sides in the league over the last month.
The Reds are unbeaten in their last six and have put themselves right in the mix for a top-two berth as a result. United have been firing on all cylinders in front of goal too, scoring 12 goals in their last four (average of three per game) – but their defence has been equally leaky, conceding 10.
Their run home is far from easy, particularly in their next six games, where they face four of the current top six along with a buoyant Melbourne Victory and Newcastle Jets outfit on the road.
What works in their favour during that stretch is that they only play one of those top six outfits on the road (Western Sydney Wanderers) – with the rest being at Coopers Stadium.
The final game against Central Coast is shaping up to be a blockbuster at Hindmarsh, as it could be for a top-two spot.
The run home: Melbourne Victory (A), Melbourne City (H), Newcastle Jets (A), Wellington Phoenix (H), Western Sydney Wanderers (A), Sydney FC (H), Western United (H), Perth Glory (A), Central Coast Mariners (H)
4. Western Sydney Wanderers
- Games played: 17
- Points: 25 (6 wins, 7 draws, 4 losses)
- Goal difference: +4
It’s been some season for the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Marko Rudan’s side have shown real fight after years of missing the finals and find themselves right in the mix for not only a top-six berth for the first time since 2017 but a place inside the top two.
Western Sydney have only won twice in their last 11 games since the league’s resumption post World Cup, but they’re not necessarily losing either – only being on the wrong side of the scoreline twice in that period.
The Wanderers, however, look primed for a strong run to the finish – with a number of quality players arriving in January and the return of key players from injury, and hopefully, captain Marcelo to follow too.
Their run home is a tough one, with clashes against the Mariners, Adelaide United, the third Derby against Sydney FC and their final two games of the season against Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne City standing out in particular.
Nonetheless, many of these contests shape as appointment viewing and potential previews for what could come finals time.
The run home: Macarthur (H), Central Coast Mariners (H), Perth Glory (A), Sydney FC (A), Adelaide United (H), Macarthur (A), Melbourne Victory (H), Wellington Phoenix (H), Melbourne City (A)
5. Wellington Phoenix
- Games played: 17
- Points: 24 (6 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses)
- Goal difference: +3
It’s been a solid season thus far for Wellington but to quote Maxwell Lord – it can be better.
Despite their fifth place on the table, the ‘Nix would feel aggrieved not to be higher up the standings, dropping a whopping league-high 20 points from leading positions.
Nonetheless, the ‘Nix are still right in the mix for a top-two position heading into the final stretch of the season and would feel confident knowing that their best football can stand up with just about anyone in the competition.
Wellington will finally return home after four straight games on the road when they take on Newcastle Jets next week, but before then, they face a monster clash with Central Coast on Friday night football.
The Phoenix will play two of their last four home games at Eden Park, coming against sixth-placed Sydney FC then Brisbane Roar.
However, Ufuk Talay’s charges have some difficult road tests to come – with Adelaide, City and the Wanderers among the away days to round out the season.
The run home: Central Coast Mariners (A), Newcastle Jets (H), Sydney FC (H), Adelaide United (A), Melbourne Victory (H), Melbourne City (A), Brisbane Roar (H), Western Sydney Wanderers (A), Macarthur (A)
6. Sydney FC
- Games played: 17
- Points: 24 (7 wins, 3 draws, 7 losses)
- Goal difference: -1
It’s amazing how much things can change in a matter of weeks.
The Sky Blues have gone from the bottom reaches of the table in January, to now being right in the mix for a week-off come finals time.
Sydney FC are currently riding a four-game unbeaten run, but dropped points in their 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar last weekend and if it wasn’t for Alex Parsons’ late goal – Steve Corica’s side would be out of the six.
Now, it’s all about continuity for Sydney, who face an intriguing run home, playing four of the current top-six but only one of them on their home deck – with tricky clashes against City, Wellington and Adelaide in the pipeline.
Right now, their final game of the season against 7th placed Newcastle is shaping up to be a tantalising one as it could be – if standings remain the same – a “win and you’re in” clash at Allianz Stadium.
The run home: Melbourne City (A), Melbourne Victory (H), Wellington Phoenix (A), Western Sydney Wanderers (H), Western United (H), Adelaide United (A), Perth Glory (H), Brisbane Roar (A), Newcastle Jets (H)
7. Newcastle Jets
- Games played: 17
- Points: 24 (7 wins, 3 draws, 7 losses)
- Goal difference: -4
The Box Office Jets are back.
Newcastle have turned things around brilliantly over the last month, going undefeated in their last six games and closing the gap on the top six to only a matter of goal difference behind Sydney FC.
But bigger tests in the weeks to come will be a good litmus test for Arthur Papas’s side, who only faced one of the current top six in their unbeaten run (1-1 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers).
However, the confidence from those results would give the Jets plenty of confidence going into an intriguing run to the finish. After facing Western United, Newcastle face four tricky tests against Wellington, Adelaide, Perth and City – which will more than likely have an enormous say in whether the Jets can breach the six.
The final two games of the season could be essential viewing, when the Jets face Mariners at home in the F3 Derby before a potential “elimination final” against the Sky Blues a week later.
The run home: Western United (H), Wellington Phoenix (A), Adelaide United (H), Perth Glory (H), Melbourne City (A), Brisbane Roar (A), Macarthur (H), Central Coast Mariners (H), Sydney FC (A)
8. Macarthur
- Games played: 17
- Points: 21 (6 wins, 3 draws, 8 losses)
- Goal difference: -7
It’s been a tough 2023 for the Bulls.
Since the turn of the year, Macarthur have only won twice in eight games, changed coaches, lost their spot inside the top six and recently, lost their captain and star playmaker Ulises Davila to a season ending injury.
Despite all that, Mile Sterjovski’s charges sit only three points outside the top six and remain right in the mix for a finals berth.
Macarthur’s inconsistent form makes them a difficult team to get a read on and their run home is going to be revealing. The most eye-catching part of their fixture list is two Western Sydney derbies against the Wanderers – with the first being this weekend at CommBank Stadium.
Their final five games also only sees them play two of the current top six, with both of those games being at home. The clash against Wellington in the season finale could also be a proverbial elimination final if Macarthur can stay within three points (and cut their goal-difference).
The run home: Western Sydney Wanderers (A), Brisbane Roar (H), Central Coast Mariners (A), Melbourne City (H), Perth Glory (A), Western Sydney Wanderers (H), Newcastle Jets (A), Melbourne Victory (A), Wellington Phoenix (H)
9. Perth Glory
- Games played: 17
- Points: 20 (5 wins, 5 draws, 7 losses)
- Goal difference: -6
What a turnaround it’s been for Perth Glory.
From bottom of the table, to right in the mix for finals, Ruben Zadkovich’s side has ridden the wave of momentum generated by their clashes at home-away-from-home Macedonia Park – losing only once in nine games.
However, the four point gap outside the top six could have been shortened had the Glory hung on to leads against both Newcastle and Central Coast during this run. Now, the big test awaits for Perth, who need to translate their home form into road form over the next fortnight.
The Glory have the worst away record in the league (four points out of a possible 24) and clashes against bottom two sides Brisbane Roar and Western United on the road shape as integral games to stay in the hunt.
But the good news for Perth is, they only have to play three of the current top six in the last nine games and will return to their spiritual home of HBF Park in March for the first time this season when they face Western Sydney.
The run home: Brisbane Roar (A), Western United (A), Western Sydney Wanderers (H), Newcastle Jets (A), Macarthur (H), Melbourne Victory (A), Sydney FC (A), Adelaide United (H), Western United (H)
10. Melbourne Victory
- Games played: 16
- Points: 17 (5 wins, 2 draws, 9 losses)
- Goal difference: -4
They’re still alive.
Melbourne Victory’s faint finals hopes have a pulse after defeating league leaders Melbourne City in the Derby last week, sending a statement to the rest of the competition that they’re not ready to go down without a fight.
Tony Popovic’s side are still seven points off the pace, but can cut right into the deficit in what is shaping up to be a huge few weeks for his charges. The Original Derby and Big Blue await Victory, before taking on cross-town rivals Western United and second-placed Central Coast Mariners before the international break.
The positive is, three of those games are at home and they’ve had joy at the Allianz Stadium already this season – beating Sydney there in round one.
However, after a tough run, three of Victory’s last four are at home and against current bottom six sides who they would fancy themselves against. Victory also have a game in hand against City, albeit, they are down by a goal when play restarts.
If anyone could turn it around, it’s Victory.
The run home: Adelaide United (H), Sydney FC (A), Western United (H), Central Coast Mariners (H), Wellington Phoenix (A), Perth Glory (H), Western Sydney Wanderers (A), Macarthur (H), Brisbane Roar (H) – *also play Melbourne City. Game will take place in April and recommence from the 21st minute with City leading 1-0*.
11. Brisbane Roar
- Games played: 17
- Points: 17 (3 wins, 8 draws, 6 losses)
- Goal difference: -6
From eight games unbeaten, to seven games without a win.
Brisbane Roar’s once-promising season has come crashing down over the last couple of months, as they languish seven points outside the top six heading into the final stretch. The Roar parted ways with head coach Warren Moon as a result, turning to Nick Green as interim coach to steady the ship for the remainder of the season.
Green’s charges are seven points off the pace and need a dramatic change in fortunes if they are to get themselves right back in the hunt. Upcoming clashes against Perth, Macarthur and Western United shape as essentially must-win games for Brisbane.
However, they still have to face Melbourne City on the road and play three of their last five against top six outfits, including away days against Central Coast and Wellington.
It’s going to be an uphill climb from here.
The run home: Perth Glory (H), Macarthur (A), Melbourne City (A), Western United (H), Central Coast Mariners (A), Newcastle Jets (H), Wellington Phoenix (A), Sydney FC (H), Melbourne Victory (A)
12. Western United
- Games played: 17
- Points: 16 (4 wins, 4 draws, 9 losses)
- Goal difference: -13
The reining champions are teetering on the edge.
Western United’s championship defence has been far from what they expected this season, sitting bottom of the ladder with the league’s worst goal-difference heading into the final nine games of the season.
After a tough start, United had seemingly turned a corner, but no wins in their last four games – including surrendering leads in two of those – means United’s season is hanging by a thread.
Similarly to Brisbane, they need to start getting points as soon as possible, starting with clashes against in-form Newcastle, at home to Perth, cross-town rivals Victory and the Roar in Queensland.
But after the run of four straight games against current bottom-six sides, it’s four straight against sides in the six.
Nonetheless, they need to start getting points now as time is running out.
The run home: Newcastle Jets (A), Perth Glory (H), Melbourne Victory (A), Brisbane Roar (A), Sydney FC (A), Central Coast Mariners (H), Adelaide United (A), Melbourne City (H), Perth Glory (A)
