What a finish to the season. Who’ll finish on top? Who’ll make the six? Here’s your complete guide to the each club’s last six rounds of the season.
Wanderers (38pts)
To play: Brisbane (A), Jets (A), Adelaide (H), Victory (A), Mariners (H), Phoenix (A)
In the box seat for the Premiership moving into the final six rounds, Friday night against Roar and the home clash against Adelaide in a couple of weeks loom as decisive in deciding who finishes top.
Adelaide (36pts)
To play: Phoenix (A), City (H), Wanderers (A), Mariners (H), Sydney FC (A), City (A)
The hottest team in the A-League are on the back of a 13-game unbeaten run. They have four of the last six away from home – including that huge battle with the Wanderers – but confidence is soaring in the City of Churches.
Brisbane (35pts)
To play: Wanderers (H), Victory (H), City (A), Sydney FC (H), Jets (H), Victory (A)
Still right in the hunt despite a recent poor run of form. This Friday’s clash with Wanderers is massive and still to play Victory twice in the run home which could go a long way to determining where each side finishes at the end of the regular season.
City (32pts)
To play: Sydney FC (H), Adelaide (A), Brisbane (H), Phoenix (H), Perth (A), Adelaide (H)
Four of the last six at home is a plus for John van ‘t Schip’s troops, starting with a huge battle with the Sky Blues on Saturday night. Have to play the dominant Reds twice in the run in – including on the final day of the regular season.
Victory (30pts)
To play: Mariners (A), Brisbane (A), Jets (H), Wanderers (H), Phoenix (A), Brisbane (H)
A tricky end to the season for the champions, mixed in with ACL commitments. The home game with the Wanderers in a few weeks will be huge and they will probably need three wins in total to confirm a finals berth.
Sydney FC (30pts)
To play: City (A), Phoenix (H), Mariners (A), Roar (A), Adelaide (H), Perth (H)
Like Victory, a tough period ahead with two campaigns to fight. Two home games to finish the season will be welcome, especially the Round 27 clash with Glory which could be a straight shoot-out for sixth spot.
Glory (28pts)
To play: Jets (H), Mariners (H), Phoenix (A), Jets (A), City (H), Sydney (A)
Their club-record winning run ended on the weekend but momentum still seems to be with Glory. They play the resurgent Jets twice in a month, starting with this Monday, with results in those games very much key to sneaking into the six.
Jets (26pts)
To play: Perth (A), Wanderers (H), Victory (A), Perth (H), Brisbane (A), Mariners (A)
Looked dead and buried a month ago but now eyeing a finals berth. Only play twice at home on the run in which is difficult with the games against Glory (x2) and Victory likely to decide their finals fate over the next month.
Phoenix (22pts)
To play: Adelaide (H), Sydney FC (A), Perth (H), City (A), Victory (H), Wanderers (H)
Finals look out of reach for Ernie Merrick’s side but showed in their win over City they will be a handful over the last six games. Could throw a spanner in the works for a few sides chasing a finals berth with games against Sydney, Perth and Victory.
Mariners (12pts)
To play: Victory (H), Glory (A), Sydney FC (H), Adelaide (A), Wanderers (A), Jets (H)
Only pride to play for over the last six weeks with the club all-but assured of the wooden spoon. But they will have a big say in who wins the Premiership and makes the six with games against the Wanderers and Reds and Victory and Sydney to come while a final round F3 Derby will be a must-win for their success-starved fans.
