There’s simply no denying that it’s a mouth-watering feast to kick off Round 1 of the A-League. We started off with the Melbourne Derby this Friday past between Victory and Heart, before ending the weekend with the Grand Final rematch between Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar.
We can probably expect big crowds this weekend, as fans flock to check out the newest big-name marquee signings. Who would have thought a few months ago that we’d be seeing the likes of Alessandro del Piero, Emile Heskey, Shinji Ono and the returning Marcos Flores on Australian soil? One thing is for certain – this season is shaping up to be a blast.
We’ll probably already know who the victor is between newly minted Melbourne coaches Ange Postecoglou and John Aloisi by the time this goes to print, but here we analyse how the rest of the teams will fare in Round 1.
Wellington Phoenix vs. Sydney FC
Mention Sydney FC and you can’t avoid mentioning their marquee signing Alessandro del Piero. The Italian maestro may be getting on in years, but the ability to hurt A-League defences should still be there. Youngsters like Terry Antonis and Dimitri Petratos will be keen to glean whatever knowledge from their new teammate, but they will have to be wary of Wellington and their Westpac Stadium fortress.
Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund will be the lynchpins of the Wellington defence, with the impressive Paul Ifill expected to do the job at the other end of the pitch. Lucas Pantelis will hope to come off a horror year out with injury and return for the Phoenix.
Western Sydney Wanderers vs. Central Coast Mariners
It’s always interesting to see how a brand new franchise starts off. The Wanderers might need time to settle in, but the capture of Japanese superstar Shinji Ono is another step in the right direction. Among the locals, Aaron Mooy has been tipped to impress after returning from his stint at St. Mirren.
First up is a visit from the reigning Minor Premiers, which is more daunting than it sounds considering how many players Central Coast have lost.
Tom Rogic will be key following the departures of Mustafa Amini and Matt Simon. But it is perhaps captain Alex Wilkinson’s exit that will be most keenly felt. Whoever comes in will have big shoes to fill.
Newcastle Jets vs. Adelaide United
There are plenty of Newcastle fans rubbing their hands with glee at the arrival of Emile Heskey. The Jets’ latest recruit might draw plenty of sniggers for his lack of goals, but the big target man has always provided much more than that. Victorian lad Craig Goodwin will be hoping to debut at some point following his move from Melbourne Heart.
Adelaide, on the other hand, will be coming off an energy-sapping trip to Asian Champions League opponents Bunyodkor in midweek and will be hoping to lift after losing it so late. Striker Evan Kostopoulos will be keen for a chance to prove his worth after playing a part in both games and scoring in the first leg.
New Argentine signing Jeronimo Neumann will also be eager to make sure his fan favourite status is not just down to his unusual name.
Perth Glory vs.
Brisbane Roar
What a way to end the round. Perth will be spoiling for a fight after the perceived injustice in their Grand Final loss, but Brisbane will be determined to prove it was no fluke. Steve Pantelidis had a good season with the Glory last time, but his chances might be limited after the club’s signing of Michael Thwaite. Up front, Shane Smeltz will have another chance to cement his position as the A-League’s all-time leading scorer and add to his tally of 66 goals.
Look for Besart Berisha to be a major figure for Brisbane once again, with the Albanian hotshot ably assisted by the brilliant Thomas Broich.
The duo were a huge part of the club’s championship run last season, and though chief architect Ange Postecoglou is no longer around, coach Rado Vidosic will look to keep the winning mentality intact.
“We’ve maintained the core of the group, which is great for our club,” Brisbane custodian Michael Theo said ahead of the clash. “There’s been a couple of great inclusions, so I think we’ll definitely improve and it’ll hold us in good stead.”
