And then there were six. The Ninja A-League’s top six has been finalised with just one round left in the regular season.
Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United, Western United, Central Coast Mariners, and Canberra United will all be part of the 2024-25 Finals Series.
Canberra United’s narrow 1-0 victory over Wellington Phoenix on Sunday secured their spot in the finals for the first time since the 2020-21 season, eliminating Brisbane Roar and Sydney FC from the race on this crucial weekend.
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In a surprising turn, two-time defending Champions Sydney FC will not be participating in the finals this year, marking the first time in their storied history that they miss out. With the Sky Blues failing to secure a position in the top six, a new Champion will be crowned in 2024-25. However, there remains plenty at stake as the season approaches its final round.
Continue reading to find everything you need to know ahead of the last round of the season, including an explanation of the Finals Series format, details on when the Premiership could be clinched, and the tight three-way contest for positioning within the top six.
What’s at stake?
- Melbourne City: Premiership, Opportunity for an Invincible season
- Melbourne Victory: Premiership
- Western United: Home Final
- Central Coast Mariners: Home Final
- Canberra United: Home Final
When can the Premiership be decided?
Melbourne City could clinch their second consecutive Premiership title this Friday night with a victory over Perth Glory at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
Currently two points clear of Melbourne Victory, a win would put City out of reach before Victory faces Brisbane Roar on Saturday afternoon.
With a superior goal difference of +30 to Victory’s +19, in the event of a draw between City and Glory, and a Victory win against Brisbane, City would still secure the Premiership based on goal difference.
This scenario would only change if Victory were to defeat Brisbane by an improbable margin of 12 goals. The record for the largest margin in a Ninja A-League match is 11 goals (Sydney FC 11-0 Perth Glory, December 2011).
On the other hand, a loss for City against Perth would open the door for Victory to snatch the Premiership with a win over Brisbane.
Not only would securing the top spot mean claiming the Premiers Plate, but it would also guarantee qualification for the 2025-25 AFC Women’s Champions League.
More than just silverware for City this weekend
Remarkably, Michael Matricciani’s squad is on the brink of finishing the regular season unbeaten, which would grant them the coveted “invincible” status.
In the history of the Ninja A-League, only three teams have managed to navigate the entire regular season without a loss:
- Canberra United (2011-12) – P10, W7, D3
- Melbourne City (2015-16) – P12, W12
- Melbourne City (2019-20) – P12, W11, D1
City’s current squad recently surpassed the all-time unbeaten record of 18 games and are now aiming to extend this new milestone to 23 matches as they head to Perth to face Glory in the final round of the regular season.
Firmly positioned as favourites for both the Premiership and Championship in this Ninja A-League season, City are also competing in the Semi Finals of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League, targeting a remarkable treble of trophies.
Just two weeks ago, Sydney FC legend Teresa Polias joined the Dub Zone panel to deliberate on where City’s current squad ranks among the greatest A-League teams ever, should they achieve multiple trophies this season.
“I believe they should definitely be in the conversation as one of the greatest teams ever,” Polias commented.
“It’s challenging to compare the current team with those from six or seven years ago when we had players of a different calibre in the league—think of your starting Matildas and high-profile international players.
“The context was different too; the league was shorter back then. Remarkably, City are unbeaten in a longer league—what they’re achieving right now is incredible.”
Understanding the Finals Format
The top six teams at the conclusion of the regular season will advance to the Finals Series.
The Finals will begin with two Elimination Finals, where the teams finishing in 3rd and 6th and 4th and 5th will compete to determine which two sides progress to meet the first and second-placed teams in a pair of two-legged Semi Finals.
Winners of those semi-finals will progress to the Grand Final.
The Elimination Finals are scheduled to occur between April 25-27, 2025.
The two-legged Semi Finals are set for May 2-4 and May 9-11, with the Grand Final planned for May 17-18, 2025.
The top six is set – but who faces whom in the Finals Series?
Both Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory have ensured their spots in the top two, earning a week’s rest in the first week of the Finals Series as they await their Semi Final opponents.
The third-placed team will take on the sixth-placed team, while the fourth will compete against the fifth in the Elimination Finals, determining which two sides will meet City and Victory for a shot at the Grand Final.
The final place in the top six was confirmed in thrilling fashion on Sunday, as Canberra United learned they’d be playing finals just after the final whistle of their 1-0 victory against Wellington Phoenix, thanks to a wild 4-4 draw between Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers.
TV cameras captured the exciting moment when Michelle Heyman and her teammates realised their finals berth was secured – and their reactions were joyous.
With City and Victory already assured of their top two positions, they advance directly to the Semi Finals. The remaining four teams are now battling for positions that will be crucial in shaping the Elimination Finals.
Adelaide United is firmly in third place with one game remaining and will clash with the sixth-placed team in the opening week.
Currently, that would be Canberra United, with Western United and Central Coast Mariners meeting in the other Elimination Final.
However, just two points separate Western United, Central Coast, and Canberra, meaning any combination of fourth, fifth, and sixth place is still possible before the conclusion of Round 23.
Western United wrap up the regular season with a trip to play Wellington Phoenix, Central Coast Mariners venture to face their F3 Derby rivals, Newcastle Jets, while Canberra plays against Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium.
CLINCHED! Michelle Heyman’s momentous match concludes with Canberra United claiming a finals berth
Three-way race for the Golden Boot on the final day
Melbourne City’s Holly McNamara currently holds a two-goal advantage in the Golden Boot standings, but will she fend off her two international teammates, Emily Gielnik and Tameka Yallop, to claim the honour for the first time in her career?
A hat-trick from Yallop for Brisbane Roar against Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 22 propelled the experienced Matilda into the race for the Golden Boot; her three goals levelled her with Gielnik on 12 goals, just two behind McNamara’s tally of 14.
With City heading into battle against Perth Glory this weekend, McNamara is the front-runner to maintain her lead. After netting a brace against Newcastle Jets, she will be eager to hit the scoresheet again in the West—not only to bolster her Golden Boot claim but also to help her side secure a win that would clinch the Premiership title and mark the end of an unbeaten regular season for City.
Golden Boot leaderboard
1st: Holly McNamara – Melbourne City (14 goals)
=2nd: Tameka Yallop – Brisbane Roar (12 goals)
=2nd: Emily Gielnik – Melbourne Victory (12 goals)
Fixtures for the final round
Friday, April 18
Adelaide United vs. Sydney FC
Perth Glory vs. Melbourne City
Saturday, April 19
Melbourne Victory vs. Brisbane Roar
Newcastle Jets vs. Central Coast Mariners
Western Sydney Wanderers vs. Canberra United
Sunday, April 20
Wellington Phoenix vs. Western United
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
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