Michelle Heyman Reaches 200th Appearance & The Race for the Premiers Plate Heats Up | Dub Zone Ep. 21
As we approach the final two rounds of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season, the Premiers Plate, the Golden Boot, and the final two spots for the Finals Series remain fiercely contested, setting the scene for a thrilling conclusion to the regular season.
Melbourne City currently tops the league and has the potential to finish the season without a loss. Under the guidance of Michael Matricciani, they have achieved an impressive 21-game unbeaten streak, yet surprisingly have yet to secure the Premiership due to the outstanding performance of their local rivals, Melbourne Victory.
In the race for the Golden Boot, two CommBank Matildas are tied on 12 goals; City’s Holly McNamara and Victory’s Emily Gielnik will aim to outscore each other in the last two games, with additional goals possibly leading their teams to clinch the Premiership title.
City and Victory are among four teams with confirmed spots in the Finals Series, joining Adelaide United and Western United, while Central Coast Mariners, Canberra United, and Brisbane Roar are engaged in a fierce three-way battle for the remaining two positions in the top six.
With plenty still to play for, here’s the latest from the league as we gear up for the final two rounds of the regular season leading into the Finals Series.
The Premiership
Only two teams remain in contention for the Premiers Plate, and the outcome could be determined within a five-hour window on Friday night, as City and Victory kick off Round 22 against Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners, respectively.
City will host the Jets at AAMI Park, with the match set to commence at 4:50pm AEST.
City boasts an unblemished record against Newcastle in the Ninja A-League, and a win on Friday would widen their lead at the top to five points.
The result of Victory’s match against the Mariners later that evening will be crucial; if they fail to win in Gosford, City will be confirmed as the Premiers for the 2024-25 season.
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If City falters against the Jets and Victory triumphs over the Mariners, Jeff Hopkins’ team would leapfrog City at the summit of the table.
Should City and Newcastle end in a stalemate while Victory wins, both would be tied at 50 points, but City would retain first place due to a superior goal difference (+27 compared to Victory’s +18).
In this week’s episode of Dub Zone, A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzeri and Sydney FC legend Teresa Polias examined the current dynamics in the Premiership race.
“The weekend will be crucial,” Pellizzeri pointed out. “Melbourne City will play first, allowing them to extend their lead.”
“Melbourne Victory faces the tough challenge of an away match against Central Coast, which has been a very competitive fixture this season.”
The two teams have clashed twice already, with the first encounter resulting in a 1-1 draw in the Unite Round, followed by Victory’s 2-0 victory in Round 16, thanks to two goals from Emily Gielnik.
“Both teams are now well acquainted with each other,” Pellizzeri noted. “If City secures victory against Newcastle, Victory must win to keep the pressure on leading into the final day.”
“So, how challenging will the Mariners be for Victory on their turf?”
“Very challenging,” Polias replied. “Right now, the Mariners are riding high.”
“They have been securing better results and are playing more attractive football. Thus, this fixture will be a significant challenge for Victory – one that they need ahead of the finals.”
If City fails to secure the Premiers Plate this weekend, they may find themselves in a similar position to the 2023-24 season’s dramatic conclusion.
Last season, City travelled to Perth to face Glory at Macedonia Park and managed to snatch the Premiership from Sydney FC on the final day. This season, City will head back to Western Australia to meet Perth at the Sam Kerr Football Centre in Round 23.
Remaining fixtures
Melbourne City: Newcastle Jets (H), Perth Glory (A)
Melbourne Victory: Central Coast Mariners (A), Brisbane Roar (H)
Three Teams Compete for Finals Football
With Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United, and Western United securing their places in the Finals Series, the last two spots in the top six are still open for contention. Brisbane Roar, in seventh place, is just six points shy of Central Coast Mariners in fifth, and only two points behind sixth-placed Canberra United.
Brisbane had been comfortably in the top six from Round 3 until Round 20 before a dismal performance saw Alex Smith’s team slip out of the Finals Series picture following Round 21. The Roar has suffered seven defeats in their past nine matches and heads into the final two rounds riding a five-game losing streak.
Up until Round 21, Brisbane had capitalised on Canberra’s failure to seize their chance to break into the top six. United drew three consecutive games before losing their following three fixtures, managing a win over Perth Glory away from home in Round 21 that enabled Antoni Jagarinec’s side to push Brisbane out of the playoff spots.
Canberra currently holds a two-point lead over Brisbane with two games remaining.
Central Coast’s position in the top six is nearly assured; they require just one point from their upcoming matches against Victory and Newcastle Jets to guarantee their spot in the Finals Series.
Brisbane isn’t out of the contention just yet and has a chance to keep their season alive this weekend when they play host to the bottom-placed Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.
The Roar holds a significantly better goal difference than Canberra (+6 to -6) with two rounds remaining, which could prove crucial in the event that teams finish level on points.
Remaining fixtures
Central Coast Mariners: Melbourne Victory (A), Newcastle Jets (A)
Canberra United: Wellington Phoenix (H), Western Sydney Wanderers (A)
Brisbane Roar: Western Sydney Wanderers (H), Melbourne Victory (A)
The Golden Boot Battle
With Holly McNamara and Emily Gielnik leading the Golden Boot race on 12 goals each, three players sit close behind on nine goals as Fiona Worts, Sharn Freier, and Tameka Yallop look to make a late push, making this competition one to watch as the season nears its end.
Golden Boot standings
=1st: Emily Gielnik, Melbourne Victory (12 goals)
=1st: Holly McNamara, Melbourne City (12 goals)
=3rd: Fiona Worts, Melbourne Victory (9 goals)
=3rd: Tameka Yallop, Brisbane Roar (9 goals)
=3rd: Laini Freier, Brisbane Roar (9 goals)
The Dub Zone hosts were divided in their predictions for the Golden Boot winner. Polias expressed her favour for McNamara due to City’s advantageous fixtures against Newcastle and Perth.
Conversely, Pellizzeri considered that Victory’s determination to catch City in the Premiership might provide Gielnik with the extra motivation to secure the goals her team desperately needs.
“I’m going with fixtures alone, and I believe Holly Mac will come out on top for the Golden Boot,” Polias stated.
“You make a good point,” Pellizzeri countered, “but I believe Gielnik may have the edge, especially if Victory needs to score to improve their goal difference against Brisbane Roar on the final day or if it’s a match with little at stake for both.”
“If neither player scores, is a draw a fair outcome? Does one striker have a stronger claim to the Golden Boot over the course of the season than the other?”
“Individually, they’re in different phases of their careers. For Holly Mac, this would be her first, while for Gielnik, it represents a resurgence. Winning would hold significant meaning for both, albeit for different reasons.”
Gielnik last claimed the Golden Boot in the 2020-21 season, netting 13 goals for Brisbane Roar.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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