Report Card: Grading Your Isuzu UTE A-League Team’s Season – Part Three

The 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season has concluded, marking a chapter filled with shattered records, heartfelt triumphs, and unforgettable experiences.

In a remarkable season highlighted by Auckland FC’s debut success in claiming the Premiers Plate and Melbourne City celebrating their second Championship title, aleagues.com.au reflects on your club’s journey through the memorable events of 2024-25.

In this concluding segment of our Year-End review, aleagues.com.au delves into the performances of the remaining four teams: Sydney FC, Wellington Phoenix, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Western United.

If you happened to miss Parts One or Two of our Report Card series, feel free to click the links below to catch up on how your team fared.

PART ONE: Your Isuzu UTE A-League side’s season rated
PART TWO: Your Isuzu UTE A-League side’s season rated

Sydney FC (7th)

The expectations were high for Sydney FC in the 2024-25 season, especially after securing a marquee signing in Brazilian international Douglas Costa, previously of Bayern Munich and Juventus.

The additions of Leo Sena, a former Serie A midfielder, creative attacker Anas Ouahim, and ex-Celtic striker Patryk Klimala on a loan deal indicated that Ufuk Talay’s side was primed for a formidable offensive season, despite some concerns in their defensive setup.

While experienced defender and newly appointed captain Rhyan Grant held the defensive line steady, Sydney FC only brought in central defender Alexandar Popovic, leaving Talay to deploy a youthful pairing of Popovic, just 22, and promising talent Hayden Matthews, which ultimately proved insufficient.

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Aside from a surprising exit in the Australia Cup Round of 32, the Sky Blues commenced their A-League campaign brightly with consecutive victories, including wins in their AFC Champions League Two matches against Eastern and Kaya FC, followed by a triumph over local rivals Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium in their opening round.

However, a loss to Auckland FC, as well as to their former manager Steve Corica in Round Two, set a troubling tone for the season as Sydney harmonised their ACL Two commitments with a congested A-League fixture list.

Demonstrating a potent offensive threat with players like Joe Lolley, Costa, Anthony Caceres, and the rising star Adrian Segecic, Sydney FC struggled defensively, often engaging in high-scoring encounters epitomised by “you score three, we’ll score four” scenarios.

VISIT THE 2025-26 ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE

Changes to the defensive line included Harrison Devenish-Meares stepping in as the new first-choice goalkeeper, replacing club legend Andrew Redmayne. This, combined with Matthews’ mid-season transfer to Portsmouth and an injury to Popovic, led to pervasive instability in the defence, culminating in a concerning total of 46 goals conceded.

While Segecic emerged as a highlight of the season with his scoring prowess, the Sky Blues faced a tense battle for a top-six finish against Adelaide United and Macarthur Bulls. Additionally, a semi-final clash against Singapore’s Lion City Sailors added further strain as they aspired to reach the ACL Two final—an aim they ultimately fell short of.

After being eliminated by Lion City on aggregate, the Sky Blues’ regular season fortunes dwindled as they lost their last two matches to Western United (1-0) and Melbourne City (5-1), finishing just one point shy of a finals appearance, with Adelaide United narrowly claiming the sixth spot.

In the wake of this disappointing season, head coach Talay’s future hovered in uncertainty as his contract approached its end. Nevertheless, following an internal review, the club confirmed that the former Wellington Phoenix manager would stay on board after securing a new one-year contract extension.

RATING: 4/10

Wellington Phoenix (11th)

Having come close to the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final, expectations were also set high for Wellington Phoenix as they faced the 2024-25 season.

With rookie manager Giancarlo Italiano returning for his second season, many anticipated that the Nix would continue their upward momentum. However, the squad faced a significant setback with the departure of several key players.

Prominent figures such as star striker Oskar Zawada, Bulgarian international Bozhidar Kraev, and last season’s Goalkeeper of the Year Alex Paulsen, who moved to Premier League side AFC Bournemouth, were no longer with the team.

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Additional departures included promising midfielder Ben Old moving to French club AS Saint-Etienne and defender Finn Surman heading to the MLS with Portland Timbers, leaving Italiano with the monumental task of regenerating his squad. In their place, seasoned Japanese players Kazuki Nagasawa and Hideki Ishige arrived alongside returning winger Marco Rojas, while former Tottenham Hotspur academy player Josh Oluwayemi was recruited to shore up the goalkeeping position.

After an opening draw with Western United, the Nix secured their first victory with a 2-0 win over Perth Glory, before attention shifted to a much-anticipated New Zealand Derby against Auckland FC in Round Three.

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The excitement peaked as Wellington fans organised a banner to be flown over Go Media Stadium during Auckland FC’s Round One match against Brisbane Roar, proclaiming “NZ is yellow – see you next week.” Unfortunately for the home side, Auckland FC triumphed with a dramatic late double from Jake Brimmer, claiming both the match and New Zealand football bragging rights.

Despite this disheartening defeat, Italiano’s team rebounded well to win their subsequent two matches, only to face Auckland FC again at Go Media Stadium, where they suffered yet another 2-1 loss. This initiated a woeful run of five losses in six matches, spawning criticism directed at Italiano and his players for lacking incisiveness.

Though the results were disappointing, there were still highlights for the Phoenix in the 2024-25 season, with young talents such as Corban Piper and Luke Brooke-Smith emerging as regular contributors, and veteran striker Kosta Barbarouses marking his 100th Isuzu UTE A-League goal during a 2-1 victory over Macarthur Bulls in January 2025.

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Moreover, the signing of Francisco ‘Chico’ Geraldes as a mid-season loan appeared to be a brilliant acquisition aimed at injecting creativity into the squad. However, the ultimate low point of the season occurred in late February when they faced Auckland FC for the third time, suffering a staggering 6-1 defeat. This loss solidified an 0-3 record against Auckland FC and a final stretch that yielded just one win in their last nine matches, landing the Nix in 11th place, 14 points shy of the top six.

RATING: 4/10

Western Sydney Wanderers (4th)

After an absence from the 2023-24 Finals Series, the Wanderers sought to rebound in the 2024-25 season under new management.

With local coach Alen Stajcic brought in on a one-year contract, the Wanderers took steps to refresh their squad, including the signing of one of football’s most decorated players, Spanish sensation Juan Mata.

Joining him were former Wellington Phoenix midfielder Bozhidar Kraev and towering Korean defender Tae-wook Jeong, forming a new-look Wanderers side eager to make a statement against Sydney FC in their opening round.

VISIT THE 2025-26 ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE

However, the Wanderers faced adversity early on, with captain and starting goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas suffering an ankle injury during pre-season, sidelining him for the initial rounds of competition. The season began with a Sydney Derby defeat to Sydney FC at CommBank Stadium.

Following that initial setback, the Wanderers drew 1-1 with Western United and endured a thrilling 4-3 loss against Adelaide United. With just one point from the opening three games, they finally recorded their first victory in Round Four against the Jets, only to lose again to Sydney FC in a 4-2 clash during United Round.

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Eventually, Stajcic’s side found their rhythm, catalysed by an injury to a first-team player. After loan signing Jeong suffered a season-ending ankle injury, central defender Anthony Pantazopoulos stepped up alongside young teammate Alex Bonetig, forming a formidable partnership, leading to improved results.

Contributing heavily were the goals of 23-year-old Nicolas Milanovic, who found himself part of a lethal attacking trio alongside Socceroo Brandon Borrello and upcoming striker Zac Sapsford. The Wanderers ascended the league table and, backed by mid-season reinforcements Jarrod Carluccio, Mohamed Al-Taay, and returning Socceroo Alex Gersbach, emerged as strong contenders for the top four as the end of the season approached.

Despite the significant setback of a season-ending ACL injury for midfielder Dylan Scicluna, Stajcic’s side concluded the season in remarkable form, stringing together eight wins along with a 12-match unbeaten streak, ensuring a top-four finish and a return to the Finals Series.

Finishing the campaign with 12 goals under his belt, Milanovic, just shy of the Golden Boot, was awarded the 2025 Johnny Warren Medal for an exceptional individual season that propelled the Wanderers as the league’s most dynamic attacking force.

However, despite their red-hot form, the Wanderers were stifled by Melbourne Victory in the Elimination Final, succumbing to a 2-1 loss at CommBank Stadium, thus concluding their season prematurely. On a positive note, Stajcic garnered a new two-year contract extension following a season that revitalised the Wanderers’ fanbase.

RATING: 7/10

Western United (3rd)

After a disappointing finish in 2023-24, where they placed second last, Western United entered the new campaign with significant opportunities for improvement.

Following the departures of Championship winners Josh Risdon, Lachie Wales, Steven Lustica, seasoned striker Nikita Rukavytsya, and Brazilian playmaker Daniel Penha, the team opted for a youth-driven strategy heading into 2024-25, balancing it with a sprinkle of A-League experience. New faces included former Adelaide United striker Hiroshi Ibusuki and Western Sydney defender Tate Russell, while Aloisi placed trust in the club’s young talents, featuring promising defender Dylan Leonard and talented winger Abel Walatee.

The season began with a draw in Wellington, followed by a home stalemate against the Wanderers, but losses to Melbourne City and Adelaide United soon followed. Nevertheless, Aloisi’s side displayed an exhilarating style of play, and their first victory arrived in Round Five against Perth Glory, where they triumphed 3-1.

REPORT CARD: Your Isuzu UTE A-League side’s season rated – Part One

Young forward Noah Botic flourished, scoring eight goals in 11 matches, positioning himself as a contender for the Golden Boot while driving Western’s rise in the league. A four-game winning streak around Christmas, followed by another five-match winning run from February to April, propelled Western from being outside the top six to challengers for the Premiership, becoming a side no one wanted to face.

However, a narrow defeat to the Wanderers and a shock loss to Brisbane Roar meant that they were now vying for second place at best—though this was needed to secure Asian football for the following season.

Despite achieving victories against both Sydney FC and Premiership winners Auckland FC in their final two matches, Western concluded the season in third place. Nevertheless, they boasted the league’s second-most potent attack, setting up a thrilling Elimination Final clash with Adelaide United, the first-ever men’s finals match to be hosted at Ironbark Fields.

Despite being favoured against an Adelaide team that only qualified for the Finals Series by a single point, Western dominated the match, with Botic scoring a hat-trick, propelling them into a semi-final face-off against neighbours Melbourne City.

Sadly for Aloisi’s squad, their successful march ended in the semi-finals, falling 3-0 to City in the first leg at home. Although a revitalised Botic netted a goal in the return fixture, Western’s campaign concluded at AAMI Park.

With low expectations heading into the season, this largely youthful and inexperienced Western United side managed to exit with pride after securing a remarkable third-place finish while consistently delivering some of the most engaging football witnessed across the league.

RATING: 8/10

Missed Parts One or Two of our Report Card series? Simply click the links below to catch up on your team’s performance.

PART ONE: Your Isuzu UTE A-League side’s season rated
PART TWO: Your Isuzu UTE A-League side’s season rated