As we approach the climax of the Isuzu UTE A-League season, the stakes are higher than ever. Who will take home the Premiership? Which teams will earn berths in the AFC Champions League? Who will make it into the Finals Series? And who will claim the Golden Boot? These questions linger as the season races towards an exciting finale.
With so many key issues yet to be resolved, there’s plenty still to play for as the thrilling conclusion to the 2024-25 A-League season unfolds.
With the Finals Series looming, here’s a closer look at the current landscape of the competition.
The Premiership
Auckland FC is on the brink of achieving a remarkable feat by potentially securing the Premier’s Plate in their inaugural A-League season; however, there’s still a wealth of points available for other teams to challenge for.
Under the guidance of coach Steve Corica, Auckland sits six points clear at the top of the league, maintaining a lead over Western United. The Black Knights, though, have a game in hand on their second-placed counterparts and could extend their lead to nine points at the conclusion of Round 23.
However, the Premiership is far from locked in.
If Auckland falters—especially with a challenging match against two-time champions Central Coast Mariners approaching—there may be opportunities for the trailing teams. Their final fixtures also include contests against finals contenders Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory, and ultimately, Western United.
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Western United are emerging as strong contenders for Auckland’s title, bolstered by their impressive home record and attacking prowess, spearheaded by the Golden Boot frontrunner Noah Botic. However, Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United, and Western Sydney Wanderers are all poised to capitalise on any slip-ups.
Each of Western United, Melbourne City, and Melbourne Victory has six games remaining, while Auckland, Adelaide, and Western Sydney have seven matches left to play.
Remaining fixtures
Auckland FC: Central Coast Mariners (H), Brisbane Roar (A), Western Sydney Wanderers (H), Sydney FC (A), Melbourne Victory (A), Perth Glory (H), Western United (A).
Western United: Newcastle Jets (A), BYE, Perth Glory (H), Western Sydney Wanderers (A), Brisbane Roar (A), Sydney FC (H), Auckland FC (H).
Melbourne City: Sydney FC (A), Central Coast Mariners (H), Brisbane Roar (H), Western Sydney Wanderers (A), Adelaide United (H), Sydney FC (H).
Melbourne Victory: Western Sydney Wanderers (A), Adelaide United (H), BYE, Wellington Phoenix (A), Auckland FC (H), Macarthur Bulls (A), Newcastle Jets (H).
Adelaide United: Macarthur Bulls (H), Melbourne Victory (A), Sydney FC (H), Perth Glory (A), Wellington Phoenix (H), Brisbane Roar (A).
Western Sydney Wanderers: Melbourne Victory (H), Wellington Phoenix (A), Auckland FC (A), Western United (H), Melbourne City (H), Newcastle Jets (A), Macarthur Bulls (A).
AFC Champions League Qualification
The battle for qualification to next season’s AFC Champions League is heating up, largely due to Auckland FC’s position.
The lone Champions League Elite spot granted to the Isuzu UTE A-League goes to the premiership winners. As Auckland leads the standings but hails from New Zealand under the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), they are not eligible for this qualification.
Therefore, if Auckland finishes atop the ladder after the regular season, the highest-ranking team from Australia within the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will gain access to the Champions League. This means that finishing second could still secure a spot in the prestigious tournament.
As such, the competition for continental qualification is intensifying.
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If teams like Western United, City, Victory, Adelaide, and Western Sydney fail to unseat Auckland, the consolation prize for the second-placed side will be a ticket to the 2025-26 ACL Elite—certainly a respectable achievement.
Following their triumph for Australia last season, Central Coast Mariners represented the nation in the 2024-25 season after securing the Isuzu UTE A-League Premier’s Plate. They earned teams USD $800k (approximately AUD $1.27m) just by qualifying for the AFC Champions League Elite.
The Race for the Top Six
There are a few clubs lurking just outside the top six as the Finals Series draws near.
At present, Auckland, Western United, Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United, and Western Sydney Wanderers are in playoff positions, but there are three teams fighting fiercely to break into the top six.
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Star-laden Sydney FC finds themselves only two points shy of securing a top-six place while juggling their commitments in the AFC Champions League Two.
Featuring a wealth of talent such as Joe Lolley, Patryk Klimala, and Adrian Segecic, not to mention Douglas Costa, Sydney FC needs to make up some ground. They remain in fine form, with an unbeaten streak that includes four league matches.
In contrast, the Macarthur Bulls are in freefall after the January exits of key players Ariath Piol, Jed Drew, and Oliver Jones, followed shortly by captain Valere Germain. Their current form reflects three consecutive losses and a six-match winless run, leaving them outside the top six and six points adrift of the playoff positions.
Newcastle Jets, currently in ninth place, are actually one of the league’s form teams, having gone seven matches unbeaten (4 wins, 3 draws)—the Jets’ longest unbeaten streak in two decades.
It’s been a remarkable revival for the Jets, who were languishing in 11th place on January 17th with only 10 points from 12 matches; two of their three wins were against the league’s bottom sides. Now, they have a genuine chance to break into the Finals Series for the first time since 2017-18.
“I’m genuinely concerned for Sydney,” remarked Sky Blues legend Alex Brosque on this week’s Total A-Leagues episode.
“They have a lot on their plate with the Asian commitments, but I see them being capable of scraping through, considering their current form.
“However, looking ahead, I believe it’s likely that either City or Adelaide could drop out of the top six.”
Remaining fixtures
Sydney FC: Wellington Phoenix (H), Melbourne City (H), Adelaide United (A), Auckland FC (H), Newcastle Jets (H), Western United (A).
Macarthur Bulls: Adelaide United (A), Newcastle Jets (H), Brisbane Roar (A), BYE, Central Coast Mariners (A), Melbourne Victory (H), Western Sydney Wanderers (H), Melbourne City (A).
Newcastle Jets: Western United (H), Macarthur Bulls (A), Wellington Phoenix (H), Central Coast Mariners (H), Sydney FC (A), Western Sydney Wanderers (H), Melbourne Victory (A).
Golden Boot Race
The past five Golden Boot awards in the Isuzu UTE A-League have been claimed by just two players—leading scorer and former Melbourne City star Jamie Maclaren (four titles) and Perth Glory’s reigning champion Adam Taggart (one title).
Will we see a new contender emerge for the 2024-25 season?
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Western United’s Noah Botic is currently leading the Golden Boot chase with a career-best tally of 10 goals, but it’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive races we’ve seen in years.
Following closely behind are Joe Lolley from Sydney FC and Hiroshi Ibusuki from Western United, both with nine goals, while Sky Blues teammates Segecic and Klimala, as well as Nicolas Milanovic from Western Sydney Wanderers and Adelaide United’s Archie Goodwin, trail just one goal behind.
There’s also Auckland FC’s Neyder Moreno, Guillermo May, and Logan Rogerson, along with Kosta Barbarouses of Wellington Phoenix, Western Sydney’s Zac Sapsford, and last season’s winner Adam Taggart, all vying for the crown with seven goals each.
This race is definitely one to watch as it could go down to the wire on the final day of the season.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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