As we tick past the midway point of the 2024/25 A-League season, we’ve got some big games on the cards over the long weekend.
It kicks off with a tantalising edition of the Big Blue on Friday night with Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC with both clubs desperate for all three points.
Saturday’s action kicks off in a new venue with Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch hosting the Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners.
Check out our previews and best bets for every fixture below.
Melbourne VictoryvsSydney FC
Friday 24 January, 7:35pm, AAMI Park
Melbourne Victory 2 – Sydney FC 0
Who is the more desperate team heading into this match?
The Victory’s winless streak was extended to six matches in Adelaide last Saturday night and their defensive record is starting to be a real concern.
In their last three matches they have allowed nine goals and are showing no signs of improvement.
Not to mention they lost 3-0 to the Sky Blues just under a month ago where Zinedine Macach was sent off a quarter of an hour into the match.
Meanwhile, Sydney will no doubt be hurting after their shock loss to the horrifically bad Brisbane Roar last weekend, perhaps getting caught looking ahead on the schedule.
Right now it is too hard to back the Victory, even at home and only one of these sides has shown the capacity to bounce back from a disappointing loss last week.
Sydney FC to Win @ $3.00
Wellington PhoenixvsCentral Coast Mariners
Saturday 25 January, 3:00pm, Apollo Projects Stadium
Wellington 0 – Central Coast 0
Both of these teams have had very similar seasons to date, however not the comparable recent form is definitely not equal.
The Nix have shown steady improvement both on the pitch and the scoreboard since Christmas with a much needed victory over Macarthur on Monday night.
While the Mariners have won two of the last three, the first of those wins came against Brisbane before last week’s win over the hot and cold Wanderers.
The new venue of Christchurch should favour the Nix over the nominal visitors as the locals get behind the Kiwi based side over the visiting Aussies.
Wellington to Win @ $2.65
Newcastle JetsvsPerth Glory
Saturday 25 January, 5:00pm, McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle 2 – Perth 2
Now it’s time for the overly optimistic play of the weekend.
Perth’s football department has wasted no time bringing in a plethora of reinforcements to their squad as they try and salvage their season.
How quickly those players can integrate themselves will play a big role in how quickly Perth can turn it around but there is no question they will have upgraded the squad.
Add in the fact Newcastle is really struggling right now with two ugly losses in their last couple of weeks and the disparity in the market seems off.
Especially as this is a very different to the Perth side that was trounced 4-0 out west by Perth in mid-December.
Perth Win/Draw Double Chance @ $2.25
Macarthur FCvsMelbourne City
Saturday 25 January 7:35pm, Campbelltown Stadium
Macarthur 1 – Melbourne City 0
It was a bad day at the office for the Melbourne City youth brigade last weekend, getting summarily outclassed by Auckland.
However it was a bad spot for the depleted City side that is relying heavily on youngsters and they came up against a side desperate to get their season back on track.
Macarthur might be a good team when they want to be but their home form leaves a lot to be desired.
Their only win at Campbelltown came in Round 1, with three defeats and two draws since then plus a loss to Auckland as the “home” team in Unite Round.
Take City to return to winning ways here.
Melbourne City to Win @ $2.60
Western Sydney WanderersvsAuckland FC
Sunday 26 January, 4:00pm, CommBank Stadium
Western Sydney 0 – Auckland 1
The weekend action wraps up in Western Sydney and the market cannot split these two teams at publish.
However if Auckland is in fact back, just like they appeared to be on the weekend against Melbourne City, then this is one of the easier plays of the weekend.
Perhaps the only risk for Auckland is the short turnaround from their midweek match against Adelaide however at this price they are tough to take on.
Auckland to Win @ $2.50
Western UnitedvsCentral Coast Mariners
Wednesday 29 January, 7:00pm, Ironbark Fields
Western United 2 – Central Coast 2
*ROUND 14 MATCH*
Will be fresh or rest out at Ironbark Fields this Wednesday evening?
John Aloisi’s men have12 days to prepare for this contest, with their last outing a 3-1 win at home over Newcastle on January 17.
Meanwhile, Central Coast had to travel to Christchurch to play the Nix on Saturday afternoon and they played a draining 90 minutes which ended in a stalemate.
If that was not enough of a reason to get behind the home side then consider their superior form with four wins from their last five games.
Western United to Win @ $1.85
Brisbane RoarvsAdelaide United
Tuesday 22 April, 7:00pm, Suncorp Stadium
*MATCH PREVIEWED IN ROUND 27*
2023/2024
With the Asian Cup wrapping up and transfer windows slamming shut around the world, the A-League once again returns to centre stage in the Australian football scene.
After an eventful set of fixtures in Round 15 that featured late equalisers, blowouts and more, this coming weekend has a lot to live up to.
As has become standard in this competition, just about every team still has something to play for in the coming two months with the ladder still tightly congested.
Read on for our best bets and match previews from the A-League this weekend.
Adelaide UnitedvsPerth Glory
Friday 9 February, 7:45pm, Coopers Stadium
Adelaide 3 – Perth 3
Let’s not sugar coat this, Adelaide was atrocious last weekend and they were summarily blasted by Central Coast.
While they do get a bit of a pass with some of the midseason departures, especially at the goalkeeper position, this is a better team than their recent run of form suggests.
It doesn’t get any easier coming up with a Perth side that is now unbeaten in their last three matches and climbing back into the finals picture.
Just off the last few weeks, the value in this market is definitely there on the Glory finding a way to get at least a point from this match and heaping further pain on the dysfunctional Reds.
Perth Win/Draw Double Chance @ $1.91
Wellington PhoenixvsWestern United
Saturday 10 February, 3:30pm, Sky Stadium
Wellington 2 – Western United 0
After navigating a tricky set of back to back matches last week and coming away with two points, league leading Wellington will be out to at least maintain their advantage on top of the table.
Quite frankly, they should be a little bit miffed at their current price to win this match against the bottom of the table Western United (if they cared about that sort of stuff).
The only justification for them being at $1.94 is the fact they played on Tuesday against the Mariners but it was not exactly the most draining of games.
This looks like one of those prices you jump on early in the week before there is a market correction.
Wellington to Win @ $1.94
Melbourne VictoryvsMacarthur FC
Saturday 10 February, 5:30pm, AAMI Park
Melbourne Victory 0 – Macarthur 1
You can always trust the A-League to produce some weird and wacky trends to follow and the Victory are currently in the midst of a bizarre streak.
Each of their last four matches has finished with a 1-1 scoreline and they have come in a variety of different styles.
Macarthur won’t make life easy on them either with the Bulls riding a six match unbeaten run, four of which have been draws and two have finished with a 1-1 scoreline.
If that wasn’t enough, the last meeting between these teams back in late November also finished 1-1, so that’s more than enough to have some confidence in backing the points to be shared.
Draw @ $4.40
Brisbane RoarvsMelbourne City
Saturday 10 February, 6:00pm, Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane 5 – Melbourne City 1
We all remember what happened last time these teams met just after Christmas.
Brisbane went down to AAMI Park and in Luciano Trani’s first (and only) match in charge, were belted 8-1 in a club record defeat.
Since then the Roar have continued to struggle, picking up just four points but they do deserve some credit for their late equaliser against Wellington.
Despite what has been a nightmare couple of months for the side, going through four managers and dealing with a number of injuries, they continue to find a way to battle.
City is not going to be able to replicate that remarkable performance from late December thanks in large part to the absences in their midfield, but on paper they are still the better side.
History is firmly in favour of the reigning premiers, picking up 16 of a possible 18 points against Brisbane from the last six meetings and at their current price they look like good value to add to the tally.
Melbourne City to Win @ $2.05
Central Coast MarinersvsSydney FC
Saturday 10 February, 7:45pm, Industree Group Stadium
Central Coast 1 – Sydney 3
In what is technically the featured timeslot for an A-League matchweek, we could give you a detailed breakdown of why this game is going to go the way we think it will.
But let’s not pretend like this tip is going to be anything other than a Mariners win.
As we have said many times over the last month, Central Coast is just a really good football team and they are a must-back just about every week.
The potential detrimental effect of playing in Wellington on Tuesday is somewhat negated by the cagey affair that unfolded.
Keep this nice and simple.
Central Coast to Win @ $2.02
Western Sydney WanderersvsNewcastle Jets
Sunday 11 February, 5:00pm, CommBank Stadium
Western Sydney 3 – Newcastle 3
A few days after the full time whistle and the fallout of the Wanderer’s loss to Macarthur last week is still being felt in Parramatta.
Head coach Marko Rudan will likely be suspended from this one after his postmatch press conference spray, as will Tom Beadling following his 52nd minute red card.
And in spite of those issues, I’m still landing on Western Sydney to win this one.
Firstly, they are going to be fuming after the way that match ended and will be out to prove a point.
Secondly, in their now two month-long run of alternating wins and losses, they are due for a win this week.
Western Sydney to Win @ $1.62
2022/2023
Round 16 is officially here! With 11 rounds left to be played, the table is starting to thin out.
It’s almost top half plays bottom half this round but as we’ve seen in the last few weeks, that means nothing at all.
I’ve run my eyes over the games this weekend and as always, have your back for tips.
Here is my preview of Round 16 of the A-League
Brisbane RoarvsCentral Coast Mariners
Friday 10 February, 7:45pm, Kayo Stadium
Brisbane 1 – Central Coast 2
When it comes to form, Brisbane have none. They’ve lost four of their last five games and are currently only 2 points off the bottom of the ladder.
They take on CCM up at Redcliffe and the bookies are struggling to split them.
Despite still sitting 3rd, the Mariners have really struggled in recent weeks and are $2.50 to win which is only 10c less than the Roar at $2.60.
Am I crazy to back the Roar? Yes but the underdog has won four of Brisbane’s last six A-League matches and they are as short as underdogs can get.
Roar to win.
Back the Roar H2H @ $2.60
Western UnitedvsAdelaide United
Saturday 11 February, 5:00pm, AAMI Park
Western United 2 – Adelaide 3
The 4-4-7 Western United will host 4th placed Adelaide United. Western United are coming off a 0-1 defeat to WSW and Adelaide finished 2-1 against the Roar last week.
Four of Adelaide’s last five A-League matches at AAMI Park following a win have resulted in a draw and each of Western United FC’s last three A-League matches as a home favourite have resulted in a draw.
Omens or a draw? Honestly I don’t mind having a play at it for $3.35.
Back the Draw @ $3.35
Western Sydney WanderersvsSydney FC
Saturday 11 February, 7:45pm, CommBank Stadium
Western Sydney 0 – Sydney FC 1
I’m looking forward to this one a lot. We’ve got a Sydney Derby in Western Sydney!
The Wanderers open as $2.70 underdogs to the Sky Blues but I’m backing them with confidence.
The crowd at Commbank will be buzzing and the Wanderers will be ready to go.
The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in 12 of Sydney FC’s last 13 A-League night matches and ‘Both Teams to Score’ has hit in eight of Sydney FC’s last nine A-League night matches.
We should be in for a very exciting contest.
Back WSW H2H @ $2.70
Perth GloryvsMelbourne City
Saturday 11 February, 10:30pm, Macedonia Park
Perth 2 – Melbourne City 4
How many home games do the Glory have? Crazy.
This time it’s City’s turn to head west for a very late game. Despite the jetlag they are still very short favourites to get the job done at $1.70.
City only have 2 wins in their last 5 games, they haven’t been as dominant as we’ve come to expect but I still back them to get the job done against a Glory side with identical five game form.
Back City to win @ $1.70
Newcastle JetsvsMelbourne Victory
Sunday 12 February, 3:00pm, McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle 2 – Melbourne Victory 1
Are the Victory about to string some games together and get off the bottom of the ladder? The bookies certainly think so.
The Victory will head to Newy on Sunday afternoon as $2.30 favourites after their win over Wellington. They played very well against the Phoenix last week and should challenge the Jets. I do like them to win this one.
‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in each of Melbourne Victory’s last four A-League matches and three of Newcastle’s last four A-League matches have resulted in a draw. The draw at $3.30 is also a good shout.
Back the Victory to win at $2.30
Macarthur FCvsWellington Phoenix
Sunday 12 February, 5:00pm, Campbelltown Stadium
Macarthur 2 – Wellington 1
The Phoenix will look to shake off a loss to the bottom of the ladder Victory last week when they wrap the round up against Macarthur.
Macarthur are plummeting down the ladder. With just 4 points in their last 5 outings, the Bulls are down to 9th place and could drop further in this one.
Wellington has won four of its last six A-League matches as an underdog following a loss and I just don’t think Macarthur are playing a decent brand of football at the moment.
I’m with the Nix here.
Back the Phoenix H2H @ $2.35
2021/2022
The A-League Men season rolls on into Round 16, and five matches will be contested this weekend.
Where COVID has been played havoc with scheduling since the beginning of the season, it’s actually poor drainage at the Roar’s home ground which has forced the only postponement in Round 16, and the action will now begin on Saturday.
A Grand Final rematch between Sydney FC and Melbourne City headlines the program, but you can find our full A-League Round 16 Preview below.
Brisbane RoarvsMelbourne Victory
Friday 25 February, 7:45pm, Moreton Daily Stadium
POSTPONED
Newcastle JetsvsMacarthur
Saturday 26 February, 5:05pm, McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle 2 – Macarthur 2
The Jets have opened favourites in betting ahead of their match with the Bulls on Saturday afternoon.
Both clubs were in action midweek and both claimed tough, and potentially vital victories.
For the Jets, it was a 1-0 win over a decent Wanderers side, which saw them climb back up to eighth on the ladder. The Bulls meanwhile proved too good for the Perth Glory thanks to a ninth-minute Ulises Davila strike, though they will be without Aleksander Susnjar for this match following his 75th minute red card.
Regardless, Macarthur has been playing a far more attractive brand of football, and they can record another win.
Back Macarthur to Win @ $2.85
Adelaide UnitedvsCentral Coast Mariners
Saturday 26 February, 7:45pm, Coopers Stadium
Adelaide 2 – Central Coast 1
The Mariners have completely fallen out of form, and they face another stern task against top four side Adelaide United away this week.
It was a promising start to life under Nick Montgomery, but the Mariners are now winless in their last eight league matches, losing their last two.
Adelaide did lose their most recent match, but they have been a model of consistency since Christmas, and a class above this opponent.
The result looks to be an open and shut case, in my opinion.
Back Adelaide to Win @ $2.15
Sydney FCvsMelbourne City
Saturday 26 February, 7:45pm, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Sydney FC 1 – Melbourne City 2
Saturday night’s top five clash between Sydney FC and Melbourne City is sure to be a cracker.
Of course, these two clubs met in last season’s decider, with the latter coming away with their first-ever championship, and City have really started to look like a threat again recently.
Sydney’s recent form has actually been a little shaky, and consistent draws were franked on Wednesday when they suffered 1-0 defeat to Western United. They are still well and truly in touch with the competition leaders, and a win would see them right back into the four.
I can’t imagine this being a particularly high scoring affair, and that is where I’m hunting for value.
Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $2.05
Perth GloryvsWestern United
Sunday 27 February, 6:45pm, UTAS Stadium
Perth 0 – Western United 2
League leaders Western United are over the odds to record another win over the Perth Glory in Tasmania on Sunday.
They have been excellent since John Aloisi’s arrival, and Western United further strengthened their credentials and their competition lead by beating Sydney FC on Wednesday night.
The Glory meanwhile suffered another defeat to Macarthur midweek, and it’s almost impossible imagining them reversing their fortunes against an opposition of this calibre.
Back Western United to Win @ $2.10
Western Sydney WanderersvsWellington Phoenix
Sunday 27 February, 6:55pm, CommBank Stadium
POSTPONED
Round 16 draws to a close in Sydney’s west on Sunday, and this match between the Wanderers and the Phoenix should be extremely well contested.
I’ve been quite impressed with passages produced by the Wanderers recently, but they have been extremely inconsistent and tough to get a gauge on from a betting perspective.
The Phoenix meanwhile have really started to get into gear, and they are undefeated in their last five league matches.
I’m happy to stay on the fence, though I also think that the Phoenix do look a little but of value here.
Back the Draw @ $3.45
Melbourne VictoryvsBrisbane
Monday 28 February, 7:25pm, AAMI Park
POSTPONED
*RESCHEDULED ROUND 7 MATCH*
2021
Seven matches await us in Round 15 of the A-League season with a Saturday triple header promising plenty of drama.
Sydney FC and Melbourne City will face off for the second time this season as both sides prepare for another run at the premiership.
Following on from that, the competition’s excitement machines Adelaide and Western Sydney play in South Australia as the sides look to produce another memorable contest.
Find our match previews and best bets for every game below.
Macarthur FCvsBrisbane Roar
Friday 9 April, 7:00pm, Campbelltown Stadium
Macarthur 1 – Brisbane 2
Brisbane’s up and down season continued with a draw against the Wanderers last week.
Following the first 45 minutes they would have considered a 1-0 deficit a fortunate scoreline before a second half resurgence gave them a point when they perhaps felt like they had earned all three.
There is no denying that Macarthur is a good side and they have found some strong form with three straight wins.
As tempting as it is to back the Bulls in the head to head market, the Roar have proven to be scrappy enough in recent weeks to grind out draws.
They will welcome back defensive duo Tom Aldred and Macaulay Gillesphy to further bolster their ranks at the back.
Neither side has been overly dangerous going forward with Macarthur registering seven goals in their last seven matches while Brisbane has scored four in their last eight.
Get ready for a Friday night arm wrestle.
Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $2.10
Newcastle JetsvsMelbourne Victory
Saturday 10 April, 3:00pm, McDonald Jones Stadium
Newcastle 1 – Melbourne Victory 2
Saturday’s triple header brings us a rare occasion where you have to think twice before backing against Melbourne Victory.
These two sides have combined for 20 losses from 29 matches already this season including a 1-0 Jets win in February.
You have to be a little bit wary taking the Jets here as they have lost six straight matches to leave them just three points clear of the Victory at the foot of the table.
It’s a long way removed from the 2018 Grand Final between these sides at this venue but a similar final scoreline is certainly in play.
Newcastle has not scored more than one goal in a match since January 24 and the Victory have tallied just three goals in their last five games.
Best case it’s a 1-1 draw, worst case, it’s a dour 0-0 affair.
Back Under 2.5 Goals @ $2.15
Sydney FCvsMelbourne City
Saturday 10 April, 5:00pm, Leichardt Oval
Sydney 1 – Melbourne City 1
It’s the second edition of the Light Blue Derby for the season and it it’s anything like February’s match which City won 3-2, then we should be in for a treat.
City came out flying in that match before Sydney clawed their way back into it in the final 20 minutes.
Sydney enjoyed a profitable Round 15 winning both of their matches while City lost to Western United and defeated Wellington in a similarly wild encounter.
It looks like the Sky Blues are starting to play like the side that won the double last season and they should be better equipped to push City from the get go here.
That being said, in their current form, I’m not backing against City either so it’s time to split the difference and take the draw.
Back the Draw @ $3.50
Adelaide UnitedvsWestern Sydney Wanderers
Saturday 10 April, 7:10pm, Coopers Stadium
Adelaide 1 – Western Sydney 1
With all due respect to the preceding fixture, they have saved the most entertaining match on Saturday until last.
For better or worse, both of these teams seem to find themselves unable to avoid being caught up in some of the best matches of the entire A-League season.
The Reds had a mixed bag over the last fortnight defeating Sydney before going down to Central Coast in a gallant effort.
Western Sydney drew with the Mariners on Tuesday night for their second point of the long weekend, while also reminding people you cannot write them off just yet.
Both teams have plenty of firepower going forward and have shown themselves to be capable of handling the pressure of a helter-skelter contest.
The last four meetings between these sides have seen four or more goals scored and I’ll happily take that price on offer.
Back Over 3.5 Goals @ $2.40
Wellington PhoenixvsWestern United
Sunday 11 April, 7:00pm, WIN Stadium
Wellington 3 – Western United 2
Mark Rudan’s side have clicked at the right time, winning three of their last four to reignite their finals charge.
On recent form it’s tough to understand why they are underdogs to a Wellington team that has stumbled to just one win in their last five.
This will be the fourth consecutive “home” game for the Nix in Wollongong and with a pending road trip, they desperately need maximum points from this.
The value in this market is firmly on the visitors to come away with a win here and that’s where I’ll be putting my money.
Back Western United to Win @ $2.80
Newcastle JetsvsPerth Glory
Tuesday 13 April, 7:00pm, Coffs International Stadium
Newcastle 1 – Perth 1
Perth continues its east coast swing with a trip to Coffs Harbour.
Newcastle has moved its home game to the regional venue as they try and turn around their fortunes after a horrendous run of results.
Backing up on short rest after taking on the Victory on Saturday could prove to be a tough task for a squad whose season has been tumultuous on the good days.
Not that Perth will offer a whole lot of sympathy with border closures forcing the team into playing nine of their 14 games to date away from home.
If you have a strong feeling either way on this match there is value to be had but I’ll opt for a slightly more conservative approach and back for a few goals to be scored instead.
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ $1.73
Adelaide UnitedvsMacarthur FC
Wednesday 14 April, 7:30pm, Coopers Stadium
Adelaide 3 – Macarthur 1
It seems awfully unlikely that we will see a repeat of Macarthur’s 4-0 demolition job in the first match between these clubs.
The Bulls produced a proper late show against an undermanned Reds team that night scoring all of their goals in the final 25 minutes of the match.
Both sides have been allergic to draws this season with two each from their 31 combined matches.
One of those for the Reds came last week against Western Sydney as their previously in form attack has stumbled in the past few weeks.
Macarthur will be happy to have a midweek fixture after losing to Brisbane in a performance well below their standards.
While draws have not been common for either team, I can’t separate these sides and am expecting a very even contest.
Back the Draw @ $3.40
2019/2020
It’s a front-loaded A-League schedule this weekend headlined by double headers on Friday and Saturday.
The traditional Australia Day Big Blue between league leaders Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory has been brought forward to Friday to accommodate the latter’s trip to Japan to face Kashima Antlers for a spot in the ACL Group Stage.
Elsewhere, all eyes will be on AAMI Park Saturday when Melbourne City hosts a flying Perth side looking to avenge a 3-0 loss that kick started the Glory’s rise up the table.
We’ve got previews and plays for all five A-League games this weekend for you right here!
Wellington PhoenixvsNewcastle Jets
Friday 24 January, 5:00pm, Westpac Stadium
Wellington 2 – Newcastle 1
Wellington’s nine game unbeaten run came to an end in Brisbane last weekend as they were punished for not taking their chances against a determined Jamie Young.
Thankfully for them, Newcastle is going to give them a great chance to get their radar in front of goal back on track with the Jets conceding a league worst 29 goals on the season, while they’ll also welcome back Nigel Boogard for the first time since Round 4, shoring up their backline.
At the other end of the pitch it’s been a barren run for the Jets’ strikers with just one goal in their last three matches.
I like Wellington to dominate this match from start to finish, taking an early lead and never looking back.
Back Wellington Halftime/Fulltime @ $2.80
Melbourne VictoryvsSydney FC
Friday 24 January, 7:30pm, AAMI Park
Melbourne Victory 0 – Sydney FC 3
The Big Blue has had a lighter hue to it over the last few seasons with 10 wins for Sydney FC from their last 13 head-to-head A-League games.
Add into the mix the fact this is a bad spot for the Victory with this match falling in between their two Asian Champions League qualifiers.
After comfortably accounting for Bali United on Tuesday night, the team has to get through this contest before travelling to Japan to face the Kashima Antlers with a spot in the group stage on the line.
If the Victory are planning on prioritising the continental competition, it’s another advantage to Sydney FC and I can see them coming away with a comfortable win in this one as a split focus takes its toll on Melbourne.
Back Sydney FC to Win @ $2.20
Central Coast MarinersvsBrisbane Roar
Saturday 25 January, 5:00pm, Central Coast Stadium
Central Coast 0 – Brisbane 1
It’s a dangerous time to be betting on Brisbane Roar matches.
They are unbeaten in their last four, climbing up the ladder after showing a remarkable resilience to defeat against Wellington last week on the back of a strike from super-sub Dylan Wenzel-Halls.
Of course, that also means having faith in a side that is still yet to truly dominate a match and seem to give up few too many chances to ever feel fully comfortable backing them outright.
This weekend is a chance for the Roar to allay some of those fears with a trip to Gosford on the cards.
It’s been 16 matches since they lost to the Mariners, picking up 12 wins in that time even in the midst of a few underwhelming seasons for both clubs.
Central Coast knows how to keep themselves in matches but are lacking the quality to get themselves over the line.
Back Brisbane to Win @ $2.36
Melbourne CityvsPerth Glory
Saturday 25 January, 7:30pm, AAMI Park
Melbourne City 0 – Perth 0
Flashback to early December, Perth was languishing at the bottom end of the A-League table, with Bruno Fornaroli preparing to make his return to AAMI Park to face Melbourne City.
After towelling up the Uruguayan’s former club 3-0 on the night, Perth have not looked back winning six straight and keeping five straight clean sheets in that time.
It was an ugly win over the Wanderers last weekend to keep the streak intact but ask anyone involved with the Glory and they’ll tell you style points don’t count for much when you’re losing.
City have been able to get 2020 off to a decent start with two wins and a draw while adding Scottish defender Jack Hendry from Celtic, who may be available for this clash.
That’s not enough to swing the needle towards City though, but you would hope they can put up a bit more of a fight than they did last month.
Back Perth to Win @ $2.85
Western UnitedvsAdelaide United
Sunday 26 January, 6:00pm, Whitten Oval
Western United 3 – Adelaide 4
It’s the inaugural meeting of Western United and Adelaide United with the A-League debutants hosting their first match at Whitten Oval.
Playing there probably won’t do much for the atmosphere but it should still be a very interesting contest.
Adelaide managed to get back on track with a win over the Victory last week while Western blitzed the Mariners off the park with three goals in the first 21 minutes.
That 3-0 win was their first clean sheet in over a month but that streak might not be extended to two matches considering Adelaide has scored in all bar one of their matches this season.
While there wasn’t a whole lot of highlights to come from Adelaide’s win last weekend, those are the results that can get a team on the right track.
I can’t see Western United losing this one either so I’ll take a draw as both sides find a way to cancel one another out.
Back the Draw @ $3.40
2018/2019
“If you are Brisbane or Central Coast, the margin for error is quickly eroding as the sides results do not match preseason expectations.”
If you will care to read down to the 2017/2018 A-League Round 16 Preview, you will notice the line copied into this year’s preview is incredibly applicable to this year.
While many tipped the Mariners to be wooden spooners, nobody saw them being as bad as they have been.
Brisbane might not have been able to challenge for the title, but should be at least in contention for a finals berth.
At the top end of the table an intriguing battle continues to unfold as the Victory and Sydney, both fighting for second spot behind ladder leaders Perth, face off in their annual Australia Day Big Blue clash.
Read on for our previews and predictions for all five Round 16 A-League matches.
Brisbane RoarvsWestern Sydney Wanderers
Friday 25 January, 7:50pm, Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane 2 – Western Sydney 2
There’s not a lot that can be done to pump up a clash between eighth and ninth in the A-League but we will do what we can.
Having drawn with Central Coast last Sunday Brisbane will look to pick up its second win of the campaign against a side currently in the worst form in the league.
It looked a lot like the Wanderers losing run was going to end on Tuesday against Melbourne City but there was late heartbreak instead, going down 4-3.
Just 72 hours later they have to play in a hot and humid Brisbane which is no easy task but they, like the Roar, will feel like this is a game where a win is well and truly possible.
Both sides could be without key players here which does add an element of the unknown to it but a draw certainly looks like the right play.
Back the Draw and Both Teams to Score @ $4
Wellington PhoenixvsMelbourne City
Saturday 26 January, 5:35pm, Westpac Stadium
Wellington 1 – Melbourne City 0
On the plus side for Melbourne City, they will be buzzing after their dramatic win over Western Sydney on Tuesday and will have an extra day of rest compared to their opponents.
On the down side they do have to travel over to Wellington and there is a real sense of belief around this side.
A lot has changed since City’s 2-0 win at AAMI Park in early November, most obviously the Nix have gotten a lot better.
Last time Wellington hosted City they won 2-1 in the final round of last season and look like the better side here.
A Nix win is the recommended play but adding in a total goals double is certainly an enticing value play.
Back Wellington to Win @ $2.35
Melbourne VictoryvsSydney FC
Saturday 26 January, 7:50pm, AAMI Park
Melbourne Victory 2 – Sydney FC 1
An Australia Day tradition as the Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC sides prepare to face off in their annual January 26th clash.
With both sides in the midst of chasing league leading Perth neither will be too keen to cede ground with the runner up prize of a week off in the finals a decent consolation.
It was Ola Toivonen and Keisuke Honda making the difference for the Victory when these sides faced off in Sydney and the Swedish striker will likely have to do it himself this time, with Honda still out through injury.
Sydney are not going to lie down but will have to back up from a tough outing in Wellington on Wednesday night and a sluggish start could prove costly here.
Both sides have the attacking talent to get on the scoresheet but you have to give the edge to the rested Victory side at home.
Back Victory to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $3.80
Adelaide UnitedvsCentral Coast Mariners
Sunday 27 January, 5:00pm, Coopers Stadium
Adelaide 2 – Central Coast 1
Adelaide blew the Mariners off the park in Round Three, coming away with a comfortable 3-0 win where Craig Goodwin starred with two goals.
The Reds flyer will happily take a repeat of that performance in this one as he has the ability to turn a game in Adelaide’s favour.
Backing up from a local derby is going to be very tough for the Mariners and history says they do not like playing Adelaide.
It has been five matches since the Mariners beat Adelaide and despite some recent signs for encouragement, it is hard to see that streak ending here.
Back Adelaide to Win and Both Teams to Score @ $2.88
Perth GloryvsNewcastle Jets
Sunday 27 January, 7:00pm, HBF Park
Perth 2 – Newcastle 0
Much like Wellington, Perth are now one of the must-watch sides in the A-League as the Glory continue to enjoy life at the summit of the mountain.
The Jets are one of the teams that may still be a mathematical hope of reaching the finals but realistically can just play spoiler from here on out.
Any points they can take off the Glory would be a big favour for the likes of Sydney and both Melbourne sides.
Perth put together a professional performance in a 2-0 in Newcastle back in December and know they have the ability to keep a misfiring Jets side at bay.
Back Perth to Win @ $1.73
2017/2018
We are into the back end of the A-League season and as expected it is Sydney’s title to lose now.
Looking down the ladder there are just eight points separating the sides from fourth to ninth so there is still plenty for all of those sides to play for.
If you are Brisbane or Central Coast, the margin for error is quickly eroding as the sides results do not match preseason expectations.
Here is our preview for this weekend’s fixtures and recommended A-League betting plays for Round 16.
Newcastle JetsvsBrisbane Roar
Friday 12 January, 7:50pm, McDonald Jones Stadium
Something is not right at the Roar at the moment as evidenced by Fahid Ben Khalfallah’s comments after their loss to Sydney Monday night.
Newcastle on the other hand are continuing to fly after another F3 Derby win over the goal-starved Mariners.
Many of you may remember the first meeting between these teams as the one where Jets marquee Ronald Vargas suffered that horrific leg break at Suncorp Stadium.
Traditionally this fixture favours the visiting side however with the Roar now going over 220 minutes without a goal themselves, take the Jets.
Back the Jets to Win @ $1.70
Wellington PhoenixvsWestern Sydney Wanderers
Saturday 13 January, 5:35pm, Westpac Stadium
After Wednesday night’s drama, Wellington are now in position to possibly overtake the Roar and haul themselves off the foot of the table.
The first meeting between these sides was meant to be in round seven however it was postponed due to pitch issues at Spotless Stadium.
Josep Gomabau does not have his team operating totally the way he would like them to, but the flashes of promise are becoming more and more frequent.
Wellington are a much more formidable side at home and should be able to find a goal through Andrija Kaluđerović but neither side will be able to find a winner.
Back both teams to score and a Draw @ $4
Melbourne VictoryvsPerth Glory
Saturday 13 January, 7:50pm, AAMI Park
Just when it looked like Melbourne Victory were finding their best form they dropped a game in Wellington after Rhys Williams was sent off after less than ten minutes.
They will need to find a way to replace a player who has been immense for them this season with one of the league’s most feared attacking duos coming to town.
Thankfully for Victory, Perth have been struggling and coach Kenny Lowe is very much on the hot seat.
They have shipped eleven goals in three games while failing to score and if Victory show the New Zealand trip was an anomaly, this could be another bit win.
Back Melbourne Victory to Win to Nil @ $2.90
Central Coast Marinersvs Melbourne City
Sunday 14 January, 5:00pm, Central Coast Stadium
With just one goal in the last six matches, Central Coast’s attack is struggling to say the least.
Melbourne City on the other hand were ecstatic to end their three-match losing streak with back to back wins over Wellington and Perth which also saw the return of their goal scoring touch.
The last time these sides met, Ross McCormack shot some life into a relatively dour event with his first goal from open play.
Chances are this game will follow a similar suit with City getting by in a low scoring match.
Back Melbourne City to Win @ $1.91
Adelaide UnitedvsSydney FC
Sunday 14 January, 7:00pm, Coopers Stadium
In their current form, it is hard to find any sort of value taking Sydney to win since that is the expected result every time they take to the pitch.
Twelve wins from fifteen games and while they have looked human at times throughout the last fortnight, they are still producing results.
Away in Adelaide will be a big test given the Reds ability to match them in the midfield with Isaias which should keep the score low.
Even so still count on one of Sydney’s imports to produce a moment of magic and be the difference.
Back Sydney FC to Win @ $1.71
We are now over halfway through the 2016/2017 A-League season and the battle for places in the A-League Finals is now on in earnest.
There are a host of interesting games set to take place this weekend, but the highlight is set to be the Saturday night clash between the Perth Glory and the Melbourne Victory.
All five games in the A-League this weekend are set to be interesting betting affair and you can find our thoughts on each clash below.
Melbourne CityvsCentral Coast Mariners
Thursday 19 January, 6:50pm, AAMI Park
Melbourne City 2 - Central Coast Mariners 1
Melbourne City suffered a surprise loss at the hands of Adelaide United last weekend, but they will still start this clear as clear favourites.
The FFA Cup winners have been very inconsistent in the past month, but they generally save their best football for AAMI Park and they have won ten out of their past 14 games as home favourites.
Central Coast went down to the Wellington Phoenix last weekend and they have not won a game for almost two months.
The Mariners have won just two of their past 15 games as away underdogs and it is tough to see that improving.
Melbourne City should prove far too strong for their rivals, but there is no value at their current price.
No Bet
Sydney FCvsAdelaide United
Friday 20 January, 6:50pm, Allianz Stadium
Sydney FC 2 - Adelaide United 0
Sydney FC remain unbeaten in the A-League this season and they will go into this clash with Adelaide United as clear favourites.
Sydney went unable to take the three points from the Sydney Derby last weekend and they have now won only four of their past 11 games as home favourites, while there have also been four draws.
Adelaide United produced one of their best performances of the season to beat Melbourne City last Friday night and they are sure to take plenty of confidence out of that clash.
The Reds have won three of their past nine games as away underdogs for a profit and backing the draw in these games has also been a winning play.
Adelaide United have finally started to improve and I believe they are capable of taking a point from this clash at big odds.
Back The Draw @ $4.20
Wellington PhoenixvsBrisbane Roar
Saturday 21 January, 4:35pm, Westpac Stadium
Wellington Phoenix 0 - Brisbane Roar 1
The Brisbane Roar have lost three games on the trot and they will only go into this clash with the Wellington Phoenix as only narrow favourites.
Winning games away from home has proven to be somewhat of an issue for the Roar and they have won just two of their past five games as away favourites for a clear loss.
Wellington scored their first win in over a month against the Central Coast Mariners and are still an outside chance of qualifying for the A-League finals.
The Phoenix have won only one of their past eight games as home underdogs for an obvious loss and they have won back-to-back games just one in the past 12 months.
This is a game that the market looks to have got just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting standpoint.
No Bet
Perth GloryvsMelbourne Victory
Saturday 21 January, 7:00pm, NIB Stadium
Perth Glory 2 - Melbourne Victory 1
The Melbourne Victory have now won six games in a row and our favourites to make it seven against the Perth Glory this weekend.
Melbourne have scored 13 goals in their past four games and have played some excellent football in doing so.
They have now won four of their past six games as away favourites and they are always tough to beat off the back of a win.
Perth have not lost a game in a month, but they have won just one games in this time.
The Glory have won three of their past four games as away underdogs for a clear profit and they have won their past six games against the Victory at NIB Stadium.
Perth have been a tough team to trust from a betting perspective this season, but they still offer value at their current price.
Back Perth Glory To Win @ $3.20
Western Sydney WanderersvsNewcastle Jets
Sunday 22 January, 4:00pm, Campbelltown Stadium
Western Sydney Wanderers 2 - Newcastle Jets 0
The Western Sydney Wanderers were unable to end their winless run against Sydney FC, but they will still start this clash as clear favourites.
Western Sydney have won just three of their past 11 games as home favourites for a clear loss and they really have been poison for punters this season.
The Newcastle Jets took a point from their clash with the Perth Glory last weekend and they have played some quality football in recent weeks.
They have still won only two of their past 12 games as away underdogs, but the draw has proven to be a profitable play so far this season.
I am more than happy to take on Western Sydney and the $3.80 for this game to finish as a draw is well over the odds.
Back The Draw @ $3.80