Sport
A-League season set to start with a bang!
The A-League has just announced the official fixture for the 2016/17 season and it is absolutely massive!
The A-League season will begin with hotly contested derbies, grudge matches between the league’s biggest rivals and a road trip for Adelaide United’s first step in its title defence.
Heading into its 12th season, the Hyundai A-League is going from strength to strength with large crowds, high membership and genuine fan and media interest in the game.
Adelaide United topped off a brilliant 2015/16, beating the Western Sydney Wanderers in the Grand Final to take out the Championship as well as the premiership as the highest placed team at the end of the regular season.
If the Reds want to defend their titles, they’ll be looking for a Round 1 win away from home. Adelaide will travel east to play Newcastle United at Hunter Stadium on Sunday October 9 in their opening match of the new season.
And Adelaide won’t have to wait long for the Grand Final replay, taking on the Western Sydney Wanderers in Adelaide in Round 2.
The new A-League season kicks off on Friday October 7 with Brisbane Roar hosting Melbourne Victory.
The league’s best-supported team, Victory, will welcome their cross-town rival, Melbourne City, to Etihad Stadium in Round 2 in what has become one of the biggest rivalries in Australian sport. The two Melbourne sides have enjoyed excellent contests against each other and they are always a major draw card for fans with very big crowds attending the Melbourne Derby.
More than 40,000 fans attended the first Melbourne Derby of the 2015/16 A-League season at Etihad Stadium and the crowd in Round 2 of the upcoming season is likely to be even bigger.
Etihad Stadium hosts five of Melbourne Victory’s best matches each season and it is the Docklands venue’s turn to host two of the three Melbourne Derbies in 2016/17. The first comes in Round 2 on Saturday October 15 with the second set to take place on Saturday February 4 in Round 18. The two sides will also play a Melbourne Derby at City’s home ground on December 17.
The other three matches Victory will play at Etihad Stadium are against Wellington Phoenix in Round 4 (Monday October 31), versus Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 6 (Saturday November 12) and in Round 17 against Sydney FC on Australia Day (Thursday January 26).
Melbourne Victory will also play one home game at Geelong’s Simonds Stadium. The now traditional match in Geelong will take place on Monday January 2 against the Newcastle Jets.
The Western Sydney Wanderers will be hoping to go one better during the 2016/17 season after a disappointing 3-1 loss to Adelaide last season.
The Wanderers will play eight home games at announcing Spotless Stadium during the upcoming season due to refurbishment works at Pirtek Stadium. Highlights of WSW’s season include NSW derbies against Newcastle Jets and the Central Coast Mariners in Rounds 3 and 4, as well as a blockbuster against Melbourne City on November 18 and another Grand Final replay against Adelaide United on March 4.
Perth Glory is scheduled for a full season of home matches at WA’s nib Stadium and the Newcastle Jets will make Hunter Stadium a fortress for visiting teams, playing 12 matches at the venue throughout 2016/17.
The 2016/17 A-League season promises to have many twists and turns as well as some of the best international and local players strutting their stuff. With just a few months between now and the start of the season, you can expect to see many major announcements and signings that will make the season even hotter! Watch this space…
Ticketmaster will be your one-stop-shop for all A-League matches at Etihad Stadium, Hunter Stadium, nib Stadium and Spotless Stadium. Ticket details for the upcoming season will be released shortly.
