Football can feel overwhelming at times, especially with all the rules, positions, and tactics involved. But don’t stress – we’re here to make it simple!
Whether you’re a football fan or just want to brush up on your knowledge before our first match, we’ve got you covered. We’ll guide you through all the basics so you can have a great time cheering on the team.
Teams and Structure
- The men’s league currently consists of 13 teams, with expansion plans to add more in the future. Teams play across Australia and New Zealand, making it a trans-Tasman competition.
- Each team plays a home-and-away season, typically running from October to May, though exact dates can vary.
- There are 11 Men’s teams based in Australia and 2 based in New Zealand.
Derbies
The A-League is known for its fierce rivalries, with several exciting derbies that fans look forward to each season:
- Sydney Derbies (Sydney FC vs. Western Sydney Wanderers)
- Melbourne Derbies (Melbourne City vs. Melbourne Victory)
- F3 Derbies (Central Coast Mariners vs. Newcastle Jets)
- Original Rivalry (Adelaide United vs. Melbourne Victory)
- Big Blue (Melbourne Victory vs. Sydney FC)
There are some heated derbies in the A-League. One of the most exciting is the new rivalry between Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC – it’s a match-up that fans are buzzing about!
- New Zealand Derbies (Auckland FC vs. Wellington Phoenix)
- Saturday, 2 November @ Sky Stadium
- Saturday, 7 December @ GO Media Stadium
- Saturday, 22 February @ GO Media Stadium
These games bring a whole new level of excitement and intensity to the season, with passionate fans filling stadiums and creating electric atmospheres.
Regular Season
The regular season follows a round-robin format, meaning every team plays each other both home and away.
Points are given out like this:
- Win: 3 points
- Draw: 1 point
- Loss: 0 points
Teams are ranked by total points, with goal difference used as a tiebreaker if needed.
Finals Series
After the regular season, the top 6 teams move on to the Finals Series (playoffs). Here’s how it works:
- The top 2 teams get a bye to the semifinals.
- The teams finishing 3rd to 6th play in an elimination round to decide who joins the top 2.
- The Grand Final crowns the A-League Champion.
Premiers vs. Champions
- Premiers: The team that finishes the regular season at the top of the table wins the Premiership.
- Champions: The team that wins the Grand Final is crowned A-League Champion, which is the most prestigious title.
Promotion and Relegation
Unlike some other leagues, the A-League doesn’t have promotion or relegation. So, no teams are demoted to a lower league, and no teams move up from other leagues.
AFC Champions League Qualification
A-League teams can qualify for the AFC Champions League, Asia’s top club competition. Usually, the Premiers and Champions earn spots to compete on the Asian stage.
Salary Cap and Marquee Players
The A-League has a salary cap in place to keep things competitive. However, each team is allowed to sign marquee players – high-profile stars whose salaries don’t count towards the cap, giving clubs a chance to bring in some international flair.
In short, the A-League offers a mix of regular-season consistency and playoff drama, making it an exciting competition that showcases top football talent from across Australia and New Zealand.
Don’t miss the home opener on October 19th – Get your tickets today!
