The FFA has released the draw of the 2008-2009 A-League season, which can be downloaded here.
This time around, the FFA has recognised FIFA dates, although Mike Salter rightly points out that it comes somewhat belated, with the Olyroos’ qualification series behind them.
The Melbourne Victory kicks off with two away games, first against Sydney FC and then in New Zealand against the Phoenix. Five days after the Wellington clash, Melbourne fans get their first home game: a Friday night affair against the Newcastle Jets.
It’s a tough start to the season, but as Michael Lynch pointed out in The Age yesterday, there’s fair compensation at the other end of the season, when Melbourne plays five of its final seven at home.
There is a tough spell in the middle half of the season, when the Victory have five away games and two at home. But Gary Cole is happy about the draw:
“Overall, we are pretty pleased with it,” Victory football operations manager Gary Cole said yesterday. “It’s got a good balance to it. We have got four out of the first seven matches at home, including against Adelaide and the current premiers, so they should attract big crowds. There is a much tougher bit in the middle section of the draw when we play two at home and five away, including the round 13 and 14 double-header against Wellington and Perth.
“That’s going to be tough physically for us, but you have got to go to these places. Every team would like to play home-away, home-away, but that’s just not possible with shared ground use.
“We are pleased to have Adelaide at home and Sydney at home twice. There’s a chance to fill the ground up.”
Meanwhile, the draw for the Pre-Season Cup has also been announced, and it perfectly mirrors the last Pre-Season Cup: once again, the Victory is drawn in a group with Adelaide United, Perth Glory and the Newcastle Jets. None of the games will be played in Victoria, as Melbourne meets Adelaide in Launceston, Perth in Bunbury and Newcastle in Port Macquarie.
Download the draw for the Pre-Season Cup here.
4 comments ↓
I think that if we really do set ourselves up at the start, there’s no reason to not come home strongly and this is why I’m favouring this draw. Screw crowds / dates, I’m more interested in how we play…
Hopefully better than last season although after a promising start the Champions League hasn’t exactly been too promising. Hopefully with Hernadez back and some of the kids getting gametime we might have a clearer indication on Wednesday.
Just a shame none of the pre season games are in Victoria to provide an opportunity to expose the game in other areas.
Sorry mate but I myself are looking forward to some big crowds watching Sydney and Adelaide getting gubbed (hopefully) twice this season.
So its here then, season 4 i welcome you with open arms, hopefully the whole game will see bigger and better things for all teams involved.
To be honest i was hoping for afew coaching changes before the start of the season, but that really needs to happen sooner rather than later, im sure alot of you think thats to harsh but i simply cannot stand to watch my team play the way they have been anymore.
The other 7 teams have already started to pick up there socks, will melbourne do the same i wonder or will they hope everyone drops back a level or two….hhhmmmmmm……
Steady on there mate don’t get too excited there’s still over 3 months to go yet.
Hear what your saying about the coaching situation. However as has been said elsewhere on this blog I guess there’s no point in getting rid of Merrick if there’s no decent replacement lined up. Unfortunately lets face it this country is not exactly bursting at the seams with coaching talent and given the difficulty finding a foreign coach to fill the national team job (who incidently had just recently reached the world cup quarter finals) I can’t exactly imagine a queue of quality foreign managers forming for the position.
I just hope the threat of competition from a second Melbourne team forces the club to get it’s act together.
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