The new Hyundai A-League season is upon us with Alessandro del Piero's Sydney FC hosting Emile Heskey's Newcastle Jets in the opening game of the season at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
With the Aussie rule guernseys and rugby league shorts now in the wardrobe for the season, it's time for Aussie football fans to focus their attention on the spherical ball for the next couple of months and on the fast improving A-League.
If last season is anything to go by - it was rated by many as the greatest in the championship's short history ever - this season will be an absolute barnstormer and hopefully a sneak preview of the upcoming 10th anniversary season.
There is plenty of interest in the league this season and plenty of questions to be answered at the start of the season.
Can last season's newcomers, Western Sydney Wanderers, continue their impressive form from last season and make the playoffs again?
There is no doubt that the Parramatta based club were a huge hit in their first season, selling out the home of the Eels rugby league team for every game and creating the type of support you only see at big European football games.
However, the surprise element for the red and blacks is gone and the expectations are also high now after the Wanderers made the Grand Final in their inaugural season. Nevertheless, they still have a quality side especially with Shinji Ono in the side so should be thereabouts.
Can the same be said about their cross town rivals? Alessandro del Piero is still at the club as is Socceroo Brett Emerton but the problem that has hampered Sydney FC has been a lack of stability. And if results don't come their way, manager Frank Farina could see himself out of the job soon. Expectations are high for one of the league's most supported clubs and the seasons since their Grand Final win in 2010 have been disappointing.
The club they beat in that Final, Melbourne Victory, are in a similar boat. Ange Postecoglou has still got a great squad even without Kiwi starlet, Marco Rojas - his compatriot, Kosta Barborouses has returned after a failed stint in Europe. They will be contenders at home and probably the Melbourne team to beat - especially with the Melbourne Heart stuck in ownership issues.
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| Central Coast Mariners |
But whether they can beat Graham Arnold's Central Coast Mariners is another matter - and something the Victory and many other teams to be fair, have failed to do.
The Mariners are a bit of the romantic story of the A-League. They've probably got the smallest fan base in the whole league, despite being based in the growing community on the Central Coast of New South Wales - however, they play the best football in the competition and have an absolutely superb foundation for a successful football club. They may not quite have an Emile Heskey or del Piero, but Central Coast fans will probably say that they'd take Michael McGlinchey or Daniel McBreen any day.
Arnold's men should still be the team to beat especially now that they've overcome their Grand Final hoodoo.
What about the disappointments from last season? There's the Brisbane Roar who definitely miss Ange Postecoglou's influence - they missed out on the playoffs last season after winning the championship the season before. Can former Manchester United player, Liam Miller, signed from Perth Glory, inspire the only back-to-back champions in the competition's history back into the top 4?
Finally, of course, the team I follow, the Wellington Phoenix.
A new coach and new players. There is some excitement about the upcoming season for the Phoenix although tempered by last season's bad experience when a plethora of new players and new ownership brought plenty of expectation and excitement only for the season to end in bitter disappointment and the dismissal of All Whites coach, Ricki Herbert.
Ernie Merrick is a good signing for the Phoenix and his track record is superb with two Grand Final wins for the Melbourne Victory. He will also get the Phoenix playing the tikka-takka football that Gareth Morgan wants in order to get the crowds back to Westpac Stadium. However, as Pellegrini is finding out right now at Manchester City, that will take time and results may not come straight away.
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| Jeremy Brockie was the only bright light for the Nix last season |
The Nix won't win the title this season but they should be expected to return to the playoffs that they've made every season since 2010 until last season.
So bring on the A-League! While I love the Premier League and European football, the A-League is my local league and it's good to have it back!
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