The Roar knowledgeable Mike Tuckerman went whack within the opening spherical of A-League tipping, with an ideal six setting his season alight. How he did it I’ll by no means know, with two attracts within the combine and seemingly a crystal ball at his facet, he’s actually the one to observe this season.
The Crowd weren’t too far-off in second place with 5 appropriate ideas and David and I had been subsequent greatest with 4. Texi and Andrew have began poorly in what was a fairly predictable week. Each might want to bounce again, but frankly, the longer they sit in direction of the underside of the ladder the happier I might be.
Spherical 2 begins with a curious conflict between the Bulls and the Jets in Sydney, with nobody actually positive whether or not Macarthur was pretty much as good as they seemed towards a hopeless Perth and the jury remains to be out on Newcastle.
Adelaide enters the fray towards the Mariners, the Melbourne Derby explodes on Saturday evening at AAMI Park, and Perth wants their followers in the home and a right away comeback towards the Phoenix. Sydney FC look harmful and journey to Auckland for an intriguing conflict.
Be part of David Shilovsky for reside protection of the Melbourne Derby from 7:15pm (AEDT) on Saturday night, and I’ll be on deck for Auckland versus Sydney from 2pm (AEDT) on Sunday.
Western United and the Wanderers shut out the spherical later that day. Good luck together with your ideas and make sure you enter them within the sheet under to have an energetic voice within the ‘Roar of the Crowd’.
Right here is the way in which the panel sees all of the motion unfolding.
Mike Tuckerman
Macarthur, Adelaide, Draw, Wellington, Auckland, Draw.
The Bulls go into this conflict brimming with confidence after smashing Perth Glory final weekend. In addition they look robust throughout the park, with one of many league’s greatest keepers in Filip Kurto and the mercurial Valere Germain up entrance, each seeking to show influential right here. The Jets put up stern resistance of their 1-0 defeat to Melbourne Metropolis, however this appears to be like like one other residence victory.
The Reds began their marketing campaign with a 3-0 win over the Mariners final season, and so they’ll be searching for an analogous end result right here. They’ll must cope with out Nestory Irankunda, however they’ll face a Central Coast facet getting back from AFC Champions League obligation in Shanghai. The defending champions had been lucky to attract final weekend, however received’t be so fortunate in Adelaide.
Nestory Irankunda is a giant loss for the Adelaide Reds. (Photograph by Paul Kane/Getty Photos)
The primary two Melbourne derbies of final season led to scoreless attracts, and it’s exhausting to separate the 2 rivals right here. Paddy Kisnorbo’s defection to Victory ought to give the rivalry some added edge, however in fact, he appears to be like a curious addition. The one-time Troyes coach is already underneath strain, however with each groups easing into the season, this one might end all sq..
You’d anticipate a response from Perth Glory, who performed like they had been assembly for the primary time of their opening 6-1 defeat to Macarthur in Campbelltown. Coach David Zdrilic claimed his facet seemed ‘underdone’ in that defeat, and so they’ll come up towards one of many best-drilled groups within the league. This one must be tighter than final week, however I anticipate the Nix to nick it.
Auckland FC by no means actually seemed troubled in a maiden 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar, however they’ll face a harder activity towards a Sydney FC facet brimming with expertise. In addition they have a coach in Steve Corica itching to get one over the membership that sacked him. The Sky Blues had been in AFC Champions League Two motion in Hiroshima midweek, and that may depend towards them right here.
Western United had been considerably lucky to come back away with a 1-1 draw from their journey to Wellington final weekend. They’ll fancy their probabilities again residence at Ironbark, however Western Sydney Wanderers had been themselves barely unfortunate to not take one thing from the Sydney Derby. With either side seeking to play themselves into some type, a draw appears to be like the possible final result.
Stuart Thomas
Macarthur, Adelaide, Victory, Wellington, Sydney, United
The probability of Macarthur persevering with the goal-fest that Perth allowed them with woeful defence final week is low. Newcastle might be a a lot feistier opponent and push them tougher. It nonetheless appears to be like like a Macarthur win to me. Adelaide will begin with a bang towards a drained Mariners outfit.
Mikael Doka has taken on extra duty for the Mariners in 2024/25. (Photograph by Scott Gardiner/Getty Photos)
The Melbourne Derby appears to be like a great one, with each units of followers having loads to be hopeful about early within the season. I’d recommend Victory have a bit extra respectable soccer underneath their belts and that Metropolis seemed effectively off their greatest final weekend. Victory to win. Is Perth on the bounce again? Onerous to see after the catastrophe that was final outing. Wellington by two clear targets.
One other sellout crowd for Auckland is probably going and Sydney FC might be a bit fatigued after one other busy week. Sadly, the brand new followers will style defeat for the primary time. The Sky Blues appear to be one of many groups to beat this season and they’ll get it achieved on the highway.
It’s a harmful one away from residence for the Wanderers and a winless opening fortnight can be regarding for them. Western United are resilient, however is that sufficient towards a workforce that does look to have an edge in school? It could possibly be this time. United in a really wild affair.
David Shilovsky
Macarthur, Mariners, draw, Wellington, Sydney, Western Sydney
It received’t be as simple for the Cup-winning Bulls on Friday night, however I can’t see the Jets placing up an excessive amount of resistance, regardless of their encouraging displaying towards Metropolis.
Adelaide might be a bit rusty after their bye in Spherical 1, whereas the Mariners might be drained but extra match-sharp. I’ll go for the back-to-back champions in a decent conflict.
Patrick Kisnorbo’s first recreation towards Metropolis might be an attention-grabbing conflict as the 2 central Melbourne sides meet for the primary time because the former centre-half crossed city. Neither facet confirmed a lot attacking prowess in Spherical 1 with only one purpose scored between them. I feel Metropolis edge this recreation 2-1.
I’m unsure what to make of the Distance Derby. The Nix had been alright towards Western United, whereas Perth had been clearly horrible. David Zdrilic might want to alter his set-up as a result of the aggressive press clearly isn’t going to work with the cattle at his disposal. 1-0 Wellington.
An attention-grabbing journey for the Sky Blues to Mount Sensible Stadium. Auckland impressed of their opening recreation, they simply can’t match Sydney’s firepower if this one turns into a little bit of a shootout. I’ll persist with Ufuk Talay’s males, regardless of their continental defeat in Japan on Wednesday night.
Ending off the second spherical, it’s a western conflict as United face the Wanderers at Ironbark Fields. The house-ground benefit might be one thing United can leverage – however I can’t see Western Sydney dropping factors right here. After a cagey opening half, the Wanderers draw back within the second stanza for a cushty victory.
Andrew Prentice
Macarthur, Adelaide, Draw, Wellington, Auckland, Western Sydney
It’s exhausting to withstand the Bulls after final week’s demolition of Perth. Whereas the Jets received’t prop open the door and paint a giant signal saying SCORE HERE like Perth did, Macarthur’s attacking property must be an excessive amount of for a Newcastle facet nonetheless discovering their mixtures.
The Mariners have been on one other magical thriller tour by way of the ACL, whereas Adelaide has been resting up, able to renew hostilities with a current rival. The Champions League effectively stays dry for Central Coast, whose early season type is mirroring their treble yr (nonetheless, that ended up okay!) Adelaide ought to take the factors at residence.
It was a scratchy opening by each Metropolis and Victory. Patrick Kisnorbo is aware of the lay of the Metropolis land so this might be an interesting instalment within the Melbourne derby. I fancy a rating draw, given the edges have names akin to Marco Tilio, Bruno Fornaroli, Mathew Leckie and Nishan Velupillay to name on.
Marco Tilio is ready for a giant season again at Melbourne Metropolis. (Photograph by Graham Denholm/Getty Photos)
Perth (my most improved tip!) was something however that in Spherical 1. Whereas fortunes can flip round shortly, and they’re a a lot totally different prospect at residence, the Phoenix are a troublesome nut to crack. Wellington received’t pile six on the Glory however they’ll do sufficient to maintain the Perth cabinet naked for one more week.
What a recreation in prospect in Auckland. Hopefully one other sellout, and do you suppose Steve Corica might be up for this or what? Sydney bought away with the spoils in an ideal derby recreation final week. Nonetheless, there’s a groundswell taking place within the Metropolis of Sails, and they’re able to make an early season assertion towards one of many league’s heavyweights. Jake Brimmer will play a giant function.
The conflict of the Westerns will give us a glimpse of how the Wanderers cope away from the frenetic derby drama. Juan Mata wants extra recreation time in his legs, however class is ever-present, and he could possibly be the important thing to unlocking Western United, who might be relying closely on Hiroshi Ibusuki to resolve one other looming scoring disaster. The Wanderers in an in depth one.
Texi Smith
Macarthur, Adelaide, Victory, Wellington, Sydney, United
Final Sunday was a free hit for the Bulls towards a ramshackle Glory workforce. They’ll expect one other breeze towards the Jets, however we’ll see some Brazilian magic from Wellissol and a few stout defending. Two early targets from Jed Drew and Valere Germain to show the sport within the second half and the house workforce will run away with the win.
Forgotten workforce Adelaide United have a incredible alternative to dent the champions’ hopes of a great begin to the season. Weary and scarred, the Mariners will collapse as the house workforce runs riot within the first half. However they take their foot off the gasoline and solely scrape residence after a spirited second-half fightback from the battling Mariners.
Each groups had been a bit under-cooked final weekend, so a rip-snorter of a Melbourne derby will wake each from their comfy slumbers. Metropolis proved that life goes on with out their departed purpose machine, however they’ll be came upon right here. Bruno Fornaroli and Zinedine Machach to terrorise the Metropolis backline and Victory run out comfy winners.
Perth Glory return residence and wish all the assistance they’ll get within the unique distance derby at HBF Park. The utter chaos of the Glory workforce and the help from their rabid followers might be sufficient to spur them on to an excellent half of fast-flowing attacking soccer. Adam Taggart scored from shut vary for a slender lead on the break, Kazuki Nagasawa with the equaliser and Kosta Barbarouses with a cheeky winner on the dying to silence the house followers; it’s a shocker of a begin for the Glory underneath David Zdrilic.
Sydney FC had been excellent within the derby final weekend, and Auckland swept apart a beneficiant Brisbane Roar. A tense battle right here, with the guests absorbing the strain, however hitting the Kiwis on the break with a devastating counterattack, completed by the silky Anthony Caceres. An unsightly win for the Sky Blues and a actuality examine for the league’s newcomers.
Western United was unfortunate to not come away with the factors in Wellington, the Wanderers had been second-best towards their arch-rivals in Sydney however might have simply gone on to win the sport with a bit extra verve and intention. Ironbark Fields just isn’t precisely inside simple attain for the informal fan, so don’t anticipate the stadium file of three,500 to be damaged, and don’t anticipate a basic. The extra practical and organised Western United will win, a single purpose sufficient, and a primary of many from hotshot Hiroshi Ibusuki.
| Spherical 1 | Mike | Stuart | David | Andrew | Texi | Crowd |
| MAC v NEW | MAC | MAC | MAC | MAC | MAC | ? |
| ADL v CCM | ADL | ADL | CCM | ADL | ADL | ? |
| MCY v MVC | DRAW | MVC | MCY | DRAW | MVC | ? |
| PER v WEL | WEL | WEL | WELL | WEL | WEL | ? |
| AUK v SYD | AUK | SYD | SYD | AUK | SYD | ? |
| WUN v WSW | DRAW | WUN | WSW | WSW | WUN | ? |
| Final week | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Complete | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
As all the time, become involved as a part of The Crowd to tackle The Roar’s knowledgeable tipsters.
