The race for the top two and the final spot inside the Isuzu UTE A-League top six has reached fever pitch heading into the final week of the regular season. KEEPUP takes a look at each team’s run home and provides a look at how the final ladder positions will determine each team’s fate.
WHAT EACH LADDER POSITION MEANS
1ST – Melbourne City – Guaranteed week off, advance to Semi Finals, AFC Champions League berth.
2ND – TBC – Guaranteed week off, advance to Semi Finals, AFC Cup berth.
3RD & 4TH – TBC – Home Elimination Finals.
5TH & 6TH – Sydney FC * and TBC – Away Elimination Finals – *Sydney’s final ladder position still to be determined but can’t finish higher than 5th or lower than 6th.
7TH & 8TH – TBC – Miss finals but guaranteed place in the 2023 Australia Cup Round of 32.
9TH-12TH – TBC – Miss finals and have to play 2023 Australia Cup playoffs. 9th host 12th and 10th host 11th. Winners advance to 2023 Australia Cup Round of 32, losers eliminated.
(This is what is mathematically in play for all 12 teams, Asterix = finals secured)
PREMIERS: Melbourne City*
TOP TWO RACE: Adelaide United*, Central Coast Mariners*, Western Sydney Wanderers*
HOME ELIMINATION FINAL: Central Coast Mariners, Western Sydney Wanderers, Sydney FC*, Wellington Phoenix
TOP SIX BERTH: Wellington Phoenix, Perth Glory, Newcastle Jets, Western United
AUSTRALIA CUP ROUND OF 32 BERTH/PLAYOFFS: Perth Glory, Newcastle Jets, Western United, Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar, Macarthur FC
ELIMINATED FROM FINALS: Melbourne Victory, Brisbane Roar, Macarthur FC
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE WANDERERS?
City win: Remain first, nothing changes. Wanderers finish fourth unless they lose by less than Mariners do to Adelaide.
Draw: City remain first. Wanderers stay in fourth IF Adelaide vs Mariners ends as draw. If Adelaide or Mariners win, Wanderers finish third.
Wanderers win: City remain first. Wanderers finish third if Adelaide win, finish second if Adelaide vs Mariners is a draw, finish second if they better Mariners’ winning margin.
Melbourne City v Western Sydney Wanderers
Friday, April 28 2023
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7:45pm AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+
