World News – AU – Wanderers, Bulls Derby at Bankwest start new A-League season

The newest club in the A-League starts its life with a showdown against its closest neighbors in their first competitive game with Macarthur FC scheduled to face the Western Sydney Wanderers on the opening day of the season.

The Bulls meet on 27. December at Bankwest Stadium in their first official game on the Wanderers – part of a double headed ball, in which Western Sydney also meets Melbourne Victory in the W-League.

Players and coaches in both A-League and W-League will also enjoy something normal. All teams – except for Wellington Phoenix, who will play their games at WIN Stadium in Wollongong – have given up the hub-style fortification. and just loose COVID-19 logs that need to be observed by individuals on a daily basis.

The draw for the 2020-21 A-League campaign was published on Tuesday – barely a month before the start and a week before the day when the clubs should legally achieve their highly competitive independence and take full operational control the competition from the Australian Football Association.

It’s been a transition season in many ways as the clubs slowly step up to their responsibilities and work out their plans to revive the ailing league – which has lost its name sponsor Hyundai and has no broadcast deal beyond the grand finale in June – before one likely switch to a winter calendar in 2022.

The crowd will be back in the stands – in line with the various restrictions imposed by each state government – international travel should be relatively straightforward to start with (with the exception of Western Australia) and there are only a handful of games in the raffle for which no locations or data are blocked.

Macarthur FC is led by new skipper Mark Milligan in its first A-League campaign. Photo credit: Simon Bennett

« This has been one of the most challenging matchmaking processes we have ever been involved in due to the ever-evolving restrictions. However, our priority has always been to deliver the best football to the fans in the safest possible way and to work with all of our stakeholders. « In addition, » said A League boss Greg O’Rourke.

The arrival of Macarthur FC as 12. A-League side not only eliminates reunions, it also means more derbies, more common in Sydney – starting with their debut against closest rivals, the Wanderers.

The Bulls will be on 3. Play their first game against the Central Coast Mariners at Campbelltown Stadium on January 30th while defending A-League champions Sydney FC. December will open their campaign with a big rematch against Melbourne City at ANZ Stadium.

The draw will be reassigned if the Sky Blues, Victory or Perth Glory manage to make it through the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League, which is unlikely – or if other COVID-related developments change.

The Glory won’t start its season until Jan.. Starting January 1st, giving them extra time to prepare after the Washington government denied them permission to access training fields while they are in quarantine after returning from Qatar next month.

Players and staff can essentially live their lives as normal, but continue to report themselves daily about symptoms and are asked to only visit COVID-safe cafes and restaurants and track those they invite into their homes.

The full draw for the W-League, which will start alongside the A-League for the first time, will be released later this week.

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Western Sydney Wanderers FC, A-League, Melbourne Victory FC, Melbourne City FC, Brisbane Roar FC, Central Coast Mariners FC, Adelaide United Football Club, Perth Glory FC, 2021