A-League: guide to season 2019-20 The beginnings and the growth of A-League ...... 3 Competition format ...... 3 2018-19 Season ...... 4 Regular Season Champion ...... 4 Hyundai A-League Champion ...... 4 Curiosities along 15 years of Hyundai A-League ...... 5 Plantillas de los equipos A-League temporada 2019-2020 ...... 6 Perth Glory ...... 6 Sydney FC ...... 8 Melbourne Victory ...... 10 Adelaide United ...... 12 Melbourne City ...... 14 Wellington Phoenix ...... 16 Newcastle Jets ...... 18 Western Sydney Wanderers ...... 20 Brisbane Roar ...... 22 Central Coast Mariners ...... 24 Western United ...... 26 A-League stadiums ...... 28
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The beginnings and the growth of A-League Australian Professional League is celebrating a birthday: it has just turned 15. Better known as A-League, it was established by Football Federation Australia (FFA) as a successor to the previous format, the National Soccer League (NSL).
It is a close league which does not practice promotion and relegation, although this wants to be adapted in the future. This is a young competition with an ever-increasing growth. Its format is being changed this season with the newcomers Western United joining to the professional league making a total of eleven teams. There were 10 teams participating last season.
Last time A-League had 11 teams was 2010-2011 season. It was reduced then to ten teams because a team became defunct due to financial reasons. FFA is currently planning to expand A-League but trying not to repeat years ago mistakes. Among the teams that have requested a place there are newly established clubs and clubs from the Australian semi-professional League (NPL), from a level below A-League. One more team is expected to join A-League for season 2020-2021 (Macarthur FC), to increase numbers of teams in the competition.
Competition format 2019-2020 season will start on 11 October. As a novelty, this season will count on the participation of 11 teams and calendar will have to be modified in relation to last season, being adjusted from 27 to 29 matchdays. The most important changes are shown below.
I. 2019-2020 season will have 29 matchdays with 26 matches for each team (13 home and 13 away). There will be three days off for each team along the season. II. There is a priority for teams to take a day off competition when they play AFC Champions League depending on the calendar of the continental tournament. III. Each club will play at least twice against each other. An asymmetric calendar was set to fit the calendar up to 29 matchdays and 26 matches each club, each team will play three times against six rivals and only two with the remaining four. These six games combination will depend on several factors: - To maximise TV audience. - To promote games with historical rivalry or derbies. - To make the most of games with good and regular attendance.
The only thing that did not change in relation to last years is the title-deciding play-off. There are two chances to win titles in A-League. On one hand, the Premier League (Regular Season Champion) and on the other hand the ‘Grand Final’ Champion (A-League Championship). The top six clubs at the conclusion of the regular season progress to play-off, 1st and 2nd qualified wait for a rival in semi-finals meanwhile 3rd plays against 6th and 4th against 5th.
You can find the official Hyundai A-League 2019-20 calendar on the link below. http://media.news.com.au/multimedia/2019/A-League/Hyundai-A-League-2019-20-Season- Draw.pdf
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2018-19 Season
Regular Season Champion A team was champion for first time last regular season. Perth Glory was crowned A-League Premier with 60 points. It has been the first time in the competition history that a Western Australian team secures the top of the A-League table at the end of regular season. Glory manager Tony Popovic became champion for second time. He won first time with Western Sydney Wanderers. Popovic was a newly appointed manager on both occasions.
Perth Glory conceded the least goals (23 goals) and was the highest goal scorer (56 goals) during Regular Season. They just lost 3 out of 27 games played.
Hyundai A-League Champion To get A-League Championship title teams have to be qualified in regular season within top six on the table and pass through play-off knockouts The A-League 2018-19 champions were Sydney FC. They finished 2nd in the regular season.
As a 2nd qualified, Sydney FC played two more games: semi-finals, where they 6-1 thrashing of Melbourne and the final against Perth Glory, where match ended 0-0 and was decided in a penalty-shootout with Sydney winning 1-4.
Photograph: a-league.com.au
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Curiosities along 15 years of Hyundai A-League 15 seasons goes a long way. Find some of the anecdotes and information that were left during these three lustra by Australian professional football:
1. Adelaide United player Carl Veart scored the first goal ever. It came at 19th minute game vs Newcastle Jets on 26 August 2005. 2. There are currently seven players who are still playing in the A-League since the beginnings of the competition: Nigel Boogard, Alex Wilkinson, Liam Reddy, Vince Lia, Glen Moss, Tarek Elrich y Andrew Durante. The last one is the player with more games played: 313. 3. Competition top scorer is Besart Berisha with 106 goals in 171 games. 4. The highest numbers of goals scored by a team in a game is eight goals. Adelaide United (2010-2011 season), Wellington Phoenix (2018-2019 season) and Newcastle Jets (temp 2017-2018) did it. 5. Ernie Merrick is the coach with more games ever on the bench of any A-League team. He has coached three teams in total and is now leading Newcastle Jets squad. Next season is his thirteenth overall.. 6. Diego Castro, former Getafe player -among another teams- is the Spanish top scorer throughout A-League history, with 39 goals up to now. He will be trying to continue adding goals for his team, Perth Glory. 7. Isaías Sánchez who left Adelaide United last season is the Spanish player with more games played in the A-League with a total of 150 games, and he obtained Australian citizenship after being more than five years in the South Australian Club.
Foto: Diego Castro e Isaías Sánchez (a-league.com.au)
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Plantillas de los equipos A-League temporada 2019-2020 In the following pages you will find all eleven team’s squads. They are ordered for last season standings and have the full squad with most important data of teams participating on 2019- 2020 in Australia.
Perth Glory
Coach: Tony Popovic Stadium: HBF Average age: 27,3 Player to follow: Diego Castro
TITLE
1 x Regular League 18/19
GOALKEEPER
Name Age Nacionality
Liam Reddy 38 Tando Velaphi 32
DEFENDER Name Age Nacionality Tomislav Mrcela 28 Alex Grant (N) 25 Dino Djulbic 36 Ivan Franjic 36 Dane Ingham (N) 20 Jacob Tratt (N) 24 Luca Boodnar 19
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Riliey Warland 17 Gregory Wüthrich 24 James Meredith 31
N* Jugador Nuevo MIDFIELDER Name Age Nacionality Neil Kilkenny 32 Osama Malik 28 Juande 33 Jake Brimmer 21 Brandon Wilson 22 Diego Castro 37 Su-Beon Kim (N) 28 Kristian Popovic 18 Ethan Brooks 19
N* Jugador nuevo FORWARD Name Age Nacionality Christhoper Ikonomidis 24 Joel Chianese 29 Chris Harold 33 Bruno Fornaroli (N) 21 Nick D’Agostino (N) 22
N* Jugador nuevo
@PerthGloryfc
- FORNAROLI - HARLOLD - MRCELA - TRATT - LOWRY - KILKENNY
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- CHIANESE - JUANDE - FRANJIC - BRIMMER - REDDY
Sydney FC
Coach: Steve Corica Stadium: - Nestrata Jubilee Average age: 25,8 - Leichhardt Oval Player to follow: Le Fondre
TITLE
3 x Regular League 09/10 - 16/17 -17/18 4 x Grand Final A-League 05/06 - 09/10 - 16/17 - 18/19 1 x FFA Cup Australia 2017
GOALKEEPER
Name Age Nacionality
Andrew Redmayne 30 Tom Heward-Belle 22
DEFENDER
Name Age Nacionality
Alex Wilkinson 35
Ryan McGowan (N) 30 Ben Warland 23 Patrick Flottman (N) 22 Michael Zullo 30 Joel King 18 Rhyan Grant 28
Harry Van der Saag 19
N* New Player
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MIDFIELDER
Name Age Nacionality
Paulo Retre 35
Luke Brattan (N) 30
Ryan Teague 23
Alexander Baumjohann (N) 22 Milos Ninkovic 30 Chris Zuvela 18 Brandon O’Neill 28
Anthony Cacerers (N) 19
N* New Player
FORWARD
Name Age Nacionality
Marco Tilio 35
Kosta Barbarouses (N) 30
Tren Buhagiar 23
Luke Ivanovic 22 Adam Le Fondre 30 Jordi Swibel 18
Brandon O’Neill 28
Anthony Cacerers (N) 19
N* New Player
- NINKOVIC - GRANT - MCGOWAN - RETRE - KING - REDMAYNE - BAUMJOHANN - VAN DER SAAG - LE FONDRE - BARBAROUSES - CÁCERES
@Sydneyfc
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Melbourne Victory
Coach: Marko Kurz Stadium: - AAMI Park Average age: 24,8 - Marvel Stadium Player to follow: Nabbout
TITLE
3 x Regular League 06/07 - 08/09 - 14/15 4 x Grand Final A-League 06/07 - 08/09 - 14/15 - 17/18 1 x FFA Cup Australia 2015
GOALKEEPER Name Age Nacionality
Lawrence Thomas 27
Matt Acton 27
Matthew Sutton 19
DEFENDER Name Age Nacionality Thomas Deng 22 James Donachie (N) 26 Tim Hoogland (N) 34 Benjamin Carrigan 21 Corey Brown 25 Leigh Broxham 31 Storm Roux 26 Adama Traore 29
N* New Player
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MIDFIELDER Name Age Nacionality Anthony Lesiotis 19 Jay Barnett (N) 18 Jakob Poulsen (N) 36 Kristijan Dobras (N) 26 Brandon Lauton 19 Josh Hope 21 Birkan Kirdar 17
N* New Player FORWARD Name Age Nacionality Robbie Kruse (N) 30 Ola Toivonen 33 Andrew Nabbout (N) 26 Kenny Athiu 27 Elvis Kamsoba 23
N* New Player
- LEIGH BROXHAM
- ELVIS KAMSOBA
- ANDREW NABBOUT
@Gomvfc
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Adelaide United
Coach: Gertjan Verbeek Stadium: Coopers Average age: 24,4 Player to follow: McGree
TITLE
2 x Regular League 05/06 - 15/16 1 x Grand Final A-League 15/16 2 x FFA Cup Australia 2014 – 2018
GOALKEEPER Name Age Nacionality Paul Izzo 24 Daniel Margush 21 Isaac Richards 20
DEFENDER Name Age Nacionality Michael Jakobsen 33 Jordan Elsey 25 Michael Marrone 32 Michael Maria (N) 24 Ryan Strain 22 Kristin Konstandopoulos 20 Aladin Irabona 21
N* New player
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MIDFIELDER Name Age Nacionality Louis D’Arrigo 17 Riley McGree 20 Mirko Boland 32 Vince Lia 34 Ben Halloran 27 Ryan Kitto 25 Lachlan Brook 18 James Troisi 31
FORWARD Name Age Nacionality Nikola Milesunic 26 Carlo Armiento 20 Kristian Opseth (N) 29 George Blackwood 22 Alhassan Touré 19 Pacifique Niyongabire 19 Kusini Yengi 20
N* New player
@AdelaideUnited
- BOLAND - TOURE - JAKOBSEN - IZZO - KONSTANDOPOULOS - STRAIN
- MILEUSNIC - ELSEY - MCGREE - KITTO
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Melbourne City
Coach: Erick Mombaerts Stadium: AAMI Park Average age: 24,2 Player to follow: Maclaren
TITLE
1 x FFA Cup Australia 2016
GOALKEEPER Name Age Nacionality Dean Bouzanis (N) 28 Tom Glover (N) 21 Joe Gauci 19
N* New Player DEFENDER Name Age Nacionality Kerrin Stokes 16 Richard Windbichler 28 Harrison Delbridge 27 Curtis Good 26 Scott Galloway 24 Scott Jamieson 30 Nathaniel Atkinson 20
N* New Player
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MIDFIELDER Name Age Nacionality Rostyn Griffiths 31 Idrus Abdulahi 15 Connor Metcalfe 19 Joshua Brillante (N) 26 Florin Bérenguer 24 Dnus Genreau (N) 30 Ramy Najjarine 20
N* New Player FORWARD Name Age Nacionality Raphael Borges 16 Lachlan Wales 21 Adrian Luna (N) 27 Craig Noone (N) 31 Javier Cabrera (N) 27 Jaime Maclaren 26 Yaya Dukuly 16 Moudi Najjar 19
N* New Player
- MOUDI NAJJAR
- DEAN BOUZANIS
15 @MelbourneCity
Wellington Phoenix
Coach: Ufuk Talay Stadium: - Westpac Average age: 23,3 - Eden Park Player to follow: Taylor
GOALKEEPER Name Age Nacionality Stefan Marinovic (N) 28 Oliver Sail 21
DEFENDER Name Age Nacionality Steven Taylor 33 Luke DeVere (N) 29 Te Athawhai Hudson-Wihongi (N) 24 Liam McGing (N) 20 Walter Scott (N) 19 Louis Fenton 26
N* New Player MIDFIELDER Name Age Nacionality Matt Steinmann (N) 24 Tim Payne (N) 25 Cameron Devlin (N) 21
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Ulises Dávila (N) 28 Callan Elliot 20 Liberato Cacace 18 Alex Rufer 23
N* New Player
FORWARD Name Age Nacionality Reno Piscopo (N) 24 Callum McCowatt (N) 25 Jaushua Sotirio (N) 21 David Ball (N) 28 Ben Waine 20 Oskar van Hattum 17
N* New Player
- ALEX RUFER
- STEVEN TAYLOR
@WgtnPhoenixfc
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Newcastle Jets
Coach: Ernie Merrick Stadium: McDonald Jones Average age: 25,6 Player to follow: Dimi Petratos
TITLE
1 x Grand Final A-League 07/08
GOALKEEPER Name Age Nacionality Lewis Italiano 28 Glen Moss 36 Noah James 18
DEFENDER Name Age Nacionality Patrick Langlois 19 Nikolai Topor-Stanley 34 Nigel Boogaard 33 Lachlan Jackson 24 John Koutroumbis 21 Bobby Burns 19
MIDFIELDER Name Age Nacionality Matthew Millar (N) 23
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Jack Simmons 17 Ben Kantarovski 27 Matthew Ridenton 23 Steven Ugarkovic 25 Jason Hoffman 30 Dimitri Petratos 26 Wesley Hoolahan (N) 37
N* New Player
FORWARD Name Age Nacionality Nicholas Fitzgerald (N) 27 Kosta Petratos 21 Abdiel Arroyo (N) 25 Kaine Sheppard 25 Angus Thurgate 19
N* New Player
- PETRATOS
- HOFFMAN
- HOOLAHAN
@NewcastleJetsfc
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Western Sydney Wanderers
Coach: Markus Babbel Stadium: Bankwest Average age: 24,6 Player to follow: Jurman
TITLE
1 x Regular League 12/13
GOALKEEPER Name Age Nacionality Daniel Lopar (N) 34 Vendran Janjetovic 32 Nick Suman 19
N* New Player DEFENDER Name Age Nacionality Matthew Jurman (N) 29 Patrick Ziegler 29 Dylan McGowan (N) 28 Jamie Percevski (N) 19 Daniel Wilmering 18 Tarek Elrich 32 Tate Rusell 20 Mathieu Cordier 20 Tass Mourdoukoutas 20 Daniel Georgievski (N) 31
N* New Player
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MIDFIELDER Name Age Nacionality Pirmin Schwegler (N) 32 Keanu Baccus 21 Fabian Monge 18 Nick Sullivan (N) 21 Kosta Grozos 19 Jordan O’Doherty 21 Radoslaw Majewski 32
N* New Player
FORWARD
Name Age Nacionality
Michell Duke 28 Kwame Yeboah 25 Bruce Kamau 24 Mohamed Adam 19 Alexander Meier 36
N* New Player
- DUKE
- BABBEL
- MCGOWAN
@WSWanderersfc
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Brisbane Roar
Coach: Robbie Fowler Stadium: - Suncorp Average age: 24,4 - Dolphin Oval Player to follow: O’Donovan
TITLE
2 x Regular League 10/11 - 13/14 3 x Grand Final A-League 10/11 - 11/12 - 13/14
GOALKEEPER Name Age Nacionality Max Crocombe (N) 26 Jaime Young 34 Macklin Freke 20
N* New Player DEFENDER Name Age Nacionality Tom Aldred (N) 29 Jordan Courtney-Perkins 16 Jacob Pepper 27 Macauley Gillesphey (N) 23 Aaron Reardon 20 Connor O’Toole 22 Izaack Powell 17 Scott Nevilla (N) 30 Jake McGing (N) 25 Jack Hingert 28
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N* New Player
MIDFIELDER Name Age Nacionality Kai Trewin 18 Aiden O’Neill (N) 21 Stefan Mauk 23 Brad Inman (N) 27 George Mells (N) 22 Jay O’Shea (N) 31
N* New Player
FORWARD Name Age Nacionality Mirza Muratovic 19 Jai Ingham (N) 19 Rahmat Akbari 26 Roy O’Donovan (N) 34 Dylan Wenzel-Halls 24 Aaron Amadi-Holloway (N) 26
N* New Player
- NEVILLE
- ALDRED
- O’DONOVAN
- O’NEILL
@BrisbaneRoar 23
Central Coast Mariners
Coach: Alen Stajcic Stadium: Central Coast Average age: 24,2 Player to follow: De Silva
TITLE
2 x Regular League 07/08 - 11/12 1 x Grand Final A-League 12/13
GOALKEEPER Name Age Nacionality Mark Birighitti (N) 28 Adam Pearce 22
N* New Player
DEFENDER Name Age Nacionality Kye Rowles 21 Ruon Tongyik (N) 22 Dylan Fox (N) 25 Giancarlo Gallifuoco 25 Jack Clisby 27 Ziggy Gordon (N) 26
N* New Player
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MIDFIELDER Name Age Nacionality Mark Moric (N) 19 Kim Eun-seon (N) 31 Jacob Melling 24 Joshua Nisbet 20 Gioanni Stensness (N) 20 Milan Djuric (N) 31 Michael McGlinchey 32 Daniel De Silva (N) 22 Mario Shabow 21
N* New Player FORWARD Name Age Nacionality Tommy Oar 27 Samuel Silvera (N) 18 Abraham Majok (N) 20 Jordan Murray 23 Matt Simon 33
N* New Player
DFS_AUS AUSSIESPUR
- GALLIFUOCO - SIMON
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Western United
Coach: Mark Rudan Stadium: - GMHBA Stadium Average age: 26 - Mars Stadium Player to follow: Kone
GOALKEEPER Name Age Nacionality Filip Kurto (N) 28 James Delianov (N) 19
N* New Player DEFENDER Name Age Nacionality Ersam Gülüm (N) 32 Brendan Hamill (N) 26 Jonathan Aspropotamitis (N) 23 Andrew Durante (N) 37 Ivan Vujica (N) 22 Joshua Risdon (N) 27 Aaron Calver (N) 23 Dylan Pierias (N) 19
N* New Player
MIDFIELDER Name Age Nacionality Joshua Cavallo (N) 19 Panagiotis Kone (N) 32
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Sebastian Pasquali (N) 19 Thiel Iradukunda (N) 20 Max Burgess (N) 24 Dario Jertec (N) 34 Luke Duzel (N) 17
N* New Player
FORWARD Name Age Nacionality Valentino Yuel (N) 24 Connor Pain (N) 25 Alessandro Diamanti (N) 36 Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (N) 20 Besart Berisha (N) 34 Scott McDonald (N) 36
N* New Player
@wufcofficial
- CHAPMAN - DURANTE - KONE - DIAMANTI - KURTO - GULUM
- MCDONALD - RISDON - PAIN - YUEL - HAMILL
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A-League stadiums
The games are played in the stadiums, a really important place that hosts both home and away supporters where everybody lives the passion in each match.
It is the place to watch the actual show and enjoy the sport. This section contains all available stadiums for 2019-2020 season in Australia for A-League.
Some teams will have two stadiums to host their home matches. Clubs do this to promote football in different areas alongside the Australian State they belong, prioritising always their main venue for most of their games.
Most of the stadiums have commercial names to promote the venue. They are also being used to host other sports such as rugby or cricket. Perth Glory
They will play all games at Perth Oval, called HBF Park for commercial reasons, its capacity is 20,500, it is located in Perth, the most Western State of Australia.
Photo: thewest.com.au
Photo: hbfpark.com.au
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Sydney FC
Sydney FC will play their home games in two stadiums. Currently the stadium that has always been used is being remodeled.
This season it will play 10 home games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium and the other 3 at Leichhart Oval. In the Netstrata Jubilee there is capacity for 20500 spectators, while in the Leichhart Oval there is room for 20000 spectators. Both are located in New South Wales.
Photo: :Netstrata Jubilee (austadiums.com)
Photo: Leichhart Oval (@SydneyFC)
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Melbourne Victory
Australia's most followed team will play their 13 home games in the A-League season in two stadiums. Eight games will be played at AAMI Park and the other five at Marvel Stadium.
AAMI Park seats up to 30050 spectators, while the Marvel Stadium seats 56347 spectators. Both are located in the state of Melbourne.
Photo: AAMI Park (IFL360.com)
Photo: Marvel Stadium (heraldsun.com.au)
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Adelaide United
Adelaide United, a team from South Australia, will play its 13 home games in a single stadium: the so-called Hindmarsh Stadium, due to sponsorship is called Coopers Stadium with capacity for 16500 spectators.
Photo:: Coopersstadium.com.au
Photo:: AdelaideUnited.com.au
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Melbourne City
Melbourne City, another of Melbourne's state teams, will play all their home games at AAMI Park, and will share a stadium with Melbourne Victory next season.
Photo: Stadiumguide.com
As a curiosity, this stadium is famous for having very special spectators in their matches. In fact, these peculiar assistants have a VIP ticket and enjoy the match from the same turf. Who hasn't seen a match at AAMI Park and enjoyed their seagulls?.
Photo:: @adampeacock3
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Wellington Phoenix
Wellington Phoenix is the only team outside Australia. It has its stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. It will play its thirteen home games in two stadiums. In Westpac Stadium (from January it will be called Sky Stadium) it has capacity for 34500 spectators where it will play 11 games. In Eden Park will play the remaining two that is in Auckland with capacity for 50000 spectators.
Photo:: Sky Stadium (nzherald.com.nz)
Photo: Eden Park (inhabitat.com)
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Newcastle Jets
The Newcastle Jets will play their 13 home games in the same stadium, the same one where they also played last season. McDonald Jones Stadium has a capacity of 33,000. It is next to Leichhart Oval, two of the only fields that have room for fans to sit on the grass, instead of seats.
Photo: McDonald Jones (theherald.com.au)
Photo: thissportingworld.com
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Western Sydney Wanderers
The Wanderers opens this season a new stadium: Bankwest. It will play in all the matches that it must play as local. Bankwest Stadium is located in the same place where was the old stadium of Parramatta. It has a capacity for 30,000 people and will be the Wanderers stadium for 10 years.
Photo:: Leedsunited.com
Photo: @austadiums
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Brisbane Roar
Brisbane Roar, who have been the team with the most changes from last season's A-League, will play their home games on two different pitches. At Suncorp Stadium will play 10 of the 13 games, with capacity for 52,500 spectators. The remaining three home games will be played at Redcliffe Dolphin Stadium with a capacity of 65,326 spectators.
Suncorp Stadium Photo: stadiumguide.com
Redcliffe Dolphin Photo: Visit Moreton Bay Region
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Central Coast Mariners
The Mariners, located in the suburb of Gosford in New South Wales, are home to Central Coast Stadium. Capacity for 20,059 spectators and venue for all 13 full games as a home team in the new A-League season.
Central Coast Photo:: dailytelegraph.com.au
Photo: soccerway.com
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Western United
Western United, which was born in December 2018, will be the team that will begin its first official A-League season after being chosen by the FFA (Australian Football Federation) from among several new teams and teams already with history behind them in Australia. He will play his home games in two different stadiums. Firstly GMBHA Stadium where it will play nine matches with capacity for 36000 spectators. And finally in the Mars Stadium the remaining four games as a home with capacity for 11,000 spectators. As a curiosity, both stadiums are originally intended for cricket and Australian football.
GMBHA Photo: austadiums.com
Mars Photo: sport.vic.gov.au
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Guide A-League season 2019-20.
Made by Antonio Jesús Jiménez (@tonnicorneto) for fútboldesdeasia.com
Acknowledgements: - Dani Deudermont (@DaniDeuder) - Ricardo Calvente (@rjcalvente) / Cover Design
- José Sanchez (@TutorLingua) / Translation
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