The A-League and W-League seasons have been pushed back amid coronavirus restrictions, with Canberra United to kick off their season in early December.
The men’s A-League competition will kick-off on November 19 and the W-League to follow on December 3.
Australian Professional Leagues (APL) released the schedule for the first six rounds of the A-League and opening four rounds of the W-League season on Thursday – based on a conference system.
Both competitions have been delayed from their respective original planned starts of October 30 and November 13 in a bid to have 100 per cent crowd capacity and also manage border restrictions.
Canberra United will now begin their season at home on the W-League’s opening night, Friday 3 December, against Melbourne City at Viking Park.
A-League champions Melbourne City will open the A-League season against Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park on November 19 while W-League newcomers Wellington Phoenix will host Western Sydney Wanderers to commence that season two weeks later.
NSW-based clubs and Wellington’s teams will play each other while the majority of the other games will be played in Victoria, with the Melbourne clubs, Adelaide United, Perth Glory and Brisbane grouped together.
Western United, who plan to turn soil on their stadium site in Tarneit next month, have added South Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium to their list of home venues – along with GMHBA Stadium, Mars Stadium and UTAS Stadium.
United will no longer have home games at AAMI Park.
Meanwhile, the venue for Central Coast’s home games – typically held at Gosford’s Central Coast Stadium – is yet to be confirmed.
“This is because a venue hire agreement for Central Coast Stadium is still pending by Central Coast Council and not yet finalised for any of our A-League or next season’s W-League matches at Central Coast Stadium,” the Mariners said in a statement.
As part of the broadcast deal with new partners Network Ten/Paramount Plus, two Saturday night A-League games will kick-off simultaneously each week.
The football season will finish with the men’s grand final scheduled for May 28.
W-LEAGUE OPENING ROUND
Friday, December 3
* Wellington Phoenix v Western Sydney Wanderers, TBC, 5.05pm
* Canberra United v Melbourne City, Viking Park, 7.45pm
Saturday, December 4
* Sydney FC v Newcastle, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 5.05pm
* Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar, TBC, 10.05pm
Sunday, December 5
* Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United, AAMI Park, 4.05pm
A-LEAGUE OPENING ROUND
Friday, November 19
* Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar, AAMI Park, 7.45pm
Saturday, November 20
* Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC, CommBank Stadium, 7.45pm
* Western United v Melbourne Victory, GMHBA Stadium, 7.45pm
* Perth Glory v Adelaide United, HBF Park, 10.05pm
Sunday, November 21
* Newcastle v Central Coast, McDonald Jones Stadium, 4.05pm
* Macarthur FC v Wellington, Campbelltown Stadium, 6.05pm
AAP
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
