It all kicks off tonight, and here's how things finished in the regular season
As you can see, CCM took top spot, Brisbane second by two points, then Perth & Wellington, Sydney took a finals spot on the last day, and Heart take up the last finals spot.
The finals series runs over a period of 4 weeks. Kicks off tonight with 4th (Wellington) v 5th (Sydney) in Wellington. Tomorrow we have 1st (CCM) v 2nd (Brisbane Roar) 1st Leg Major Semi Final in Brisbane. And on Sunday it finishes off in Perth with 3rd (Perth) v 6th (Heart).
Next week we'll have the winner of Wellington & Sydney v the winner of Perth & Heart in the Minor Semi Final, and the 2nd Leg of the Major Semi Final.
The week after that we have the Preliminary Final which is contested between the Loser of the Major Semi Final and the Winner of the Minor Semi Final, this will be contested at the ground of the loser of the Major Semi Final.
And in the final week we'll have the Grand Final, between the Winner of the Major Semi Final and the Winner of the Preliminary Final, this is contested at the ground of the winner of the Major Semi Final.
Some background information, Brisbane are defending Champions, however no team in A-League history has won back to back Championships. Also Brisbane Roar have to travel to Korea in between the two legs of the Major Semi Final Legs, while CCM host a ACL game between them as well. There's also a ACL game mid-week before the Grand Final I think (I believe this time Brisbane will have the home game while CCM have to travel).
Now onto the squads for this weekend.
Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC, Westpac Stadium, Friday 6pm (EDT), Friday 8am (GMT), Fox Sports 1HD -
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Mark Paston (gk), 2. Manny Muscat, 3. Tony Lochhead, 6. Tim Brown, 7. Leo Bertos, 8. Paul Ifill, 9. Chris Greenacre, 11. Daniel, 12. Nicky Ward, 14. Mirjan Pavlovic, 17. Vince Lia, 18. Ben Sigmund, 20, Tony Warner (gk), 21. Dani Sanchez, 22. Andrew Durante (c), 24. Alex Smith
In: Daniel (returns from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Lucas Pantelis (knee injury - indefinite)
Sydney FC: 2. Sebastian Ryall, 4. Pascal Bosschaart, 5. Michael Beauchamp, 7. Brett Emerton, 8. Karol Kisel, 9. Bruno Cazarine, 10. Nick Carle, 12. Shannon Cole, 15. Terry McFlynn (c), 16. Joel Chianese, 17. Terry Antonis, 19. Mark Bridge, 20. Ivan Necevski (gk), 21. Scott Jamieson, 23. Rhyan Grant, 24. Mitch Mallia, 30. Ryan Norval (gk) *one to be omitted*
In: 24. Mitch Mallia, 30. Ryan Norval (promoted)
Out: 1. Liam Reddy
Unavailable: Nil
Referee: Chris Beath
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners, Suncorp Stadium, Saturday 5.30pm (EDT), Saturday 7:30am (GMT), Fox Sports 1HD -
Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael Theoklitos (gk), 2. Matt Smith (c), 3. Shane Stefanutto, 4. Matt Jurman, 5. Ivan Franjic, 6. Erik Paaratlu, 7. Besart Berisha, 8. Massimo Murdocca, 9. Kofi Danning, 10. Henrique, 12. Matt Mundy, 16. Mohamed Adnan, 17. Mitch Nichols, 18. Luke Brattan, 19. Jack Hingert, 20. Andrew Redmayne (gk), 22. Thomas Broich, 24. Nick Fitzgerald. *two to be omitted*
In: 16. Mohamed Adnan (returns from injury), 18. Luke Brattan (returns from injury), 22. Thomas Broich, 2. Matt Smith, 17. Mitch Nichols
Out: 25. George Lambadaridis, 29. James Donachie (both omitted)
Unavailable: Nil
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Matthew Ryan, 2.Daniel Mcbreen, 3. Joshua Rose, 4. Pedj Bojic, 6. Patrick Zwaanswijk, 7. John Hutchinson, 9. Bernie Ibini, 11. Oliver Bozanic, 12. Troy Hearfield, 14. Michael Mcglinchey, 16. Trent Sainsbury, 17. Tomas Rogic, 18. Alex Wilkinson (c), 19. John Sutton, 20. Justin Pasfield (gk), 22. Mustafa Amini, 23. Adam Kwasnik
In: 2. Daniel Mcbreen, 16. Trent Sainsbury (both promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Perth Glory v Melbourne Heart, nib Stadium, Sunday 7pm (EDT), Sunday 9am (GMT), Fox Sports 1HD -
Perth Glory: 1. Danny Vukovic (gk), 2. Josh Mtchell, 3. Bas Van Den Brink, 4. Billy Mehmet, 5. Steve Pantelidis, 7. Jacob Burns, 9. Shane Smeltz, 10. Liam Miller, 12. Scott Neville 13. Travis Dodd, 14. Steven Mcgarry, 15. Tommy Amphlett, 17. Todd Howarth, 18. Jesse Makarounas, 19. Josh Risdon, 20. Neil Young, 26. Brandon O’Neill, 27. Andrezinho, 28. Ndumba Makeche, 29.Sam Mitchinson, 35. Dean Heffernan *six to be omitted*
In: 2.Josh Mtchell (Returns From Back Injury), 3.Bas Van Den Brink (Returns From Calf Injury), 7.Jacob Burns (Returns From Rib Injury), 10.Liam Miller (Returns From Back Injury), 35. Dean Heffernan (Returns From 1 Game Suspension)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 6.Chris Coyne (Achilles), 16. Evan Berger (hamstring)
Melbourne Heart: 1. Clint Bolton (gk), 2. Michael Marrone, 3. Brendan Hamill, 4. Simon Colosimo, 5. Fred (c), 6. Matt Thompson, 7. Rutger Worm, 8. Kristian Sarkies, 10. Wayne Srhoj, 11. Alex Terra, 13. Jonatan Germano, 15. David Williams, 16. Aziz Behich, 17. Jason Hoffman, 18. Curtis Good, 19. Eli Babalj, 23. Mate Dugandzic, 27. Craig Goodwin, 30. Sebastian Mattei (gk) *four to be omitted*
In: Kristian Sarkies, David Williams, Jason Hoffman, Craig Goodwin (all promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Adrian Zahra (1 week – quad)
Referee: Jarred Gillett
As you can see, CCM took top spot, Brisbane second by two points, then Perth & Wellington, Sydney took a finals spot on the last day, and Heart take up the last finals spot.
The finals series runs over a period of 4 weeks. Kicks off tonight with 4th (Wellington) v 5th (Sydney) in Wellington. Tomorrow we have 1st (CCM) v 2nd (Brisbane Roar) 1st Leg Major Semi Final in Brisbane. And on Sunday it finishes off in Perth with 3rd (Perth) v 6th (Heart).
Next week we'll have the winner of Wellington & Sydney v the winner of Perth & Heart in the Minor Semi Final, and the 2nd Leg of the Major Semi Final.
The week after that we have the Preliminary Final which is contested between the Loser of the Major Semi Final and the Winner of the Minor Semi Final, this will be contested at the ground of the loser of the Major Semi Final.
And in the final week we'll have the Grand Final, between the Winner of the Major Semi Final and the Winner of the Preliminary Final, this is contested at the ground of the winner of the Major Semi Final.
Some background information, Brisbane are defending Champions, however no team in A-League history has won back to back Championships. Also Brisbane Roar have to travel to Korea in between the two legs of the Major Semi Final Legs, while CCM host a ACL game between them as well. There's also a ACL game mid-week before the Grand Final I think (I believe this time Brisbane will have the home game while CCM have to travel).
Now onto the squads for this weekend.
Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC, Westpac Stadium, Friday 6pm (EDT), Friday 8am (GMT), Fox Sports 1HD -
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Mark Paston (gk), 2. Manny Muscat, 3. Tony Lochhead, 6. Tim Brown, 7. Leo Bertos, 8. Paul Ifill, 9. Chris Greenacre, 11. Daniel, 12. Nicky Ward, 14. Mirjan Pavlovic, 17. Vince Lia, 18. Ben Sigmund, 20, Tony Warner (gk), 21. Dani Sanchez, 22. Andrew Durante (c), 24. Alex Smith
In: Daniel (returns from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Lucas Pantelis (knee injury - indefinite)
Sydney FC: 2. Sebastian Ryall, 4. Pascal Bosschaart, 5. Michael Beauchamp, 7. Brett Emerton, 8. Karol Kisel, 9. Bruno Cazarine, 10. Nick Carle, 12. Shannon Cole, 15. Terry McFlynn (c), 16. Joel Chianese, 17. Terry Antonis, 19. Mark Bridge, 20. Ivan Necevski (gk), 21. Scott Jamieson, 23. Rhyan Grant, 24. Mitch Mallia, 30. Ryan Norval (gk) *one to be omitted*
In: 24. Mitch Mallia, 30. Ryan Norval (promoted)
Out: 1. Liam Reddy
Unavailable: Nil
Referee: Chris Beath
Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners, Suncorp Stadium, Saturday 5.30pm (EDT), Saturday 7:30am (GMT), Fox Sports 1HD -
Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael Theoklitos (gk), 2. Matt Smith (c), 3. Shane Stefanutto, 4. Matt Jurman, 5. Ivan Franjic, 6. Erik Paaratlu, 7. Besart Berisha, 8. Massimo Murdocca, 9. Kofi Danning, 10. Henrique, 12. Matt Mundy, 16. Mohamed Adnan, 17. Mitch Nichols, 18. Luke Brattan, 19. Jack Hingert, 20. Andrew Redmayne (gk), 22. Thomas Broich, 24. Nick Fitzgerald. *two to be omitted*
In: 16. Mohamed Adnan (returns from injury), 18. Luke Brattan (returns from injury), 22. Thomas Broich, 2. Matt Smith, 17. Mitch Nichols
Out: 25. George Lambadaridis, 29. James Donachie (both omitted)
Unavailable: Nil
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Matthew Ryan, 2.Daniel Mcbreen, 3. Joshua Rose, 4. Pedj Bojic, 6. Patrick Zwaanswijk, 7. John Hutchinson, 9. Bernie Ibini, 11. Oliver Bozanic, 12. Troy Hearfield, 14. Michael Mcglinchey, 16. Trent Sainsbury, 17. Tomas Rogic, 18. Alex Wilkinson (c), 19. John Sutton, 20. Justin Pasfield (gk), 22. Mustafa Amini, 23. Adam Kwasnik
In: 2. Daniel Mcbreen, 16. Trent Sainsbury (both promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Perth Glory v Melbourne Heart, nib Stadium, Sunday 7pm (EDT), Sunday 9am (GMT), Fox Sports 1HD -
Perth Glory: 1. Danny Vukovic (gk), 2. Josh Mtchell, 3. Bas Van Den Brink, 4. Billy Mehmet, 5. Steve Pantelidis, 7. Jacob Burns, 9. Shane Smeltz, 10. Liam Miller, 12. Scott Neville 13. Travis Dodd, 14. Steven Mcgarry, 15. Tommy Amphlett, 17. Todd Howarth, 18. Jesse Makarounas, 19. Josh Risdon, 20. Neil Young, 26. Brandon O’Neill, 27. Andrezinho, 28. Ndumba Makeche, 29.Sam Mitchinson, 35. Dean Heffernan *six to be omitted*
In: 2.Josh Mtchell (Returns From Back Injury), 3.Bas Van Den Brink (Returns From Calf Injury), 7.Jacob Burns (Returns From Rib Injury), 10.Liam Miller (Returns From Back Injury), 35. Dean Heffernan (Returns From 1 Game Suspension)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 6.Chris Coyne (Achilles), 16. Evan Berger (hamstring)
Melbourne Heart: 1. Clint Bolton (gk), 2. Michael Marrone, 3. Brendan Hamill, 4. Simon Colosimo, 5. Fred (c), 6. Matt Thompson, 7. Rutger Worm, 8. Kristian Sarkies, 10. Wayne Srhoj, 11. Alex Terra, 13. Jonatan Germano, 15. David Williams, 16. Aziz Behich, 17. Jason Hoffman, 18. Curtis Good, 19. Eli Babalj, 23. Mate Dugandzic, 27. Craig Goodwin, 30. Sebastian Mattei (gk) *four to be omitted*
In: Kristian Sarkies, David Williams, Jason Hoffman, Craig Goodwin (all promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Adrian Zahra (1 week – quad)
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Last edited by GK01 on Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:33 pm; edited 1 time in total
This is the 10th time we've played them in 2 seasons 
