The A-League has struck the right chord; now let the clubs play
On the eve of its 20th season, Joey Lynch takes a look at why the A-League is so loved, and what the competition needs to do to thrive.
Schedule
BRRBRR022/1110:00 PM
0Adelaide UnitedADE- Adelaide UnitedADE2FT
1WTUWTU 
WSWWSW3FT4Adelaide UnitedADE- Adelaide UnitedADE1FT
1CCMCCM - CCMCCM2FT0Adelaide UnitedADE
- BRRBRR3FT4Adelaide UnitedADE
- WTUWTU3FT3Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE1FT
2MACMAC 
PERPER2FT4Adelaide UnitedADE- Adelaide UnitedADE4FT1WTUWTU
NEWNEW0FT1Adelaide UnitedADE- Adelaide UnitedADE1FT
2MVCMVC 
WELWEL3FT2Adelaide UnitedADE- Adelaide UnitedADE1FT2WSWWSW
SYDSYD2FT1Adelaide UnitedADE- Adelaide UnitedADE3FT3PERPER
- Adelaide UnitedADE0FT4CCMCCM
MCYMCY1FT0Adelaide UnitedADE- Adelaide UnitedADE4FT3SYDSYD
- Adelaide UnitedADE1FT1MACMAC
- Adelaide UnitedADE2FT2WELWEL
- MVCMVC2FT0Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE3FT1NEWNEW
- WSWWSW1FT0Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE0FT2BRRBRR
- MACMAC4FT3Adelaide UnitedADE
2024 Schedule
2-1-0, 5th in Australian A-League Men
- MACMAC44/12FT
3Adelaide UnitedADE - Adelaide UnitedADE09/12FT2BRRBRR
- WSWWSW115/12FT0Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE322/12FT1NEWNEW
- MVCMVC230/12FT0Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE24/1FT2WELWEL
- Adelaide UnitedADE18/1FT1MACMAC
- Adelaide UnitedADE413/1FT3SYDSYD
- MCYMCY125/1FT0Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE03/2FT4CCMCCM
- Adelaide UnitedADE39/2FT3PERPER
- SYDSYD216/2FT1Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE124/2FT2WSWWSW
- WELWEL32/3FT2Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE19/3FT2MVCMVC
- NEWNEW015/3FT1Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE429/3FT1WTUWTU
- PERPER27/4FT4Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE112/4FT2MACMAC
- WTUWTU316/4FT3Adelaide UnitedADE
- BRRBRR326/4FT4Adelaide UnitedADE
- CCMCCM21/5FT0Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE125/10FT1CCMCCM
- WSWWSW32/11FT4Adelaide UnitedADE
- Adelaide UnitedADE29/11FT1WTUWTU
- BRRBRR022/11h:mm a z, US/Eastern0Adelaide UnitedADE
A-League kit ranking: Which club has 2024-25's best jerseys?
With designs inspired by everything from centuries-old cathedrals to the Heart's former glories, which club has the best (and worst) kits in the A-League this season?
A-League 2024-25 season preview: All you need to know
Which Victorian team is the strongest? Why are Sydney FC favourites? Who is the next wonderkid? Here's all you need to know ahead of Friday's A-League opener.
A-League transfer window round up: Who will shine?
Can Juan Mata and Douglas Costa deliver on their box-office status? Joey Lynch breaks down the A-League transfer window.
Tensions rise over second division's potential 'Champions League' switch
Football clubs have reacted with disappointment and anger at suggestions a national second tier (NST) could shift to a 'Champions League' style model.
Funding cuts and austerity: What's next for the 'right-sized' A-League?
Following the A-League's decision to slash funding to all clubs, Joey Lynch takes a look at what's next for the Australian top flight.
A-League confirms club funding cut to $530k
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) are upbeat that all A-Leagues clubs will survive a fresh wave of financial turbulence after they were told their central distribution for the 2024/25 season will be slashed by close to 75%.
The 10 major questions the A-League and APL must answer
ESPN's team of football writers have sat down to examine 10 of the most pressing issues facing the A-Leagues this offseason.
Football's focus: Time for A-League to concentrate on strengths
Even if they had not planned to get here this way, the A-League's new "Football Focused" era is exactly what the competition needs right now.
Bayern-bound Irankunda gets first Socceroos call
Graham Arnold is set to break bread with Nestory Irankunda after handing the prodigious teenager his first Socceroos call-up for June's World Cup qualifiers.
Irankunda waits for Roos, would consider switch
Bayern Munich-bound prodigy Nestory Irankunda has refused to rule out the prospect of switching from Australia to Burundi or Tanzania at senior international level.
Irankunda omitted as Olyroos aim for Paris berth
A host of European-based talent has been blocked from Olyroos selection for this month's Under-23 Asian Cup, while Nestory Irankunda has also been omitted.
Adelaide's Cavallo proposes to boyfriend on pitch
Joshua Cavallo, Australia's first active male professional footballer to come out as gay, said he is engaged following an on-pitch proposal to his partner at Adelaide United's home ground on Thursday.
Backing or alienating fans: The A-League's balancing act
The A-League needs to work with and chase the Australian mainstream. Yet it cannot appeal to that audience without its core fanbase providing the point of difference football holds.
Five Asian Cup players not signed to European clubs to watch
The January transfer window is open and the Asian Cup offers the perfect platform for top European clubs to scout some of the AFC's best talents.
Introducing Bayern Munich's next prodigy: Nestory Irankunda
New Bayern signing Nestory Irankunda is a "generational talent" with immense potential. But patience will needed with the Tanzania-born Australian.
Bayern sign Australian teenage star Irankunda
Bayern Munich have signed 17 year-old Australian winger Nestory Irankunda on a "long-term contract", the Bundesliga club announced on Monday.
Sources: Bayern set to sign 17yo A-League star
Bayern Munich are set to win the race to sign Nestory Irankunda from Adelaide United on a deal that would smash the Australian national league record.
Noah Botic one among many young strikers in A-League Men
Just when you feared for the development of young strikers in Australian football, we see a crop of rising stars headlined by Noah Botic.
A-League kit rankings: The best and worst jerseys for 2023-24
The 2023-24 A-League season brings a new host of kits from all 14 clubs. Which tops the style chart, and which has the worst fashion faux pas?
A-League Men 2023-24 season preview: Key players, questions
Key players? Breakout star potential? Worst-case scenarios? ESPN's Joey Lynch runs the rule over all 12 teams ahead of the 2023-24 A-League Men season.
Adelaide United's stadium bans Victory fans
Adelaide's Coopers Stadium, fearing fan violence, is banning Melbourne Victory fans from A-League Men's matches against Adelaide United.
Marquees and must-haves: Players who should be on the A-Leagues' radar
As the A-League enters the offseason, fans and clubs alike are looking to the transfer market for hope. Joey Lynch takes a look at which local and international stars could make the move Down Under.
Goodwin, Chidiac take out A-Leagues' top honours
Adelaide United star and Socceroo Craig Goodwin has taken out the Johnny Warren Medal, while Melbourne Victory's Alex Chidiac also took top honours winning the Julie Dolan Medal despite playing just 13 A-League Women's matches.
Australia's rising stars have shone bright through A-League Men season
We name our team of the season from Australian under-23 players in the A-League Men.
2024-25 A-League Men Standings
| TEAM | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Victory | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +5 | 10 |
| Melbourne City FC | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | +5 | 9 |
| Auckland FC | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 9 |
| Wellington Phoenix FC | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +3 | 7 |
| Adelaide United | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 7 |
| Macarthur FC | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | +4 | 6 |
| Sydney FC | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | -2 | 6 |
| Western United | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +1 | 4 |
| Newcastle Jets | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 3 |
| Perth Glory | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -14 | 1 |
| Brisbane Roar | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 0 |
2024-25 Team LeadersAustralian A-League Men
- Goals
- Assists
RankingsAustralian A-League Men
Goal Difference26th
Goals Scored7Tied-4th
Assists2Tied-8th
Goals Conceded5Tied-6th