ONE of the unquestionable advantages of the extended A-League calendar is the sheer number of games the ever hungry Australian football fan can now access and consume on a weekly basis.

Indeed, for the first time since the inception of our competition, I feel as if mid-week football has now become an expectation, rather than an anomaly. 

Backed up by games each weekend, the extra fixtures are integral to building our football culture, but also mean that the league's players have added opportunities to show (and prove) their wares.

Let's check out who rose to the occasion in A-League Week 16.

Goal of the Week

There was an array of goals from the absolute top shelf in the A-League over the past week, with players from various clubs coming up with efforts worthy of recognition.

In Wellington, Barbados international Paul Ifill continued to enhance his reputation with a classy effort that earned the hosts a point.

In Adelaide, midfield schemer Paul Reid latched onto a smart through ball to lash past Scott Higgins. While later that match Bas van den Brink rifled home a stunner from just outside the box.

While in Townsville, Robbie Fowler executed a header worthy of winning any game (unfortunately for him it didn't, however), stooping to nod past former teammate Justin Pasfield.

But this week's winner is Perth Glory's Adriano Pellegrino against Brisbane Roar. The midfielders powerful 30 yard hit was pure eye-candy for any football aficionado.  

Save of the Week

Of course, in order to qualify for goal of the week you have to actually beat the many fine keepers the A-League is home to. Not an easy task, as some of these noteworthy saves from our top custodians would suggest.

Firstly to young Mariners stopper Mathew Ryan, who continued to impress with a fine block from Ali Abbas' powerful shot against the Jets in the F3 Derby. The youngster also came up with a number of telling interventions against Brisbane Roar - even if the 5-1 score line didn't show it.

Or how about Justin Pasfield from Robbie Fowler's close range shot? Sure, Pasfield was helped by the fact the shot was straight at him, but he still did super to hold onto the stinging effort from such close range.

But I'd have to say the most impressive save over the course of week 16 was made by Perth's Tando Velaphi, who launched to his left in order to deny a clever Ufuk Talay free kick. No stranger to this section of the A-League Awards blog, young Tando's got a bright future in front of him.

Yakubu Ayegbeni Medal for a Momentous Miss

Not for the first time it's Franz Straka's furious fellows who've shown extra commitment to win this award.

Yes, Dyron Daal ought to have tested Tando Velaphi when clean through on goal (instead he fired over from six-yards), but the real clanger came from the boot of Gareth Edds.

Neat lead up play saw a seemingly simple chance present itself to the former Tranmere midfielder, however Edds could only manage to hit the post with the goal at his mercy.

Velaphi collected the rebound gratefully, and with Fowler netting a super header soon after and Fury later only able to manage a draw against nine men, the effect of Edds miss was magnified. 

Performer of the Week

Four goals in two games mean this week's top performer award lands in the lap of Brisbane Roar's Jean Carlos Solorzano.

There's been talk the Costa Rican is close to a call up for Los Ticos, and with the form he's been showing in the A-League, who could question that the 22-year-old wouldn't fit straight into international football?

Card Happy

Not so much an award, but perhaps a test for the stats minded folk among this niche online community: Has there ever been a player in the history of the A-League, even professional football, to have accumulated as many cards at the start of their career as Perth Glory's Brent Griffiths.

Yesterday's send off took his tally to three yellows and two reds in 372 minutes (four starts) of A-League football.

The youngster looks a genuine talent, but surely he'll have to look to limit his card collection if he's not to prove a liability to his current of future employers.

Top Tweets

Here's what some of you have been saying on Twitter, at #aleague. The love of some, and disinterest in others, is clear.

AnthonySiokos: "Ange Postecoglou has done an amazing job with the Roar. That's the kind of football I want to watch ever week. See, it's possible."

Winsordobbin: "Ignore all the #Aleague hype. Tonight's game on a par with old NSL: Morwell v Melita Eagles or Preston v Heidelberg. Complete rubbish."

CWBush: "The #brisbaneroar are an absolute pleasure to watch. The best advertisement the #aleague can have is attractive football."

Geoffreypower: "Speaking of draws: Melbourne Heart: nil, Sydney FC: nil. Crowd: nil, skill level: nil, quality: nil, entertainment value: nil"

You can follow me on Twitter @BennyONeill...