Perth Glory

Last Season: 5th

This Season: 5th

Kenny Lowe’s attacking philosophy made it an entertaining season for Perth’s fans, as The Glory recorded their second consecutive fifth-place finish in the A-League.

Perth scored 53 goals in the regular season, (only Premiers Sydney FC scored more) however they also conceded an alarming 53 times- the joint highest in the division alongside Newcastle Jets.

Glory were at their ruthless best, as they swept past Melbourne City 2-0 in the Elimination Final at AAMI Park.

A Semi Final against a rampant Sydney FC side proved a step to far, though, as Lowe’s men were brushed aside 3-0 at the Allianz Stadium.

Highlight

Andy Keogh’s dramatic winner to complete his hat-trick against Melbourne City set the tone for an action-packed campaign.

Keogh’s opening two goals were cancelled out by Bruno Fornaroli and Fernando Brandan, however it was the Irish striker who had the final say.

The 30-year-old scored a spectacular winner five minutes from time with an exquisite lob over goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.

Perth’s victory over City in the Elimination Finals also confirmed their status as one of the A-League’s top sides.

Lowlight

Of Glory’s eight defeats in the regular season, five came against sides which finished above them.

Even so, a Round 10 home defeat to Newcastle Jets was arguably Glory’s worst performance of the season.

After taking the lead through Nebojsa Marinkovic, Perth’s soft centre was exposed as Andrew Hoole drew the Jets level.

A clumsy own goal from Milan Smiljanic gave the visitors the lead on the stroke of half time, as Newcastle recorded a surprise 2-1 victory.

Star Player

Diego Castro

The Spanish winger lit up the A-League on several occasions this season, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists.

Last season’s Johnny Warren Medallist was comfortably Perth’s most creative player, creating a total of 70 chances in the final third.

Castro’s ability from wide areas was hugely valuable for strikers Andy Keogh and Adam Taggart, who both registered 12 league goals.

 

Melbourne City

Last Season: 4th

This Season: 4th

Amid a wave of expectation, City started the season like a house on fire, winning three of their first four league games, including an emphatic 4-1 triumph over local rivals Melbourne Victory.

After winning the FFA Cup at the end of November, City sat second on the A-League ladder just four points behind leaders Sydney FC, however a subsequent lull and five game winless run derailed their Premiership hopes.

Coach John van’t Schip stepped down in January to return to Holland and be with his dying father.

His assistant Michael Valkanis took charge and guided City to their third successive Finals Series.

However, it all ended tonelessly, as City lost a one-sided Elimination Final 2-0 at home to Perth Glory.

Highlight

Winning the FFA Cup and their first piece of silverware in November was obviously a big step forward for City.

Marquee signing Tim Cahill well and truly delivered against Sydney FC in a gripping final, scoring the only goal of the game with a cushioned header.

City also beat Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers on their way to the trophy, underlining their ability in one-off games.

Lowlight

The Elimination Final defeat to Perth Glory was hugely disappointing, with City barely laying a glove on their opponents in an abject first half.

Diego Castro and Joel Chianese capitalised on City’s hesitant first half performance, putting Perth 2-0 up before the interval.

Despite an improvement from Valkanis’ side after the break, the damage had already been done and the game quickly petered out alongside City’s season.

Star Player(s)

Bruno Fornaroli may not have been as prolific as last season, when he scored a remarkable 24 A-League goals, even so he still registered 17 times in the league, with only Besart Berisha and Jamie Maclaren netting more.

Neil Kilkenny was awarded the club’s A-League Player of the Year Award following a series of batting performances in the midfield engine room.

Defender Michael Jakobsen was also impressive at the start of the season, however an ongoing injury issue reduced his influence in the second half of the campaign.

Brisbane Roar

Last Season: 3rd

This Season: 3rd

It was another case of so close yet so far for Roar, who finished third on the A-League ladder for the second season running, before being edged out 1-0 by Melbourne Victory in The Finals.

Too many draws, nine in total, saw John Aloisi’s side lose touching distance with the top two, while they were heavily reliant on forward Jamie Maclaren, who scored nearly half of his side’s league goals.

Several injuries didn’t help, as Brisbane crashed out of AFC Champions League in the group stages, following heavy defeats to Ulsan Hyundai and Muangthong United.

Highlight

Brisbane’s 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory in Round 24 was the only time they defeated one of the A-League’s top two sides.

Jamie Maclaren’s stunning second half strike - when he let the ball bounce between two Victory defenders before looping the ball over goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas from distance - was the difference between the two sides at the Suncorp Stadium.

The result moved Brisbane into joint third place with Melbourne City, consolidating Roar’s position inside the top six.

Lowlight

Aloisi’s side suffered an unexpected thrashing against Newcastle Jets in Round Two, losing 4-0 at the Hunter Stadium.

Jack Hingert’s own goal after just eight minutes set the tone for a dismal afternoon for Brisbane. Goals from Nigel Boogaard, Steven Ugarkovic and Devante Clut completed the hammering.

Star Player

Jamie Maclaren was instrumental for Brisbane, scoring 21 goals in all competitions and sharing the A-League Golden Boot with Victory's Besart Berisha.

The 23-year-old registered 11 times in the last nine games of the regular season, including a hat-trick against Central Coast Mariners in Round 25.

Maclaren also won the NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award for the second year running.

 

Melbourne Victory

Last Season: 6th

This Season: 2nd

Kevin Muscat’s men were a whisker away from winning their fourth A-League Championship, only to lose 4-2 on penalties to Sydney FC in a riveting Grand Final.

If James Troisi’s effort in extra time had hit the back of the net rather than the inside of the post before bouncing across goal, things could have been very different.

Victory took the game to Graham Arnold’s side from the first minute at the Allianz Stadium, taking the lead through Besart Berisha before Rhyan Grant equalised to force extra time.

In the league, Muscat’s men were unable to stay in touch with a relentless Sydney side, however they were comfortably the second best team in the division.

Highlight

Round 18’s derby day triumph over Melbourne City at the Etihad Stadium saw Victory claim revenge over their local rivals, following multiple defeats to City earlier in the campaign.

Besart Berisha missed the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot on 63 minutes, after the striker’s effort was saved by goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.

City took the lead seven minutes later when Neil Kilkenny’s shot deflected into the net off defender Alan Baro, however two late goals in the space of three manic minutes swung the match in Victory’s favour.

First Berisha made amends, converting Marco Rojas’ cut back five minutes from time.

Moments later, Victory scored again when Manny Muscat turned Jason Geria’s cross into his own net, sending the home fans into raptures.

Lowlight

The Grand Final defeat will obviously hurt for a while, yet the 4-1 thrashing against local rivals Melbourne City was arguably the lowest point of the season.

Victory were outplayed in the Round Two fixture, as a wonder goal from Tim Cahill and a close-range header from  Bruno Fornaroli gave City a 2-0 half time lead.

Luke Brattan and Fernando Brandan also registered on the scoresheet on a night to forget for Muscat’s men.

Star Player(s)

Besart Berisha’s 21 league goals, which made him the division’s top scorer, can’t be overlooked, however a rejuvenated James Troisi was often the man who made Victory tick.

The 28-year-old, who earned a recall to the Socceroo’s squad earlier this year, was influential for Victory in the number 10 position behind the striker, creating a total of 50 chances over the course of the campaign.

New Zealand international Marco Rojas was also a key component for Victory, scoring 12 goals and registering 11 assists.

 

Sydney FC

Last Season: 7th

This Season: 1st

Has there ever been a better A-League team than the one which Graham Arnold assembled this campaign?

Sydney FC recorded the highest ever points tally in A-League history, amassing 66 points over 27 games- breaking the previous record of 65 points held by Brisbane Roar, when the season was 30 games long.

The Sky Blues built from the back, conceding just 12 goals in the regular league season.

Arnold’s men lost just once all year in the A-League as they stormed to a Premiership and Championship double, narrowly edging out Melbourne Victory in a thrilling Grand Final.

Highlight

Winning their third A-League Championship at Allianz Stadium was a just reward following a stellar season for the Sky Blues.

Melbourne Victory provided a stern test in the Grand Final, taking the lead through Bersart Berisha before half time.

Graham Arnold’s side then went on the attack and were rewarded when the ball dropped to Rhyan Grant inside the opposition’s penalty area, allowing the dogged defender to equalise from close-range.

In the end, it was fitting that Sydney’s talisman and Johnny Warren Medal winner Milos Ninkovic received the chance to convert the winning spot kick.

Lowlight

The Sky Blues went into the Sydney derby against Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 20 as strong favourites, and with a 26 point lead over their local rivals.

Brendon Santalab scored the only goal of the game on 26 minutes after showing great composure inside the visitor’s penalty area.

Sydney captain Alex Brosque was denied a late penalty in stoppage time, as Graham Arnold’s men suffered their only league defeat of the season.

Star Player(s)

Tricky winger Milos Ninkovic deservingly won the Johnny Warren Medal, after being recognised as the A-League’s best player.

The 32-year-old Serb terrorised A-League defences throughout the campaign, creating 47 chances while also registering 9 goals and 11 assists.

A lot of credit must also go to Sydney’s defenders, in particular Alex Wilkinson and the industrial Rhyan Grant.

Joshua Brillante and Brandon O'Neill were also vital, due to their tireless work in the midfield engine room.