___   >>>   click here to see final training pics  

After enduring a Socceroo funk, the domestic game has come to the rescue of the nation’s long-suffering fans.

With three high profile marquees and an offshore viewing audience that has exploded – could this be the season that transforms the face of the domestic game?

Or are we just getting carried away like everyone else?

All we know is We Are Football and we’re heartily sick of waiting for it. Season 8 is talking a big game but can it deliver?

We rate the opening matches before a ball has even been kicked and tell you why you won’t want to miss a minute.

Melbourne Victory v Melbourne Heart
Friday 7.30pm Etihad Stadium

More proof the season fixture list is dreamt up by excitable adolescent boys. The FFA has blown its big guns early, kicking off the season with the league’s showpiece event, the Melbourne derby. Two new coaches, reshaped squads and the little matter of home town pride on the line. Does it get any better than this? Rarely. Rookie coach John Aloisi matches wits with double-championship winning tactician Ange Postecoglou as both teams try to turnaround last season’s disappointments. There’s a lot of attention for the Big V’s signing, Marcos Flores, but it’s the guile of Brazilian Guilherme Finkler that could provide the X-factor and pun potential. While cross town rivals, Heart, have grabbed more headlines for those who won’t be there – Curtis Good, Eli Babalj and Brendan Hamill – though fringe Socceroo Richard Garcia is a handy pick-up. Heart currently lead 2-1 in the derby stakes. Will Ange orchestrate an equaliser? Can Aloisi stun the big boys? And more to the point will he rip of his shirt and hare around the ground - a la 2005 - if Heart get the win?

Even better: Maybe not, but Round 3s “we had Flores first” clash between Victory and Adelaide United should be a cracker.

Potential match rating: Classic

 

Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC
Saturday 7.30pm, Westpac Stadium

This one has “doh!” written all over it. Would Sydney FC be heading across the ditch for their season opener if anyone had known Alessandro Del Piero was signing? Hardly. Still this one’s worth a peek according to the 61 million Italians tuning in. Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert has eased the burden on his teenage signing Louis Fenton by declaring him better that Marco Rojas. And with Paul Ifill fit to fire, and former Jets go-to-man Jeremy Brockie scoring for fun, expect Wellington to continue making monkeys of Oz pundits. The Sky Blues are talking up the return of Socceroo Brett Emerton and young guns Joel Chianese, Terry Antonis and Mitch Mallia. While former assistant coach Ian Crook takes the reins, keen to show he’s not flogging the same old nag. But who are we kidding? This game is all about ADP. The whole league will be on tenterhooks hoping the Nix hard men don’t nobble the star marquee in the first round. We can hear TV screens snapping off all over Europe!

Even better: Round 2, ADP at home against Emile Heskey’s Jets

Potential match rating: Mythic (if ADP gets a run) and not just because they have hobbits over there.

 

Western Sydney Wanderers V Central Coast Mariners
Saturday 7.45pm, Parramatta Stadium

Have Wanderers introduced a new phrase to the football lexicon – the potluck marquee? It was anybody’s guess which international star would show up for game one. Japan legend Shinji Ono got the nod and is an admirable acquisition if his knees hold out. But the disappointment of missing out on a stint with the Parra boys has apparently driven Germany great Michael Ballack into retirement. Oh the humanity! Depending on who you speak with Wanderers are either genuine finals contenders or first in line for the wooden spoon. Game one should give an indication in which direction they’re headed. Meanwhile, Mariners coach Graham Arnold is already preparing his post-match interview should the reigning Premiers come up short against the A-League blow-ins. Central Coast can’t go into this one as the underdogs, but Arnie has been quick to point out Wanderers’ visa advantage. Mariners will be depending on the likes of Tom Rogic and Bernie Ibini-Isei to step up after Arnie’s brave decision to shun the prevailing fashion and head into Season 8 marquee-less.

Even better: Round 3 derbies for Wanderers and Mariners

Game rating: Historic

 

Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar
Sunday 2pm, Patersons Stadium

More subplots than an episode of Gossip Girl this much-anticipated Grand Final rematch could launch its own spin-off series. No auditions needed for the villain of the piece. Talk of Roar striker Besart Berisha receiving a “warm” welcome in the west is somewhat underdone. Think more in terms of a spit roast. The winner of last season’s controversial penalty will again feature heavily in Roar’s plans - along with German playmaker Thomas Broich - as the back to back champions chase the three-peat. It’s a largely unchanged squad for the champs while Glory coach Ian Ferguson has been pulling signings out of his hat. Japanese youth international Ryo Nagai and Serie A target Kearyn Baccus score big points for the curiosity value alone. It’s all set up nicely for a colossal encounter at Patersons Stadium, the scene of some epic battles from the old NSL days. Plenty of unanswered questions here. Will Roar’s former assistant coach Rado Vidosic make a successful transition to the top job? Can Glory atone for last season’s heart-breaking grand final loss? And will Shane Smeltz revive his Hannibal Lector face bandaging shown off to great effect in that season-defining clash? We can hardly wait Clarice.

Even better: Are you kidding?

Potential match rating: Legendary

 

Newcastle Jets v Adelaide United
Sunday 3pm, Hunter Stadium

The Reds will still be picking the plane food out of their teeth when they face off against Gary Van Egmond’s squad in an encounter ramped up a notch or two by the arrival of EPL legend Emile Heskey. The big striker is a gift that just keeps on giving with his big brood of kids helping the Jets toward their 11,000 membership target. But all eyes will be on the park as John Kosmina’s ACL battle-hardened troops seek to overcome the blow of losing in Tashkent by delivering an old-fashioned smackdown to GVE’s precocious line-up. Van Egmond has taken a scorched earth approach to his squad, making wholesale changes, and raiding the nursery for some of the country’s best up and coming talent. The Reds meanwhile played some sublime football in the first half against Bunyodkor at home and will be keen to show they have more of that in their locker. We’ve seen flashes of brilliance from Dario Vidosic and Iain Ramsay but in the aptly-named Jeronimo Neumann, Adelaide have a PR dream. Questions abound. Is Kossie the coaching equivalent of comfort food? And is GVE really the second-coming or was that 2007-08 Grand Final win an aberration? All will be revealed – not likely.

Even better: Round 3 when Newcastle take on Mariners and Adelaide face Victory

Game rating: Heroic

   ___   >>>   click here to see final training pics