It’s been a logistical nightmare as coronavirus restrictions wreaked havoc with some travel plans. But Melbourne’s A-League clubs are set to fly to NSW on Friday, with the A-League hub kicking-off a week later.
WELLINGTON PHOENIX
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You’ve got to feel for Phoenix.
Coronavirus has hurt them the most in terms of travel and preparations since it first wreaked havoc on the A-League.
But, as always, the Kiwi club just got on with it.
Phoenix has been in Sydney following a 14-day quarantine period, and the players are training well at Valentine Sports Park, from all reports.
The majority of the Phoenix squad has been living and training in an isolation facility in NSW for a fortnight, with strikers Davila and Hooper – who traveled to Australia from Mexico and the UK respectively – being in a separate hotel for their isolation.
You sense unity and belief is even stronger in this group.
An A-League Grand Final is definitely not out of reach.
Six games of which four are against finals rivals over a crazy 23 days before the A-League finals series.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
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Finals football is still possible. It’s one of the fascinating sub-texts to this A-League hub.
Wanderers are eighth on the ladder but just a point behind sixth-placed Western Utd.
If Victory can do WSW a favor on July 16 against Western, Wanderers could sneak into the A-League playoffs if they can defeat Victory six days later at BankWest.
There’s plenty of talent in the red and black ranks lead by Socceroo defenders Dylan McGowan and Matt Jurman with national team striker and captain Mitch Duke upfront.
Englishman Simon Cox is also back in the group after his quarantine, though the A-Leauge powerhouse has lost keeper Daniel Lopar.
The Swiss recently returned to Europe due to personal reasons but will return for next season's A-League.
WESTERN UNITED
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How unlucky were Mark Rudan’s men?
Two smashing victories (5-2 over Central Coast and an eye-catching 5-1 in Adelaide) re-energized their faltering A-League finals push.
These, sadly, were their final matches before the A-League was put on hold last March due to the escalating coronavirus situation.
All that momentum suddenly washed away.
But in a huge boost for the Green and Black, Italian talisman Alessandro Diamanti re-signed for the A-League club during the hub off-season.
United is in a battle to hold onto a place in six with the Reds and Wanderers breathing down their necks.
That said, like City and Victory, how will this week's travel confusion affect their preparations?
That is the question.
They’ll start their A-League hub with two “Melbourne Derbies” against Victory then City.
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