HAL 19/20 - The Finals

[belchardo]

DATE

FIXTURE

VENUE

Kick-Off (Local)

Kick-Off (AEST)



Saturday, 22 August 2020

Wellington Phoenix v Perth Glory


Bankwest Stadium

5:00pm

5:00pm



Sunday, 23 August 2020

Western United v Brisbane Roar FC


Bankwest Stadium

6:00pm

6:00pm



HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE 2020 SEMI FINALS



DATE

FIXTURE

VENUE

Kick-Off (Local)

Kick-Off (AEST)



Wednesday, 26 August 2020

Melbourne City FC v Highest Ranked EF winner

Bankwest Stadium

5:00pm

5:00pm



Wednesday, 26 August 2020

Sydney FC v Lowest Ranked EF winner

Bankwest Stadium

8:10pm

8:10pm



HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE 2020 GRAND FINAL




DATE

FIXTURE

VENUE

Kick-Off (Local)

Kick-Off (AEST)



Sunday, 30 August 2020

Winner Semi Final 1 v Winner Semi Final 2

Bankwest Stadium

6:30pm

6:30pm



I really hope the phoenix can go all the way. I'd love for them to be able to have something to show for the what, 3 months in australia without seeing their families.

[belchardo]

Predictions for the eliminations

Phoenix - 2-0 normal time
Western - penalties - 5-4

[mic22]

[TABLE]


I really hope the phoenix can go all the way. I'd love for them to be able to have something to show for the what, 3 months in australia without seeing their families.

I agree, and also to stick it to FFA for the "metrics".
Go the Nix!

[Bremsstrahlung]

Oh, is the a league still going?


I’m not sure if I’ve just been busy with life, but I’ve heard very little about this “finals series” and in general the last few weeks of the A league.
Is there no interest? Or am I just living in my own bubble?

[belchardo]

I got that one wrong!

[Jetmaster]

Frustrating for Nux fens. A replay of game against us. Great football but couldn't score.

[turbojetfireV8]

Oh, is the a league still going?


I’m not sure if I’ve just been busy with life, but I’ve heard very little about this “finals series” and in general the last few weeks of the A league.
Is there no interest? Or am I just living in my own bubble?

hope FFA realise this is *the future* if they move the season to coincide with the eggball sports, even NBN gave the impression that covering the Jets was stealing valuable airtime from stories about drugby dropkicks droning on about something inane, we'll end up going back to the dying days of the NSL re coverage of the game if the current anonymity of the A-League is anything to go by

[My2BobsWorth]

Oh, is the a league still going?


I’m not sure if I’ve just been busy with life, but I’ve heard very little about this “finals series” and in general the last few weeks of the A league.
Is there no interest? Or am I just living in my own bubble?

Bubble

[Couscous]

Maybe Martin can buy Diamanti.

[Jetmaster]

Tix for Grand Final have bays "apparently" allocated for Sydney and City fans.

Neither have qualified yet....or have they? :wink:

1693

[Frodo]

Never change A League.

Never change. Lmao.

[mic22]

Tix for Grand Final have bays "apparently" allocated for Sydney and City fans.

Neither have qualified yet....or have they? :wink:

1693

To be fair, there are also "Team C Supporters" and "Team D supporters" options.
They probably set the ticket categories before the finals started (and forgot to update them...)

edit: they have fixed it now ;)

[Couscous]

What a great grand final! Whom to choose?

[Jeterpool]

I think I'll cheer on the ball.

[boz-monaut]

Tix for Grand Final have bays "apparently" allocated for Sydney and City fans.

Neither have qualified yet....or have they? :wink:

1693

what a lucky coincidence that Sydney and City ended up winning their semi finals and are actually in the grand final

the double effay would have looked like silly billys had they sold tickets to these allocated teams if they didn't make it

[Jetmaster]

Look forward to Smurf Sports coverage - references to their great chums, Ninko, Rhino, Bimby, Redders, Alfie etc.

They will have their full SFC compliment of commentators - Speed, Slater, Bozz, Rushton and Brosque.

"Oh, ha ha, Ninkovic, what skill and precision" - and thats just the kickoff.

[finzee]

Anyone but the shytneys

[Couscous]

Amazing to see so many football fans backing City. But yeah, me, too.

[My2BobsWorth]

I'm a goal difference kinda guy, the table has panned out pretty much right, so smurfs should win. Go rhino?

[The Dunster]

Suck that ya blu khunts

[The Dunster]

Sydney still own the VAR

[boz-monaut]

well there you go, they're not even pretending with VAR any more

why even have a final if they just want to give the trophy to Sydney?

[boz-monaut]

let's face it, is anyone surprised that they are prepared to use VAR to get the result they want in a grand final?

they've done it before

[Jetmaster]

Fux guys just looked for any excuse to agree...apparently Redders obviously dived late.

[boz-monaut]

Fux guys just looked for any excuse to agree...apparently Redders obviously dived late.

this is why I have the volume off

[belchardo]

Topor got goal of the season from fox. Biggest news of the night.

[The Dunster]

Smurfs are the mast aggressive tackling team in the league and yet only had 33 yellows all season.

I'd have a guess and say most of those were token gestures either late in games or when it didn't advantage the opposition.

I'd love to see a league without them and their shitful fans and commentary team.

[The Dunster]

Geez Corica is a sook.

[Jetmaster]

"Oh, ha ha, Ninkovic, what skill and precision"

68th minute this did happen....but no mention that he immediately gave the ball away.

[Retro Jet]

Ffs...the phucking winner 'nippled' in?
FML!

[boz-monaut]

this clear and obvious Sydney bias is what's killing the A-League for me

why bother watching if it's not going to be a fair competition?

I mean, Beath is a ****ing joke - he's taking the piss the whole game

[Couscous]

My feelings for Sydney FC approach genuine hate. I guess it's good for the A-League that people become emotionally invested like this.

[boz-monaut]

I can't become emotionally invested in a competition that's so clearly favoured towards one club

[Jetmaster]

Well I switched off at the final whistle....the aftershow would be unbearable.

[Frodo]

Meh, didn't watch the game purely to stop myself from smashing the TV when Sydney were eventually gifted the result they asked for. Checked Reddit and saw the VAR call, very happy I missed it.

I'm honestly getting close to wanting the league to fold, so we can start again with absolutely no input from the FFA. But the same things will happen in the next one either way. Can we take all the money we waste on the Socceroos wages, they should be playing for next to nothing anyways, and spend it on refs from other countries and somehow import an entire refs association and training facilities as well.

Next season viewer numbers will drop again, the product we are selling has gone stale now. There's nothing to entice the neutral viewers. I watch football from any league in the world whenever I get a chance, but I never watch any other HAL games besides Jets games, that's not great.

[StannyCFCJET]

Var call was spot on according the rule book.

[Jetmaster]

Another one of those stupid new rules that shouldn't even exist.

[pv4]

Smurfs are the mast aggressive tackling team in the league and yet only had 33 yellows all season.

I'd have a guess and say most of those were token gestures either late in games or when it didn't advantage the opposition.

I only tuned in for the 2nd half of normal time, and first half of extra time. Noone was giving Rhyan Grant an absolute pelting, and Grant had so many challenges that were very straightforward yellow cards that I just assumed Beath had given him an unusually early yellow card in the first half and was holding back the second. So when Grant finally did get given his first yellow, that was a tiny little rollercoaster of emotion for me! There is no possible way Grant should have stayed on that field last night, and it was clearly favouritism at the very least to him individually if not to the SFC team.

Arnie got caught out instantaneously in the ACL when refs didn't let his side bully the opposition unsanctioned, and the FFA letting this happen to Sydney only makes their players caught out when they step up to legitimate competitions.

Word is Grant is heading abroad to play now - I fully expect him to be back in the AL safety net very quickly. He has to be one of the most overhyped players in the league, and also sheltered ones.

I didn't watch the first half of normal time, nor the second half of extra time, but based on what I did see I laugh at Grant being given the Joe Marston medal. What I saw, Brattan or even Glover deserved it way more.

VAR call - I can vibe how it is technically the correct call. I cannot vibe the VAR in general though, and that is never being called otherwise so I am happy to write that one down as a terrible decision for the game.

[Bremsstrahlung]

I think the goal being disallowed was correct in the end. I think the replay is a 50/50. But apparently the assistant referee alerted the referee that there was an offside player and to check his interference. If that’s the case, I don’t have a problem with it being overturned from a VAR perspective. Just shit for the game. However, if it was just a routine review with no issues from any on field officials, I don’t think it should’ve been taken away.

Similar with the penalty. If Beath gives it, I don’t think they retract it.

Noone shouldve come away with at least a brace if he chose to drive and shoot instead of taking too many touches and giving Sydney time to defend.

Have mixed feels about Grant. (Hatred for Sydney aside). He is passionate and has “good engines” and that makes him somebody that if they played for my club I’d get behind. They give their all and his determination is making up for his lack of skill. As has been said, if he moves anywhere but a league I think he struggles. Wouldn’t mind seeing him in the Championship though where there’s a bit more weight to physicality over skill. But he will struggle anywhere in Asia imo.

Overall I’m glad that season is done. Seemed like a waste of time for some towards the end and I think clubs are lucky they don’t have the injury list of some NRL clubs and their stop/start season.
Looking forward to starting afresh.

[Jeterpool]

At least VAR operated this time...

[Jetkel]

VAR call was right imo. Thought it was pretty obvious. They probably should of been awarded a penalty as well, but that doesn't fit the $ydney are cheats narrative.

Fark me, Rhyan Grant is a player. Would love to see him at a higher level. Limited in skill but his decision making, engine & movement is quality.

[StannyCFCJET]

VAR call was right imo. Thought it was pretty obvious. They probably should of been awarded a penalty as well, but that doesn't fit the $ydney are cheats narrative.

Fark me, Rhyan Grant is a player. Would love to see him at a higher level. Limited in skill but his decision making, engine & movement is quality.

Would get suspended alot. Aleague Ref's ignore alot of his tackles

[sapdad]

Would love to see him at a higher level. Limited in skill
pretty sure the latter is a fairly significant hindrance to achieving the former.

[Jetkel]

pretty sure the latter is a fairly significant hindrance to achieving the former.

Sure, if you’re a no.10. He’s a right full back ffs, I reckon tackling, positioning, fitness, decision making are all more crucial than doing a couple of Dimi step overs, but each to their own.

[Jetmaster]

Last Jets/Smurf game at home last season. Champness made a fool out of Grant, nearly got him sent off through frustration and set the template.
Was ignored as it was season end.

[pv4]

Sure, if you’re a no.10. He’s a right full back ffs, I reckon tackling, positioning, fitness, decision making are all more crucial than doing a couple of Dimi step overs, but each to their own.

I know personally many people who have trialled in Europe with the attributes you are applauding here, and the end result was they were not signed because they offered no point of difference to the conveyor belt of locally produced players with the same set of skills. I'm sure there will be a club that will gamble a foreign spot on Grant, but I can't see it being a long term move for him personally.

His best bet by far will be Asia, to fit in the +1 visa player rule and where those kind of attributes seem more desirable. I don't see him having much of a decent crack in Europe. Regardless, the safety net known as the A-League will be here for him when it doesn't work out.

[Bremsstrahlung]

He’s reaffirmed how great it would be to remain a one club player and owes it to SFC to repay them for standing by him during 2 knee recons-what’s that? $$$$$$$ in Asia.....bye.


I think he’s probably one of the best fullbacks in the a league. Largely due to his fitness imo. His skill is nothing special. It’s his fitness that allows him to get into positions most players are too lazy to. Fitness in the a league is like signing a team of 90+ pace on FIFA 10 when you could just sprint past players. It makes up for a lot of short comings. These shortcomings soon get found out in overseas leagues when his fitness is the same as everyone else.

I’ve watched games where he whips in a cross like a Hoole corner, right in the sweet spot. That’s one time in 100. The rest fail to clear first defender or end up shanked in row z.

If he played for us, and got a haircut, I’d be very pleased with his commitment to the team. You want somebody like that in your team to provide a a benchmark for effort.

At 29, his move overseas for development/challenge/“to make it” reasons are out the window. He will be leaving for a payday. Unless it’s a good offer, he’s better off just staying at Shitney and I expect he’s recording an inspiring fox sports promo for the new season as we speak.

[sapdad]

Sure, if you’re a no.10. He’s a right full back ffs, I reckon tackling, positioning, fitness, decision making are all more crucial than doing a couple of Dimi step overs, but each to their own.

thats the thing though, world football is moving away from traditional #10's. Left and right backs now are more skilled and important that ever.This guy is nowhere near good enough.but yeah, when the commentators need an angle to indulge the customers in, they'll try and sell you anything.

[Jetkel]

thats the thing though, world football is moving away from traditional #10's. Left and right backs now are more skilled and important that ever.This guy is nowhere near good enough.but yeah, when the commentators need an angle to indulge the customers in, they'll try and sell you anything.

Nowhere near good enough for who?

Using the championship as an example. I've been a supporter all my life of an absolute powerhouse side... who can't seem to go above 10th in the championship. He'd be a better option than our current right fullback or the 3 or 4 that went before him. Bailey Wright, James Meredith have all had successful careers in the championship at fullback, Grant is superior to both imo.

His age works against him, but to say he's nowhere near good enough is just bullshit. Seems a bit like an inferiority complex because he's an Australian in the A League.

[sapdad]

Bailey Wright, James Meredith have all had successful careers in the championship at fullback, Grant is superior to both imo.

ive got to go pick my kids up from school so forgive me for not looking up Bailey Wright yet but from what i can see James Meredith played 82 out of his near 450 games in the Championship (for a mid table club). Then he got his contract terminated.im not sure what your definition of success is.
and i think James Meredith is better than Grant, by a lot.