The A-League Men’s competition is back for another huge season in 2023/24, with the Central Coast Mariners entering the campaign as defending champions after upsetting Melbourne City in the Grand Final.
The Mariners will kick off the new season against Adelaide on Friday night, as part of a bumper first round of action.
You can check out our full A-League Round 1 preview and betting tips below!
A-League 2023-24 Round 1 Betting Tips
Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners
Friday 20th October, 7.45pm (AEDT)
The 2023/24 A League Men’s season gets underway with a cracking encounter between two of the competition frontrunners.
Before Central Coast went on to claim the 2022/23 title, they broke Adelaide United hearts by eliminating them in the semi-finals. That result won’t sit well with United, so I expect them to be fired up for this encounter.
Both teams are likely to feature at the pointy end this season, but will have to do so without their respective stars, Craig Goodwin and Jason Cummings.
Those players will be hugely missed, especially Cummings who managed 20 goals for the Mariners last campaign.
As such, it’s difficult to predict which side will come out on top in this fixture. With that being said, Central Coast have won all four matches between these sides this year, so I’m backing the reigning champs to start their season in style.
Central Coast Mariners to Win
$2.74 (2 Units)
Macarthur vs Brisbane Roar
Saturday 21st October, 3.30pm (AEDT)
Macarthur and Brisbane Roar are set to play out another tight affair in Round 1, with both teams looking to rebound from a disappointing 2022/23 season.
The Bulls were dead last in the previous campaign, conceding a whopping 48 goals, and Brisbane didn’t fare much better in eighth.
However, both sides should be optimistic heading into this campaign – the Roar have some quality youth coming through, while Macarthur have signed ex-Monaco striker Valere Germain on a two-year deal.
The aforementioned Frenchman will provide the Bulls with a consistent target in attack, and for that reason I can see Macarthur putting the woes of last season behind them to record a win here.
Macarthur FC to Win
$2.38 (2 Units)
Melbourne City FC vs Western United
Saturday 20th October, 5.30pm (AEDT)
Despite dominating the regular season, finishing 11 points clear of any challenger, Melbourne City ultimately came out of the 2022/23 season empty handed after losing the Grand Final 1-6 to a rampant Central Coast.
It was a shocking end to an exciting campaign, and a result that won’t sit well with City players and fans alike.
Nevertheless, Melbourne will enter the 2023/24 season as title favourites with a point to prove.
Western United failed to qualify for the finals last season, but will be bullish about their chances this time around after signing the likes of Angus Thurgate, Nikita Rukavytsya and Daniel Penha among others.
All players will feature in the starting XI this year, strengthening United’s core, and I can see them contending for a finals spot. Despite that, City will be keen to respond after their disappointing end to last season, so I’m picking the home side here.
Melbourne City to Win
$1.56 (3 Units)
Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory
Saturday 20th October, 7.45pm (AEDT)
Two of the competitions most popular sides will face off on Saturday night in Round 1 as Sydney FC host Melbourne Victory.
For Sydney, they’ll be looking to improve on what was a good bounce back season in 2022-23 where they ultimately failed against Melbourne City in the semi-finals. They’ve improved their squad again over the off-season and look set to be one of the teams to beat over the next six months.
In contrast, Melbourne Victory will be looking to do what Sydney FC did last season, which was respond from a horrible campaign the season prior. As you’d expect after such disappointing, Victory’s squad has had a major overhaul.
The Sky Blues head into this home opener as the favourites and deservedly so. They were the much stronger outfit last season and I expect that to remain true again in 2023-24.
Sydney FC to Win
$2.01 (2.5 Units)
Western Sydney Wanderers vs Wellington Phoenix
Sunday 21st October, 3pm (AEDT)
Adding some serious firepower in the off-season, the Western Sydney Wanderers will be expecting to go a step or two further than their elimination final exit last campaign.
Veteran striker Marcus Antonsson joined the club in the off-season with big wraps and certainly hasn’t disappointed early doors, banging in a number of goals in the Australia Cup.
Also finishing last season with an elimination final loss was the Wellington Phoenix, who bowed out 2-0 on the road against Adelaide.
The Phoenix haven’t quite made the headlines as a result of star signings in the off-season, meaning they’ll be hoping for internal improvement to see them take a couple of steps forward this campaign.
On paper the Wanderers look like the much better outfit and I suspect their chances of winning this fixture only increase with home ground advantage on their side.
Western Sydney Wanderers to Win
$1.75 (2 Units)
Perth Glory vs Newcastle Jets
Sunday 21st October, 7.45pm (AEDT)
Neither Perth Glory nor the Newcastle Jets finished in the top six last season, so it’s a good chance for both clubs to begin the 2023-24 season on the front foot with a win in the final matchup of Round 1.
The Glory will do the honours and play hosts, and that’s a big plus for them considering six of their seven wins last season came on home soil.
For the Jets, they struggled both at home and away last campaign, although a couple of promising signings in the off-season have given their fans a sense of optimism heading into their season opener.
All things considered, neither of these sides are expected to make much noise when the whips are cracking this season, which makes for a tough first up fixture to predict. However, the Jets do look slightly stronger on paper, and the $3+ odds about them seems decent enough to have something on.
Newcastle Jets to Win
$3.25 (1 Unit)
