The A-League kicked off with a thrilling Round 1, and Round 2 throws up some big clashes. Round 2’s slate is headlined by a huge clash between Sydney FC and Central Coast, and Jack Tobin has you covered with his best bets for Round 2!
A-League 2025-26: Round 2 Preview & Betting Tips
Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory
McDonald Jones Stadium, Friday 24th October, 7:35pm AEDT
After winning the Australia Cup, Newcastle were brought back to earth in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat against arch-rivals Central Coast, conceding in the eighth minute of stoppage time. While the Cup win should give the club some confidence, translating that form into league consistency remains the challenge. After finishing 9th last season, the Jets will be hoping to use home advantage and the momentum of fresh competition to get off the mark.
Last season’s runners up had a tough start to the season, holding on for a 0-0 draw at home against Auckland FC. Victory lost the possession and shot count, and will be looking for an improved performance on the road. Arthur Diles side was the third best defensive unit in the A-League last season, conceding only 39 goals, and are shaping up to be a tough unit to break down again this season.
Newcastle showed plenty of attacking quality in their Round 1 encounter, however their defence still looked as shaky as it has in previous seasons. Victory’s defence will hold them in good stead, but there are rightful concerns about their ability to control possession and create enough attacking opportunities. Two of the last three meetings between these clubs have ended in a draw, and that’s where it looks likely to head once again.
Auckland FC vs Western Sydney Wanderers
Go Media Stadium, Saturday 25th October, 3:00pm AEDT
Last season’s premiers will be looking to redeem their shortcomings in the finals, playing their first home game of the season against the Wanderers. Western Sydney head across the ditch after a 1-1 draw against defending champions Melbourne City, in a game where there were plenty of positives for the Wanderers. Auckland played well in their season opener away from home against Melbourne Victory, but couldn’t capitalise to take home three points.
This game pits the best attacking side from last season, against the second best defensive unit of last season. The Wanderers scored a league high 59 goals last season, but have lost three of their top four goal scorers from last season in Nicolas Milanovic, Zachary Sapsford and Marcus Antonsson. There’s a lot of pressure on new signings Kosta Barbarouses and Alou Kuol to fill the void, which doesn’t look sustainable, although Barbarouses did score last week.
Go Media Stadium was a fortress for Auckland FC last season, with the home side holding an 8-4-1 record at the venue last season. The task for Western Sydney to go to one of the toughest venues in the league against one of the best defensive sides is a task that will be too tall for them. Losing their key attacking weapons makes life tough, and Auckland FC will continue their excellent home record.
Auckland FC to Win
$1.80 (2 Units)
Sydney FC vs Central Coast Mariners
Leichhardt Oval, Saturday 25th October, 7:35pm AEDT
It’s an all New South Wales clash on Saturday night as the Mariners travel to Sydney to take on the Sky Blues after a thrilling win in the F3 Derby last week. After winning back to back championships, the Mariners fell off a cliff last season, finishing in tenth place with just five wins. Sydney FC also endured a disappointing season, finishing seventh and missing finals for just the second time since 2016/17.
Unlike the Mariners, the Sky Blues campaign got off to a poor start, with a 2-1 defeat against Adelaide United. Sydney FC won both the possession count and the shots count, but were wasteful in front of goal, only putting 3 of their 15 shots on target. If they bring the style they brought last week, they will put a lot of pressure on a vulnerable Mariners defence. Central Coast conceded 51 goals last season, the third most in the A-League, while Sydney FC scored 53, the fourth most in the league.
Sydney FC have a 29-12-17 overall head to head record against Central Coast, with the last outing between the two sides ending in a 4-1 victory to the Sky Blues. Although the Mariners were buoyed by a thrilling Derby win last week, Sydney FC away from home poses a much bigger challenge than what Newcastle did. The Mariners struggled badly on the road last season, winning just two of their thirteen away games, and that trend will continue on Saturday night.
Sydney FC -1
$2.15 (1 Unit)
