Australia Cup - Other Australian games

South Melbourne are quite average atm unfortunately, Auckland should win comfortably if they take it seriously 

ballane

Looking a bit far ahead i think. South Melbourne wont be a push over for Auckland then if they get through both teams have tricky quarter finals opposition potentially.

martinb

I’d picked Randall as a AWs bolter, just as something slightly different to the wide players of similar skills. 

But Gillion not given away his chances either.

Still think they are missing Mata up front though. 

I think Mata will be a big loss for them this season. Auckland looked a lot better in the final third with him playing alongside May, who also benefitted a lot from Mata's presence.

Think it will end up being their two loanees from last season they miss the most and find hardest to replace in all honesty.

Buffon II

martinb

I’d picked Randall as a AWs bolter, just as something slightly different to the wide players of similar skills. 

But Gillion not given away his chances either.

Still think they are missing Mata up front though. 

I think Mata will be a big loss for them this season. Auckland looked a lot better in the final third with him playing alongside May, who also benefitted a lot from Mata's presence.

Think it will end up being their two loanees from last season they miss the most and find hardest to replace in all honesty.

But they have yet to sign a visa striker, who presumably will be a Mata upgrade.

Ultimately it was Max's poor conversion rate that made Corica decide not to retain him. Gets in the right places, makes himself a nuisance, definitely aided others like May - but Stevie wants that plus 10 goals from a higher quality no 9.

The news a few weeks back was they were down to 3 choices, including a Latino with MLS experience.

chubbs

Draw always has been rigged (managed ) so that at least 1 A League side makes the semi finals.

Originally It was set up that 1 NPL made the semis. However it id an open draw nowadays.

I'm glad the Nix and AFC are on the same side of the draw. Imagine if they had to do a playoff between semi final losers in order to work out who gets the AFC spot.

Wonder if Auckland will just stay in Australia now before their game against Sth Melbourne, which could be as early as next Saturday 9th Aug. They play a friendly in Brissy against the Roar this weekend.


The Nix might try organise a friendly against one of the Melbourne ALM clubs post the Nunawading City match, similar to what AFC have done.

All 3 of Melbs ALM clubs have been knocked out of the Australia Cup, so will be looking for some pre season games you'd think. Hopefully Eze not far off a club debut. Pre season potentially coming together nicely for the Nix.

coochiee

Wonder if Auckland will just stay in Australia now before their game against Sth Melbourne, which could be as early as next Saturday 9th Aug. They play a friendly in Brissy against the Roar this weekend.


The Nix might try organise a friendly against one of the Melbourne ALM clubs post the Nunawading City match, similar to what AFC have done.

All 3 of Melbs ALM clubs have been knocked out of the Australia Cup, so will be looking for some pre season games you'd think. Hopefully Eze not far off a club debut. Pre season potentially coming together nicely for the Nix.

South Melbourne have an NPL fixture on the 9th.

I dunno if they will try to reschedule fixtures, so might be 4 games on the Tuesday and 4 games on the Wednesday as there is no ALM vs ALM match to play in the weekend.

When do the game dates get confirmed? Could be a good excuse to visit Melbourne.

20 Legend

When do the game dates get confirmed? Could be a good excuse to visit Melbourne.

 Normally a couple days. Hopefully they schedule the Nix and AFC matches on different days, so the Vic based fans can attend both.

coochiee

Buffon II

martinb

I’d picked Randall as a AWs bolter, just as something slightly different to the wide players of similar skills. 

But Gillion not given away his chances either.

Still think they are missing Mata up front though. 

I think Mata will be a big loss for them this season. Auckland looked a lot better in the final third with him playing alongside May, who also benefitted a lot from Mata's presence.

Think it will end up being their two loanees from last season they miss the most and find hardest to replace in all honesty.

But they have yet to sign a visa striker, who presumably will be a Mata upgrade.

Ultimately it was Max's poor conversion rate that made Corica decide not to retain him. Gets in the right places, makes himself a nuisance, definitely aided others like May - but Stevie wants that plus 10 goals from a higher quality no 9.

The news a few weeks back was they were down to 3 choices, including a Latino with MLS experience.

Guess we’ll see. Rogerson’s season tally definitely benefited from Mata. 

Gillian and Randall keep up their improvement though between them they might be able to cover Moreno’s impact!

RR

20 Legend

When do the game dates get confirmed? Could be a good excuse to visit Melbourne.

 Normally a couple days. Hopefully they schedule the Nix and AFC matches on different days, so the Vic based fans can attend both.

Is Nunawading's home ground up to broadcast standards? See they are in the VIC NPL 3rd tier. They may have to play at another venue like Sth Melbourne's Albert Park.

See that the Glory and Olympic Kingsway both played their R32 games, at the same ground in Perth. Guess that helps with the camera work, screen setups etc.

Les is a well known ground hopper, he thinks Wembley Park depending on the grounds lux rating.

No way Nunawading City vs Wellington Phoenix will be played at Mahoneys Reserve as fantastic as it would be. Wembley Park is the natural choice but it depends on the lux level being good enough for ALM opposition. Maybe portable lights as well? #AustraliaCup #MagicOfTheCup

— Les Street (@official_lesdog) July 30, 2025

Sydney FC won't allow their ALW manager to be on the sidelines for their Cup game vs Sydney United (whom he manages in the off season)

'Ridiculous' coaching stance has @SydUtd58FC angry with @SydneyFC ahead of @AustraliaCup battle on Sundayhttps://t.co/RSjenivC6u

— Marco Monteverde (@marcothejourno) August 6, 2025

RR

Sydney FC won't allow their ALW manager to be on the sidelines for their Cup game vs Sydney United (whom he manages in the off season)

'Ridiculous' coaching stance has @SydUtd58FC angry with @SydneyFC ahead of @AustraliaCup battle on Sundayhttps://t.co/RSjenivC6u

— Marco Monteverde (@marcothejourno) August 6, 2025

Fair enough, it's in his contract that he can't coach against any of Sydney FC's sides which he willingly signed and he already stood down for the match against Sydney FC's NPL side earlier in the season because of the clause - so seems a bit hard to argue against it now

Will add some spice to what could already be a spiteful game. Hopefully the NSW Police have a presence. Lets not forget Sydney 58's (Sydney Croatia) fans at the Cup final verus Macarthur a few years back. Some of these ethic based old NSL clubs clearly hate the ALM 'franchises'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMKIEieq9XE

Sydney play the same time as us.

Sydney United 58 v Sydney FC | Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Round of 16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A-xnqk3w9w

Sydney smurfs are leading 1 nil

Final score 2-0

10:00pm  MetroStars v Macarthur FC | Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Round of 16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEeJB2KoiBk

Tonight's game from Adelaide.

Macarthur progress 0-2

9:30pm  Brisbane City v Olympic Kingsway | Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Round of 16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC9ihFQV-t8

9:30pm  Heidelberg United v Western Sydney Wanderers | Hahn Australia Cup 2025 Round of 16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAiMur58QmQ

And... Wanderers go behind after a terrible backpass!

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

And... Wanderers go behind after a terrible backpass!

And Kraev has had to go off.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

And... Wanderers go behind after a terrible backpass!

Not a good start from them, but a lot of time left to sort themselves out.

Kraev subbed off already as well

Kraev gone off with ankle injury, Heidelberg good for their 20 min lead

He got injured in a challenge shortly before the backpass that led to the goal.

Looks like we're playing Heidelberg.

Kosta has got to be wondering why he left

and after 30 min, it's now 2 - 0, a penalty for handball.

God if we struggled vs npl 3 I can’t imagine second place npl vic in the Bergers will be easy.. they have multiple ex a league players, and a few internationals.. they’re no mugs

Not a million miles away from Wanderers best side either is it? 

God I hate to imagine the angst on here if this was us, 2-0 down to an NPLV team with a pretty decent 11!

If WSW can lose to Heidelberg, Auckland can definitely lose to Sth Melbourne tomorrow.

SM beat the Bergers in a contentious Dockerty Cup final on the weekend.

Based on our performance yesterday, we don't have a hope in hell of beating either team.  As always I wait for the Nix to prove me wrong.  

Half time 2 - 0. Come on Heidelberg. I hope I wake in the morning to find you have hung on!

coochiee

If WSW can lose to Heidelberg, Auckland can definitely lose to Sth Melbourne tomorrow.

SM beat the Bergers in a contentious Dockerty Cup final on the weekend.

My cousin plays for Sth Melbourne, I'll ask him to do us a favor against Auckland 

Really impressed with Heidelberg tonight. They've been excellent. 

Absolutely deserving to go through based on the 75 minutes so far.

3-0 and that's game, set, match.

Wanderers demolished in Victoria. Heidelberg very, very good.

Well done Heidelberg, you won't be easy to beat.

Guess I no longer need to hope that ... 
SYD-AFC
WSW-Nix
.... would coincide with a work trip to Sydney.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/08/13/former-all-white-chris-zoricich-aims-to-topple-a-leagues-jets-in-australia-cup/

Former New Zealand captain Chris Zoricich will try to engineer one of Australian football’s biggest cup upsets when his Cooks Hill United side take on A-League outfit Newcastle Jets.

Cooks Hill United, founded 28 years ago, have reached the last 16 in the Hahn-sponsored Australia Cup, the first time they’ve ever reached the national phase of the competition.

The competition started with 720 club entries, including New Zealand A-League sides Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix.

Cooks Hill face A-League side Newcastle Jets in the Round of 16 on Wednesday night, with the winner set to face another A-League club, Macarthur, in the quarter-finals.

Zoricich (56), who earned 58 caps for New Zealand over a 15-year period, left Northern League club Western Springs, where he was head of men’s football, to join Cooks Hill in 2023.

United were promoted to the Northern New South Wales National Premier League in 2022, the second tier of Australian football, and Zoricich has kept them in the division since.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/08/13/were-flying-south-melbourne-confident-of-beating-auckland-fc-in-cup-tie/

In-form South Melbourne are confident they can ride their winning streak and knock out A-League club Auckland FC in Wednesday’s Australia Cup tie.

The ambitious National Premier League Victoria club have lost only once in the 10 games since Sinisa Cohadzic took over as head coach, and their form peaked when they won Victoria’s top knockout competition, the Dockerety Cup, last weekend.