Season 14: Final Series

Ahhh, satisfying!

Also, pathetic crowd for a Sydney game vs Victory. 12,000? Our crowds really weren't that bad in comparison 

Was it 6-1 in the end? Good way to start the week!

Toivonen headed in in 90+1' min, and MV fans in attendance celebrated wildly.

also suggesting home advantage quite a factor in finals football, more so than imports, if the team is cohesive 

Shaun Evans won the Ref of the Year & gets the whistle for the GF

Tickets are at 45k including corporates and comps. Let’s keep going. ?⚽️ #FeelTheFinals #OneGlory #OneMission

— Tony Pignata (@tpignata9) May 14, 2019

? Internationally renowned music brand @ministryofsound will perform their show Orchestrated at the @ALeague 2019 Grand Final on Sunday! We're beyond excited!#ALeagueGF #FeeltheFinalshttps://t.co/q3z2Wrdia9

— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) May 16, 2019

So who are people cheering for tonight? I'm hoping Sydney lifts the seat, keeps Popa's record of never winning a GF and makes our appointment of Talay seem better to the general public.

I'm going for Perth, our distance derby cousins. Just to keep the silverware as far as possible from Sydney and Melbourne.

i do not give a fudge who wins

If Perth win, that will mean that we will be the club with the longest tenure in the league without a grand final win (we already have that title for a grand final appearance).

Perth. They won the league comprehensively and it always sits uncomfortably with me when we give more kudos to the 'grand final' winner as being representative of the whole season.

2005-06: League = Adelaide; 'Champions' = Sydney

2007-08: League = CCM; 'Champions' = Newcastle

2011-12: League = CCM; 'Champions' = Brisbane

2012-13: League = WSW; 'Champions' = CCM

2017-18: League = Sydney; 'Champions' = Victory

Kinda provides a cup and league feel tho- table and knockout 

Except in other countries the League carries far more kudos than the domestic Cup competitions. In the A-League it's the opposite. 

I accept it's because we have a different sporting culture/history.

I think Perth have had a stellar season and want that recognised in the most emphatic manner. I felt the same way for Adelaide 3(?) seasons back under Gombau. 

Regardless, I expect it to be a decent game.

Glory are the best team in Aussie, tonight's result doesn't change that. It would be nice if the media put more emphasis on the Premiers Plate tho. 

Personally, I see the finals as a palate cleanser to end the season. The season can become a bit of a grind by the end of it, we knew Perth was gonna win it since New Years so without something to look forward too my interest would have waned months ago. The finals just brings a little bit of excitement to finish the season before we go into the longest off season in the world.

Sky TV has the coverage starting at 7:30pm, so we will get to see a pre-show for once!

Chianese and Ikonomidis up front for the Glory. Massive call dropping Keogh to the bench.

Sydney robbed by the VAR ...

Lucky for Glory. The famous Fox Sport yellow line 'proved' it was onside.

What a shark VAR decison. Clear Sydney goal.

Surely a clear case of the lino needing to keep his flag down and let VAR rule on the validity after the goal is scored?

In which case it would almost certainly have been awarded.

Yeah, it's ridiculous because if Sydney scored then it wouldn't of been overturned. I think it would work better if VAR just makes the decision, rather than it having to be a clear error to overturn.

Kilkenny, Juande flanked by Davidson and Franjic is controlling things. 

impressive so far.

Funny, I was thinking that Sydney were controlling things a little better. They are mobbing Perth very effectively in the back third and have kept Castro largely anonymous, while making a few decent chances themselves plus what should've been a goal.

After thinking about this for a while (30 mins)... the problem with the VAR is that they can't just make the decision as they feel correct. Instead it is based on the 'clear and obvious error' which adds too much subjectivity... if the decision in this game didn't have the 'clear and obvious' error it they would clearly say it was a goal... 

Score? Link that doesn't require one to sign up?

Still 0-0 after 72.

Pretty good tactical battle so far. Game screaming out for a moment of class though, as 1 goal might be enough from here.

Can't help but feel that the pitch has been significantly over watered though, players losing their footing everywhere! Perhaps the memo wasn't passed on.

Keogh on for Chianese now.

Perth v Sydney

Just scroll down and choose your link LG. 

Link 1 working well for me so far.

Thanks but work is blocking the site Grrrrr. Much appreciate your help tho.

No rest for the wicked mate ;) No worries, enjoy the night shift!

Record crowd for Grand Final - 56,371. Decent effort Perth.

Suck on those numbers Melbourne!

Late attempt at a Brosque special at the end. Defender took a big risk there though.

Pens?

On the cards. Nothing between them so far.

Pretty boring game really.

Be a laugh if Brosque scored the winning pen to sign off with. On the pitch he's a cod, off it, you couldn't meet a more humble nicer guy and I say that as one of his bigger detractors. I couldn't help but like him.