WEL - 21 points against top 6 (14 games) CCM at 19 (14 games) Victory at 17 (14 games) Sydney at 11 (12 games) Macarthur at 15 (11 games) City at 11 (12 games)
I am not afraid of anyone as much as of the Mariners. But then, it could be that they focused on the Premiership, so that they have a trophy in the bag and a pass to next year's continental playoffs. No need for them to worry about playing the GF of the Asian comp and then the elimination semifinals soon after. Mind you, they would still have it if the Nix had won the minor premiers' plate? Either way, Mariners, relax. You do not need to win the ALM GF to be famous anymore. We are still pining for it.
The Nix are also the only team that gets this weekend off to rest. In a complete contrast, the Mariners have to make a likely 50-60 hour round trip to Oman, to play a high stakes final with either a $US750K or $US1.5M pay day.
Sure the ALM at only 27 rounds is a short comp compared to many leagues, but there will still be lots of guys carrying late season niggles who would love a week off to rest.
The Nix players in the semi 2nd leg at home will be fresher, and buoyed by a big noisy home crowd to hopefully take the tie. They should certainly finish that game the stronger team.
I imagine that in the history of ALM 2 legged semis, the teams 1st & 2nd on the ladder (so avoided elimination finals), have most often won through to the final.
And then if it is Mariners hosting the final. 2 extra non normal advantages for the Nix if they make it. CCM having to host the final in 'neutral' Sydney, and yes as above not having had the rest week this week that the Nix have had.
While I follow the logic of all of this, I think at a certain point might we have to accept that CCM having unprecedented success in Asia could actually be a good thing for them, not a hindrance.
Certainly good for their confidence & self belief. And players often say they prefer playing rather than training, so sometimes they like heavy playing schedules. I remember some comments during the Covid years around that, with often compressed match scheduling.
But it's been a hectic time for CCM of late. Flying 50-60 hours round trip, ain't great for the body, even if you're a super fit twenty something and up the pointy end of the plane. Greater risk of picking up soft tissue injuries, and just general performance fatigue. The mental challenge of having continous games in two comps, and limited relaxation time.
Combine that with the off field drama they have had the last week, the fact they don't have the biggest budget in the league - if they do pull off the AFC Cup/ALM GF double, I can only applaud them as a club.
I think it'd be Allianz Stadium as the Rabbitohs wanted to play their Indigenous round game against the Eels there (as they did last year) on the 25th May and were told by Venues NSW that it wasn't feasible due to the ladder positions of NSW based teams and the potential to host the Grand Final there. So the rabbitohs are instead playing at their home ground Accor Stadium.
I suppose the reason I feel so gutted is that, with Foley FC coming in next year, this might have been the last time for the Nix to ever get any silverware. And even if we can get by either Melbourne team - both of whom have serious final experience, and let's face it we get the yips playing in Melbourne - I don't think we can take the Salties in the GF (which would be away) considering we couldn't take them in the regular season.
"Ever" is a long time. CCM have won it multiple times, as have other teams who are not well resourced.
Considering the nature of our squad, and the fact that it is both young (with an inexperienced coach) and built on our own developed players, we could just as easily be on the cusp of a very successful period as our squad matures and we keep producing young talent.
The low-down: There’s a big reason why the Phoenix will not want to face Victory in a home-and-away semifinal. They have not won any of their last 20 matches at AAMI Park, a venue Victory share with rivals Melbourne City.
Is this an error, or confirmation that the GF would actually be in Gosford if CCM win, rather than Sydney?
Edit: not an error. Interesting as I thought the rules stated that the GF would just be in the home state of the top ranked finalist if their home ground wasn’t big enough. That used to be the rule, right?
Interesting comment by Saville on 1 News. Both Phoenix and Hurricanes doing extremely well this year. Both training out of the excellent NZCIS facility. Is that just a coincidence.......... I suspect not.
