Some new blood in the A-League this weekend. Just when we thought Ryan Fraser, Mitch Duke and Daniel Arzani had topped the bill, a flurry of activity now sees Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Marius Lode join the party in Australia as the race for the finals heats up.
While Melbourne City and Macarthur FC do battle in Asia, leaving us a little short of games this weekend, we have a bonus match-up as Sydney FC welcome Auckland FC for a rearranged encounter on Tuesday night to complete the round. The complexion of the A-League ladder could be very different before the next set of games.
Enjoy the faint hope of our tipsters as they flounder through another impossible week of A-League tipping for The Roar Sports.
Stuart Thomas
Western Sydney, Perth, Victory, Sydney, Auckland
The Wanderers at home look a better bet than the Phoenix on the road. Yet considering another poor crowd, the visitors will have half a chance. Perth to beat Newcastle in the game of the season and a match which really spices things up as the finals approach.
Victory are ticking along well and Brisbane have good results in them, but not this time out. It was fun while it lasted, but Roar are heading south. Sydney have brought in the recruits to turn around a team that was decent but lacking. The Reds have a few problems of their own. The Sky Blues at home should get it done.
A short back up for the men in blue will see Auckland ready to bounce. It looks like a brutal and spicy affair, with the visitors in the winner’s column. The league is firing and we should all be celebrating the quality of football and the new manpower arriving to inject further quality. Long live the A-League.
Andrew Prentice
Western Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne Victory, Sydney, Auckland
While not doing much, the Wanderers are doing enough. A point snatched against the champions suggests they might aim up and beat floundering Wellington on Friday night. The Phoenix are winless in three and seem to leak goals at inopportune times. Still, Western Sydney aren’t too adept at scoring them, but Wellington can’t pin their hopes on that.
I’m not sure when the Jets bubble will burst, but they’ve loved long trips so far this season. Perth scored a late equaliser in a drama charged game at Macarthur but possibly won’t get a dose of the goalkeeping charity afforded them in Campbelltown. With so many potential scorers on the pitch, it’s hard to see this one being a stodgy stalemate. Jets in a thriller.
Brisbane have fallen off a cliff and need to send their coach to anger management classes because his touchline tantrums aren’t seeming to help the Roar cause. Victory are scoring goals while seeming to find it hard keeping them out – an inverse to their early season problems. They look to have too many attacking options for a Roar defence that has sprung more leaks a Coalition party room spill.
Sydney fell victim to a Black Knight defensive blanket last week. Adelaide don’t represent the same threat and the Sky Blues attacking five will enjoy the extra space. The Reds have lost talisman Craig Goodwin for what seems like the rest of the season. That’s a big hole to plug at short notice. Joe Lolley is approaching full match fitness and none of that is good news for the Reds.
The Sky Blues back up three days later to tackle a rested Auckland in a rescheduled match. The return to Leichhardt might throw some shade, but it’s a lot to expect a form turnaround between these two sides in just over a week. Lachlan Brook’s early substitution against Sydney aside, Auckland look settled again. Sam Cosgrove is scoring and the “none shall pass” motto of the defensive wall seems hard to get around or over for Sydney. Auckland by the odd goal.
Texi Smith
Wellington, Perth, Victory, Sydney, Sydney
Wellington Phoenix on a Friday night is becoming the norm, but they have not embraced the timeslot at all. This week they travel to Western Sydney Wanderers for a Multicultural Round double-header with the women’s game at CommBank Stadium, which could prove unfruitful. Ryan Fraser crossing for Hiroshi Ibusuki to head home would be the most likely scenario, but this is the Phoenix we’re talking about here, always ready to pull a surprise result from nowhere and dumbfound the critics. And tonight, they drive a dagger into the heart of their generous hosts, Corban Piper with a lovely goal in first-half stoppage time and the Wanderers are unable to turn possession into goals in another poor home defeat.
A last-gasp goal from Stefan Colokovski may see the Perth Glory star earn a deserved start in Friday night’s blockbuster at home to the Box Office Jets. Clayton Taylor’s heroics have set Newcastle on course for a fairytale, and let’s be honest, using simple probability and basic stats as a guide, the run is going to come to an end sooner rather than later. Of course, we’d all like to see it continue, and for large parts of tonight’s game, it’s looking good, but a second-half change brings Adam Taggart back to lead a magnificent victory in front of the adoring Shed as Perth snatch an unlikely but impressive home win to blast the A-League title-race wide open once again.
Melbourne Victory welcome Brisbane Roar to AAMI Park, Roar without their disgruntled head coach on the sidelines; who knows, that might not be a bad thing. The home side have risen steadily up the ladder and are starting to feel like a functioning member of the top six teams in Australia. This evening, they will put on a show, Nikos Vergos giving us a special performance as Juan Mata again pulls the strings just behind. Roar’s early-season promise is long-gone, and they follow up their hapless loss to the Mariners with another poor showing to plummet down towards the foot of the A-League.
Sydney FC welcome Adelaide United to Allianz Stadium for a romantic candle-lit battle on Australia’s most expensive playing surface as Valentine’s Day takes a back seat to A-League football. What a game we have too – Adelaide having coped so well when their young stars were away, this time it’s Craig Goodwin missing and this time it hurts badly. Ryan White and Johnny Yull are superb in the first half as United go looking for another famous win, but Sydney FC come good in the second half, their attack fizzing and every forward player playing for their spot. Victor Campuzano scores a beauty to pop the cork, and by the time Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Ahmet Arslan are introduced, the game is over as a contest, a St Valentine’s Day massacre to warm the hearts of the Sydney FC faithful.
Back at the stadium that is providing so many defeats for the Sydney FC women’s team, it is refreshing to see the men’s team running Auckland FC ragged in the first half at Leichhardt Oval on Tuesday night. An incredible goal line clearance by Corey Hollman keeps the scores level at the break, but Franics De Vries breaks Sydney’s defence with a header midway through the second half. An incredible surge of forward momentum in the final twenty minutes rewards the swashbuckling Sky Blues with an equaliser through Alex Grant, and Piero Quispe prods home a winner in the seventh minute of added time to cap off a thrilling finish to a fabulous contest. A night game at the eighth wonder of the world, what a beautiful thing!
The tipsters are closely packed just like the A-League ladder :
Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough…
Good luck with your tips! The comment section works, don’t be shy! If you see Leave A Reply below, join the banter. With radio silence from The Roar, this could be the final time our intrepid trio tip the A-League, and this could mean a premature crowning of the 2025/2026 top tipster. It could all hinge on this week’s tips. See you next week, with hope in our hearts.
What a great round coming up.
Western Sydney to start their climb up the ladder and beat Wellington 2-0.
Perth v Newcastle ? 2 good sides? Perth 2 Newcastle 1?
Victory 3 v Roar 1 – but a great game. Brisbane will be pushing all the way.
Sydney 3 v Adelaide 1 – so much pressure on Sydney players now with huge competition for places.
Sydney / – Auckland 0
Tipping against Newcastle is brave! What’s that final Sydney v Auckland score? Something to nil? You have all confidence in the Sydney FC defence?
This is the new site for Australian football. I think The Roar is about to close.
That’s quite a claim. You might find some quality match reports on here from games you didn’t go to, along with matchday experiences from national games and Sydney FC men’s and women’s, but I wouldn’t classify this as the new site for Australian football. Maybe the goto site for Australian football fiction. Yes, let’s go with that.
# Why There Is No New Reports or Articles in This “The Roar”?
For many Australian sports fans, the silence has been impossible to ignore. The Roar, once a thriving hub of passionate analysis, opinion, and debate, has gone unusually quiet. Regular readers who once refreshed the site daily for fresh perspectives on the AFL, NRL, cricket, football, and more are now greeted with the same articles lingering for weeks. The absence of new content has left contributors, readers, and the broader sporting community asking a troubling question: what is happening to one of Australia’s most recognisable fan-driven sports platforms?
While the website remains online, multiple indicators suggest that the future of The Roar is uncertain. A combination of ownership disputes, financial distress, failed rescue attempts, and operational instability appears to have placed the platform in a fragile and possibly critical position.
## A Platform Built on Community — Now Facing Silence
Since its founding in 2007, The Roar carved out a unique role in Australia’s sports media landscape. Unlike traditional outlets, it empowered everyday fans, independent writers, and analysts to contribute their views alongside professional journalists. It was more than just a website — it was a community. Thousands of contributors published articles, and millions of readers engaged through comments and debates.
At its peak, The Roar was known for its immediacy. Major sporting events were quickly followed by opinion pieces, tactical breakdowns, and passionate reactions. This constant flow of fresh content became its lifeblood.
That is why the recent absence of new articles has been so striking. In the fast-moving world of sports media, even a few days without updates can feel unusual. Weeks without meaningful new content, however, signal something far more serious.
## Ownership Disputes Cast a Long Shadow
One of the most significant factors affecting The Roar appears to be an ongoing ownership dispute. Reports indicate that the platform’s operator, Fan Media, has been involved in a complex legal conflict with The Sporting News over intellectual property and ownership rights.
Such disputes can have severe consequences for digital media platforms. Legal uncertainty often freezes decision-making, delays investment, and disrupts operations. When ownership is unclear, hiring, paying contributors, commissioning content, and maintaining infrastructure can all become difficult.
In many cases, staff and contributors may hesitate to continue producing work without clarity on who controls the platform — and whether they will be paid.
## Financial Distress and Contributor Concerns
Equally troubling are reports suggesting financial difficulties. According to discussions among contributors and media observers, payments to writers reportedly stopped around May 2025. There are also claims that staff were owed unpaid superannuation, raising serious concerns about the platform’s financial stability.
For contributors, payment delays are more than an inconvenience — they represent a breakdown of trust. Writers invest time, expertise, and effort into producing quality content. Without reliable compensation, even the most loyal contributors may be forced to stop writing.
This helps explain the gradual decline in new articles. Without contributors, a platform like The Roar cannot function.
The situation also reflects broader challenges facing independent sports media. Advertising revenue has become increasingly difficult to secure, while competition from large media corporations and social media platforms continues to grow.
## Failed Rescue Attempts and Missed Opportunities
There were signs that The Roar might be saved. Reports in late 2025 suggested that a potential acquisition or rescue deal involving The Sporting News was under consideration. Such a deal could have stabilised the platform financially and operationally.
However, those negotiations reportedly stalled.
When rescue deals fail, the consequences can be severe. Without new investment, struggling platforms often enter prolonged periods of uncertainty. Essential updates, staffing decisions, and strategic planning may all be delayed or halted entirely.
The Roar now appears to be caught in exactly this kind of limbo.
## Operational Shutdowns and Publishing Interruptions
In October 2025, The Roar reportedly ceased publishing new content “until further notice.” Although it briefly resumed activity, the interruption marked a turning point. Since then, publishing has become increasingly irregular, and as of early February 2026, readers have noted weeks without new articles.
This pattern suggests operational instability. Digital media platforms require constant maintenance — editorial oversight, technical support, and contributor coordination. When those systems break down, content production slows or stops altogether.
Even if the website remains technically online, it may no longer be functioning as a fully active publication.
## A Familiar Story in Modern Digital Media
The challenges facing The Roar are not unique. Across the world, independent digital media platforms have struggled to survive in an environment dominated by tech giants and large media conglomerates.
Advertising revenue has shifted toward global platforms such as Google, YouTube, and social media networks. Meanwhile, audiences increasingly consume sports content through video, podcasts, and social feeds rather than written opinion articles.
These structural changes have made sustainability difficult for many independent websites — even those with loyal audiences.
The Roar’s situation reflects these broader industry pressures, compounded by internal legal and financial complications.
## What Happens Next?
The future of The Roar remains unclear. Several outcomes are possible:
* The platform could be acquired and revived under new ownership.
* Legal disputes could be resolved, allowing operations to resume.
* It could remain dormant for an extended period.
* Or, in the worst-case scenario, it could cease operations permanently.
For now, the website’s continued online presence offers a small measure of hope. As long as the platform exists, recovery remains possible.
However, time is critical. The longer the silence continues, the harder it becomes to rebuild contributor networks and reader engagement.
## The Loss Would Be Significant
If The Roar were to disappear permanently, it would leave a noticeable gap in Australian sports media. It provided something increasingly rare — a platform where fans, not just professional journalists, could shape the conversation.
Many writers began their careers on The Roar. Others used it simply to share their passion. Readers benefited from diverse perspectives that often challenged mainstream narratives.
Its potential loss would represent more than the closure of a website. It would mark the disappearance of a community.
## Silence Speaks Loudly
For now, The Roar remains in a state of uncertainty. Its silence reflects deeper structural, legal, and financial challenges that have yet to be resolved.
Whether this silence is temporary or permanent remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: Australian sports fans have noticed. And many are still waiting — hoping — for The Roar to roar again.
That’s a good read. The first title makes it look a bit AI or translated from another language, but it’s interesting all the same. Where is this from? We’re all a bit mystified with The Roar, and with no new articles for over two weeks, it does suggest irreperable damage. Anyone have any insider information?
If The Roar folds, there isn’t many alternatives to discuss the A-League
Facebook is just full of delusional racist boomers
X is full of racists of all ages
Reddit is ok provided you have the “correct” views but a nightmare if you don’t
Adelaide 4 – Sydney FC 1.
Come on, let’s be realistic. Adelaide would not concede only one.
Victory get lucky and snag a draw.
Sydney turn out a pitch worse than Suncorp in front of 30,000 empty seats to boot.
Wanderers keep finding ways not to win. Jets ways to win.
Who cares about Vita, I mean really??
State Government has just announced a Concert Cap Increase at Suncorp to 21 up from 12 which is nearly double
I expect Roar will be playing more games away from Suncorp next season