Something different this season. With The Roar still offline, Texi has decided last minute to go it alone and do something totally unethical – a social expirement to see whether gambling on the most unpredictable football league in the world is actually worth it or not. I think we know the answer already.
As well as using his magical crystal ball, our author will be starting the season with a pool of $217 (that’s $7.75 x 28 matchdays) and submitting what they mysteriously call a “Lucky 31” bet on five of the matches in each round. That particular bet type has 31 different combinations, so the stake is low, in fact a measly $0.25 per bet, but it makes the total bet each week $7.75. Trusting that this is not a gateway to a gambling addiction, the $217 has been fronted up already, so there will not be any money spent during the season; it’s a small price to pay for an experiment that will most likely demonstrate that “you win some, you lose more.”
The season starts with a handy five-game round. So, without further ado, let’s see what round one is going to give us as the A-League juggernaut rolls into town…
Sydney, City, Macarthur, Newcastle, Victory
The long-awaited opening fixture to the 2026/27 season sees Ufuk Talay return to the scene of his crimes with his new-look Western Sydney Wanderers for a rip-roaring Sydney derby. Allianz Stadium will be freshly chopped up from the Rugby League World Cup opener, so the excuses will be ready-made whichever way this falls. Patrick Kisnorbo has thrashed his troops to within an inch of their lives in preseason, expect Sydney FC to be in the faces of their rivals, the returning magician Nicholas Milanovic having little change in a difficult opening half. Tiago Quintal is the constant threat for the Sky Blues, but it’s the unlikely source of Rhys Youlley who breaks the deadlock on the cusp of the tried and tested 60-minute substitution mark with a deflected shot. Wanderers pile forward, VAR overturning an equaliser to the torment of the away fans, and the dagger is plunged into Western Sydney hearts as Oriola Sunday marks his league debut with a tap in on the rebound to complete the scoring late in the game.
Auckland FC entertain Melbourne City on Saturday at Mount Smart, and they have the weight of expectation on their shoulders after last season’s championship victory. Losing two of their main defenders will give the potent City attack free rein against an untested rearguard, and we could be in for a high-scoring affair. All eyes on Auckland’s Sam Cosgrove following the furore of his serving of a two match ban, but it’s the debutants on the day that have the biggest say, Quinn MacNicol off the bench to equalise for City with 20 minutes left following the opener from Lachie Bayliss. It’s left to Cosgrove, leaping highest at the far post to send the Port into raptures with a late winner and start coach Pedro Moreira’s reign with an important three points.
All change at Macarthur FC, with Sasa Ognenovski at the helm for his first game in charge. His new-look team entertain unknown quantity Perth Glory at Campbelltown Stadium in the family-friendly 5pm slot. Familiar A-League names Ryan Fraser and Ben Gibson are in the home line-up, with A-League All Stars’ hero Apostolos Stamatelopoulos brought in to score the goals. The reliable dad’s army midfield of last season has gone, and there is no shortage of talent in the home squad. This is too early though for them to show their togetherness, and up against a lively attack of Tom Lawrence and Jaiden Kucharski, goals are guaranteed. The absence of Brian Kaltak is pivotal tonight, Connor Pain’s waspish performance opening doors for his teammates to cash in, Musa Toure and Jing Reec amongst the goals in a comfortable victory for the home side.
It would take a brave man to tip Central Coast Mariners to do anything this season. They still possess a talented squad, but it has been rejuvenated by bringing in a truck-load of unproven talent, the bookmakers not convinced at all. Newcastle Jets come to Gosford on the back of a home loss in the Asian Champions League Elite, and they too have had an exodus from their premiership-winning squad; perhaps the replacements have been more palatable, Joe Lolley and Paddy Wood known quantities in A-League circles. The Jets know how to win, they’re up against serious quality in Asia, and it rubs off tonight as Nikos Vergos and Lolley get on the scoresheet in a scruffy win in the F3 derby. Mark Milligan will be more delighted with the clean sheet than anything else; it will be a rare occurrence this season as the premiership crown becomes a dead weight.
Melbourne Victory will be smarting from their Australia Cup disaster last weekend; however, up against a Wellington squad that has been trimmed and trimmed some more, this is the perfect antidote. Charles Nduka looks like a new man, given space and time to thrive, and with Clarismario Santos in glittering form, the away side look confident and enthusiastic in a bright first half. The longer the game goes on though, Phoenix grow in stature. The gaps at the back of the Wellington defence are there to be exploited, and when Harry Sawyer comes off the bench, the complexion of the game changes altogether. It’s his hold-up play that sprays the ball out to Keegan Jelacic, who glides past his man to deliver the perfect cross for Sawyer to thump home on the volley for the only goal of the game. A less-than-convincing win for Victory, but an important three-point haul to start the season with renewed hope.
Posting the tipping scoreboard is like posting the league table after zero games – totally pointless – but here it is anyway. We stand to recoup $68.13 if all the selections come in, or lose the whole $7.75 if no selections come in; it’ll be somewhere in between, but it will be interesting to see how this goes over the course of the season!
You can be part of the crowd! Enter your tips below and make Texi look like a bumbling fool. Go on, it’ll take you five seconds…
We’d love to see what you think of this opening round; leave a comment right here. Let’s bring some of that dry banter from The Roar faithful back for another season. Good luck!