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2026 Australia Cup final rounds thread

NR93 said:
Not withstanding my thoughts on the draw nonsense.

This is such a cop out by aleague sides. It’s the domestic cup, your season starts now not in October. Plan and act accordingly.

Number of competitions all over the world start just into preseason (Continental qualifiers, Scottish league cup for example) and sides are able to adapt.
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Are those competitions not like for like regarding fitness levels though? You can't really compare our situation of two completely different times of seasons playing against each other.

It's like any sport, you peak your fitness level for the peak of the season. E. g. AFL finals, Tour de France etc.

For mine, the A-League clubs ARE taking it seriously (not so in the past). But they can't do anything about enforced player holidays and competition timing. Fitness levels are a totally valid reason for failing this early. That doesn't diminish from member fed teams. It is what it is until the timings change.

Even at local level they haven't got their timing right. E. g. in SA they host their cup final days before their Aus Cup match. Years ago, their final was held earlier in the season and there wasn't a conflict of schedules with Aus Cup. Maybe explains why NPL SA has fallen off a cliff the past three years in the Aus Cup. They were comfortably above Queensland, but now behind them and even WA catching up.
 
HappyGuus said:
Are those competitions not like for like regarding fitness levels though?
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Number of European competitions are in season compared to other countries that are in preseason when we are talking about qualifiers.

MLS clubs have no issues in early rounds of the CONCACAF Champions cup when “lower” teams are in league compared to preseason. Even CPL teams who have a similar offseason length are reasonably competitive against bigger and in season sides even though they are weeks into preseason.

These blokes have 4-6 weeks off, a lot of them go into national youth camps etc and they don’t go spending offseason on the booze 24/7. Their base fitness should be high enough that 3/4 weeks in preseason that shouldn’t be used as an excuse.
 
I think it really depends on the a league club itself, when it comes to the cup.

AU have always taken it seriously, due to it being a chance to actually win silverwear (something that seems to have alluded the club a lot in the a league).

They've already played more friendly matches this off season compared to all the other a league clubs (partly due to the ACL play off game that is coming up and trying to get the players fit).

fitness wont be an excuse if they lose to souths
 
TheSecretScout said:
I think it really depends on the a league club itself, when it comes to the cup.

AU have always taken it seriously, due to it being a chance to actually win silverwear (something that seems to have alluded the club a lot in the a league).

They've already played more friendly matches this off season compared to all the other a league clubs (partly due to the ACL play off game that is coming up and trying to get the players fit).

fitness wont be an excuse if they lose to souths
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Come to think of it city used to play friendlies against npl teams around this time of year. Now you don't hear anything that and the family day have disappeared
 
melbcityguy said:
Come to think of it city used to play friendlies against npl teams around this time of year. Now you don't hear anything that and the family day have disappeared
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Definitely a bit odd to not have played a friendly yet.
MV played a friendly against George Cross last week which would have been good fitness prep for this weeks Aus Cup game.
 
someguyjc said:
Definitely a bit odd to not have played a friendly yet.
MV played a friendly against George Cross last week which would have been good fitness prep for this weeks Aus Cup game.
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Well they might have played a friendly but no comms has come out. That's what I'm saying these clubs don't really seem like they try sometimes.

Like I know a few barriers we can't control but things like keeping players engaging fans should be top priority
 
TheSecretScout said:
I think it really depends on the a league club itself, when it comes to the cup.

AU have always taken it seriously, due to it being a chance to actually win silverwear (something that seems to have alluded the club a lot in the a league).

They've already played more friendly matches this off season compared to all the other a league clubs (partly due to the ACL play off game that is coming up and trying to get the players fit).

fitness wont be an excuse if they lose to souths
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This is why South will have its hands full against Adelaide United. If we win, you will see similar scenes as those at Edensor Park and BT Connor Reserve.

If we can pull off this cupset, then it means only 6 of the 10 A League teams remain and 10 NPL clubs are still in it. Really hoping we can see a NPL club reach the final and actually win it.
 
SMFC1959 said:
This is why South will have its hands full against Adelaide United. If we win, you will see similar scenes as those at Edensor Park and BT Connor Reserve.

If we can pull off this cupset, then it means only 6 of the 10 A League teams remain and 10 NPL clubs are still in it. Really hoping we can see a NPL club reach the final and actually win it.
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According to our shouts tipping, this is easily the closest to 50/50 match of the round. I don't want to pump it up for fear of disappointment, but hot damn this should be quality!
 
SMFC1959 said:
This is why South will have its hands full against Adelaide United. If we win, you will see similar scenes as those at Edensor Park and BT Connor Reserve.

If we can pull off this cupset, then it means only 6 of the 10 A League teams remain and 10 NPL clubs are still in it. Really hoping we can see a NPL club reach the final and actually win it.
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Very tough match to predict, given the ACL game will be at the forefront of AU's mind.

Souths deserve to be respected - lots of ex players with a league squad or academy experience, plus at lakeside infront of a decent crowd, anything can happen.

I also think there's a mutual respect between the sides,

For me it really depends on if AU play the more seasoned veterans eg goodwin, muniz, anselmo (who have all played in the friendly match's this season) or if they showcase more of australia's best youth.

Should be a good game regardless
 
SMFC1959 said:
This is why South will have its hands full against Adelaide United. If we win, you will see similar scenes as those at Edensor Park and BT Connor Reserve.

If we can pull off this cupset, then it means only 6 of the 10 A League teams remain and 10 NPL clubs are still in it. Really hoping we can see a NPL club reach the final and actually win it.
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Two NPL clubs in the final would be something special.

If AL clubs draw each other next round, you never know. Highly unlikely as the AL will only get fitter as the rounds progress.
 
TheSecretScout said:
Very tough match to predict, given the ACL game will be at the forefront of AU's mind.

Souths deserve to be respected - lots of ex players with a league squad or academy experience, plus at lakeside infront of a decent crowd, anything can happen.

I also think there's a mutual respect between the sides,

For me it really depends on if AU play the more seasoned veterans eg goodwin, muniz, anselmo (who have all played in the friendly match's this season) or if they showcase more of australia's best youth.

Should be a good game regardless
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I'm assuming Adelaide will use the Australia Cup match against South as its final decent hit out in its preparations for the AFC Champions League commitments. As you mentioned, if Adelaide fields a younger squad to protect its more senior players for Asian matches, then South would be slight favourites.

From our perspective, we'll need an early goal within the first 20 mins to push Adelaide. The longer it stays 0-0, the more likelier it is Adelaide will score. We cant sit back and absorb pressure for most of the match - we need to play our usual game plan and play to win rather than play to just hold on.
 
Beretta said:
Two NPL clubs in the final would be something special.

If AL clubs draw each other next round, you never know. Highly unlikely as the AL will only get fitter as the rounds progress.
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If 4 A League teams are drawn against each other, then it further improves the chances for NPL clubs. From a Football Australia perspective, they would probably like to play up the 'David vs Goliath' angle. It makes the final more interesting.
 
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