A-League Round 22 Preview: Stats, Insights & Everything You Need To Know About Your Team’s Chances

After a long and drawn out round 21 we’ve finally arrived at round 22 and we’ve got everything you need to know about each game this weekend.

NEWCASTLE JETS VS CENTRAL COAST MARINERS – SATURDAY 16 MARCH, 5:35PM, MCDONALD JONES STADIUM

Alen Stajcic has taken control at the Mariners. The Jets have clearly been the better side for a few seasons now and this time last week, I would have tipped ‘Jets to Nil’ with my eyes closed and my fingers in my ears. I am, however, a firm believer in the immediate effects of a shake-up in the managerial ranks and for that reason alone, I give the Mariners a legitimate chance of pulling off the upset.

Did You Know?

Jets

• The Jets have scored 26 goals in the league in 2018/19, 8.35 goals fewer than their Expected Goals figure suggests. Only Adelaide United (-10.18) have underperformed on the goalscoring front more.

Mariners

• Central Coast Mariners are winless in their last eight away games against Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League (D6 L2). Their last victory at McDonald Jones Stadium came back in December 2012.

Betting Insights

• The ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Central Coast’s last seven A-League matches at McDonald Jones Stadium.
• Central Coast has lost each of its last 10 A-League night matches as an away underdog.
• Newcastle has led 1-0 at half-time in each of its last three A-League night matches.

TIP: Jets

MELBOURNE VICTORY VS BRISBANE ROAR – SATURDAY 16 MARCH, 7:50PM, MARVEL STADIUM

This could be the week where Brisbane Roar are officially eliminated from A-League Finals contention… although their current chances are minute at best. Instead, the rest of their season will be focused on playing spoiler and they can put a dent in Melbourne Victory’s hopes of a top-two finish here.

That being said this is still a huge mismatch, even if the Victory opts to rotate their squad after a midweek Asian Champions League match.

The Roar are struggling to find healthy defenders and are shipping goals at an alarming rate with 13 goals in their last three games.

Did You Know?

Victory

• Melbourne Victory are undefeated in their last nine Hyundai A-League games against Brisbane Roar at Marvel Stadium; the last time they lost such a fixture was in September 2008.

Roar

• The Roar have scored 11 goals in the 15 minutes prior to half-time this season, three more than any other team in that period.

Betting Insights

• The away team has won each of the last four A-League matches between Melbourne Victory and Brisbane.
• The ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Brisbane’s last seven A-League matches as an underdog.
• The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has hit in six of Brisbane’s last seven A-League matches.

TIP: Victory

WELLINGTON PHOENIX VS WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS – SUNDAY 17 MARCH, 5:00PM, WESTPAC STADIUM

I’ve been on the bandwagon since like Week 8, but the Phoenix’s eight-goal flurry against the Mariners last week really did something to me and I’m finding it hard to make anything of a case for the Wanderers doing anything across the ditch. The Phoenix now also find themselves in the top four for the first time since New Zealand was granted Dominion status and they can consolidate that position by winning this match as well.

Did You Know?

Phoenix

• The Phoenix have scored six goals within the opening 15 minutes of games this season, the joint-most of any team.

Wanderers

• Western Sydney Wanderers have scored a first-half goal in every one of their last nine Hyundai A-League games against Wellington Phoenix, conceding just twice in the same period.

Betting Insights

• The ‘Over 3.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Western Sydney’s last seven A-League away matches.
• Wellington has won each of its last six A-League matches as a favourite.

TIP:Phoenix

SYDNEY FC VS MELBOURNE CITY – SUNDAY 17 MARCH, 7:00PM, LEICHARDT OVAL

With the Premiers Plate still an outside chance for the Sky Blues, they will want to be careful changing too much, for fear of disrupting what has been a winning formula against the City Blues.

It’s been a rough run for Melbourne City losing its last seven A-League games against Sydney and the side has not won an A-League match since January 22.

New signing Jamie Maclaren has scored all five of City’s goals since his arrival but he could be in for a rough afternoon against a Sydney side that has kept back to back clean sheets.

Did You Know?

Sydney

• Sydney FC have won their last seven Hyundai A-League games against Melbourne City; no other team has ever strung together more than four wins against City in the league.

City

• Melbourne City are winless in their last five Hyundai A-League games away from home (D1 L4), scoring just three goals in that time.

Betting Insights

• Sydney FC has won each of its last seven A-League matches against Melbourne City.
• The ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ market has hit in each of Melbourne City’s last eight A-League night matches as an underdog.
• The ‘Both Teams to Score’ market has failed to hit in five of Melbourne City’s last six A-League matches as an away underdog.

TIP: Sydney