The new Isuzu UTE A-League season is almost upon us. There will be a new team joining the competition while Central Coast Mariners will be on the hunt for their third straight Championship.
The Isuzu UTE A-League Men season will kick off this weekend with a new club in the mix as Auckland FC embarks on their inaugural season in an expanded 13-team competition.
The new boys on the block will be coached by a familiar face with former Sky Blues man Steve Corica charged with leading the club in their inaugural season.
The newly assembled squad consists of mainly home grown New Zealand talent with some proven signings that include Japanese defender Hiroki Sakai while Alex Paulsen will be in between the sticks after joining from Bournemouth on loan.
Check out what's coming your way across the opening weekend.
Grand Final Replay in Gosford
It’s set to be a bumper Round 1, with a Grand Final rematch on Friday night as the Mariners host Melbourne Victory with kick off set for 7:35pm AEDT live and exclusive on Paramount+.
Victory will be out for revenge against the Mariners who came from behind to secure their second straight championship last season.
The visitors are under new leadership and have shown glimpses of promise after reaching the Australia Cup Final.
The A-League returns to the NZ Capital
Newcomers Auckland FC welcome Brisbane Roar to GO Media Stadium for their first ever fixture with the action set to get underway at 3pm AEDT on Saturday.
Expect a close to sold out stadium in the capital as they welcome back a team for the first time since the New Zealand Knights exited the competition in 2007.
They will be coming up against a new look Roar outfit which features a number of new signings, namely Indonesian striker Rafael Struick who has brought with him a significant fanbase from his home country.
Jets face off against City in the Hunter
The inaugural double header on 10 Bold and 10 Play kicks off at McDonald Jones Stadium at 5:05pm as Newcastle Jets take on Melbourne City.
City will be eager to past last season's underwhelming campaign behind them as they look to get off the mark in Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Rob Stanton's side showed promise in their Australia Cup campaign and there is an air of optimism in the Hunter with the up and coming Kosta Grozos given the armband for the season.
Mata vs Costa: Sydney Derby
The opening weekend will also see a huge Sydney Derby as Western Sydney Wanderers face off with Sydney FC at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night.
Two of the league's high profile signings in Juan Mata and Douglas Costa will go head to head at CommBank Stadium.
Both sides have recruited well in the off season with Nicolas Milanovic signing a new deal to keep him at the club while the capture of Bozhidar Kraev from Wellington is almost a sure fire way to add more goals to their tally.
Ufuk Talay's men head into this clash with significantly more match minutes in their legs having played two AFC Champions League Two matches already which showed promising signs with Anas Ouahim and Patryk Klimala impressing for their new club.
Phoenix meet Western in Wellington
Wellington's season begins with a home clash as they welcome Western United to Sky Stadium at 2pm AEDT on Sunday.
Giancarlo Italiano has added some experience to his attacking force with Marco Rojas returning to the club after a short stint at the Roar last season.
Their opponents have experienced a squad overhaul with Josh Risdon having departed while key arrivals include Tate Russell from Wanderers and Hiroshi Ibusuki from Adelaide.
Both clubs have had rather long pre season camps with Phoenix's last competitive match in August while Western's last match was their Australia Cup Playoff clash against the Jets.
Glory lock horns with the Bulls
The final match of the first round takes centre stage at Campbelltown Stadium at 4pm AEDT as Macarthur face off against Perth Glory.
The Bulls are the form side heading into the first round after their surprise Australia Cup triumph which saw them knock off Victory in Melbourne.
Their first challenge of the season is a new look Glory outfit with David Zdrilic leading the club.
Zdrilic has already had a positive impact on the playing group after a bright start to their Australia Cup campaign which included wins over fellow A-League sides Brisbane and City.
NEW: The Weekly Kick-Off Arrives on 10 Play
The Weekly Kick-Off is the missing link in the Football media landscape, regular highly credentialed opinion on the Australian game.
Available Wednesday evenings first on 10 Play and Paramount+ from 5pm (broadcast on 10 Bold at 10:30pm). The Weekly Kick-Off will cover A-Leagues, Socceroos, Matildas, Asian Champions Leagues and all things Australian Football.
With regular appearances from Paramount Football's team of experts, viewers will get the latest news and opinion from the best analysts in the business.
Tune in for the best of the A-Leagues, leading opinion on the Matildas and Socceroos and a look ahead to all the football coming up across your weekend.
Begins October 9. Stream Wednesday nights from 5pm AEDT on 10 Play
Football Tonight Presented by Ninja
Starting at 4:30pm AEDT, 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+ takes you from pre-game buzz to final whistle celebrations, plus, we’ve got a shiny new studio show for you to enjoy in between matches, Football Tonight Presented by Ninja from 7pm to 7:30pm AEDT.
This is where football legends and self-proclaimed tragic fans break down the world of football with guests, banter, and plenty of laughs. This Saturday we welcome special guest Adam Spencer and for round two next week, it’s Ed Kavalee’s turn to join the panel.
Isuzu UTE A-League Men Saturday double-headers live and free on Network 10
Paramount Australia remains the exclusive home of Australian football for the 2024/25 season. Football fans across the country will once again enjoy access to a mountain of football with every single A-Leagues match available to stream live on Paramount+.
Building on the growth in TV viewership in 2023/24, this season will see the two Isuzu UTE A-League Men free-to-air matches moved to every Saturday on 10 Bold and 10 Play with back-to-back games kicking off from 5pm and 7:35pm AEST.
Taking on feedback from fans, clubs and partners, the Isuzu UTE A-League Men double-header is expected to drive viewership growth and momentum from the twilight slot into the evening match. Every Saturday, viewers can enjoy a whole evening of live and free football on 10 Bold and 10 Play, and for every other match, Paramount+ will be the exclusive destination.
Isuzu UTE A-League Men season broadcast notes, include:
- Every Isuzu UTE A-League Men's match will be shown live on Paramount+.
- Each Saturday two Isuzu UTE A-League Men matches will be broadcast live and free on 10 Bold and 10 Play.
- Outside of the Saturday double-header on 10 Bold and 10 Play, Paramount+ is the only place to catch every Isuzu UTE A-League Men match.
- Every Liberty A-League Women’s match will be made available live and free on 10 Play, and live on Paramount+.
- Minis, highlights and replays available to stream on 10 Play
Check out the links below to catch up with all the action from the 2023/24 Isuzu UTE A-League Finals:
- Relive the 2023/24 Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final
- Catch up with all the action from the Isuzu UTE A-League Semi Finals
- Relive all the action from the Isuzu UTE A-League Elimination Finals
- Catch up with all the action from the 2023/24 Isuzu UTE A-League Season
- Alex Tobin Medal Hub
- The Globe Trotting Mariners road to AFC Cup Triumph
