Five things we learned this week in the A-League
March 9th, 2025by Neil Sherwin
The problems run at lot deeper than first thought at the WanderersThe A-League table has an upside down look to it this season with last year's top three – Brisbane Roar, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Central Coast Mariners – all sitting in the bottom four this time round.
Western Sydney's form in particular is a massive concern with zero wins to their name from nine games, and they took just one point from games at home to the Roar and away to Adelaide United over the past week.
They were absolutely destroyed by Adelaide at Coopers Stadium, with the hosts enjoying a whopping 86% possession in the second half and 81% overall.
The result was never really in doubt once Wanderers captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley was sent off in the 16th minute, though the margin of victory should have been much greater for the Reds.
It's not just on the field that Tony Popovic's Asian Champions are having problems with news emerging that the players threatening to boycott the Club World Cup over a dispute around bonuses they should receive.
The figure offered by the club (10% of prize money earned) is below the players' expectations (50%), throwing their participation in doubt ahead of an opening fixture against Cruz Azul on 13 March.
So far, neither side is budging and time is running out for a satisfactory resolution.
Glory's ability to win on the road has been a catalyst for their great start
Perth Glory remain surprise leaders of the A-League after nine rounds following their comeback win against Sydney FC last Thursday night.
After largely dominating the first half, they fell behind when their ex-striker Shane Smeltz scored from the spot after a horrendous handball decision was given against Dino Djulbic.
Glory's resilience was tested by their excellent character again came to fore as first Rostyn Griffiths equalised with a header from Nebojsa Marinkovic's free kick, before Andy Keogh netted an 86th minute penalty.
Left back Scott Jamieson was the man taken down in the area, and both he and Josh Risdon have been key to the team's success this season with their ability to get forward and join the attack.
Indeed, Risdon's form has resulted in an international call up to the provisional Socceroos squad of 46 for next month's Asian Cup that will be held on home soil.
Last season Glory picked up just points six (from a possible forty-two) on the road; this time out they have ten from five games.
The Newcastle Jets really should have signed Nathan Burns permanently.
Another week and another implosion by the Newcastle Jets who blew a lead against the Wellington Phoenix to lose 3-1 in their own backyard.
After Joel Griffiths had put the Jets in front in the first half before Nathan Burns, who was on
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