footballaustralia.com.au
It all kicks off on Friday night October 7.
Brisbane Roar play host to what promises to be a new-look Melbourne Victory side. Victory will be hunting revenge after Roar knocked Kevin Muscat’s men in dramatic fashion in 2015/16.
It promises to be absolute belter between two fabulous footballing sides who have so much to prove in Season 12.
But fans are in for a real treat the following day with a "Super Saturday" triple treat of back-to-back fixtures across Australia and New Zealand.
In the early fixture, a revitalised Phoenix outfit play host to Bruno Fornaroli's Melbourne City at Westpac Stadium.
City won two of the three fixtures against Phoenix last season – though both were at AAMI Park – but the Kiwi outfit promises to be a far more difficult opponent this time around.
That said, without doubt the marquee fixture of the opening weekend is the season’s first Sydney Derby.
This will be huge!
The Harbour City rivalry has arguably promises to go to another level in 2016/17 for one big reason.
With Wanderers’ home ground undergoing renovations, two of the three derbies next season will be played at the 80,000 seat ANZ Stadium - including this Round 1 blockbuster.
And with the previous A-League attendance record standing at 55,436 (the 2007 Grand Final between Victory and Adelaide), expect that to be in serious danger of being smashed.
The Sky Blues earned bragging rights in 2015/16 with two wins and a draw from the three clashes.
But with both sides undergoing a rebuild in the off-season who will come out in top come Round 1?
ANZ will be rocking... as will nib Stadium.
In the late fixture to round out Super Saturday, a star-studded Glory outfit host Central Coast Mariners with Kenny Lowe’s men eager to build on successful Season 11.
Glory have added some real quality to their line-up with the addition of former Socceroos Adam Taggart, Chris Herd and Rhys Williams while the Mariners have added some steel to their spine.
And the league’s best player, reigning Johnny Warren Medalist Diego Castro, will be back to cause the Yellow and Navy a headache or two.
A huge opening round concludes on Sunday as defending champions Adelaide United start their title defence away to Newcastle Jets.
The Hunter outfit – with ambitious new Chinese owner Martin Lee and his Ledman Group on board – promise to be a much improved outfit in 2016/17 as Scott Miller continues to rebuild the club.
The Reds have kept the nucleus of their Grand Final winning squad and with the astute Gui Amor on board for another season, could the Reds go back-to-back?
The best things in life are worth waiting for. Bring on Round 1!
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