ALM fixture set, Mars gets two games

THE 2022/23 A-League Men season is set to go off, with the very first game of the comp a grand final rematch between Western United and Melbourne City on Friday, 7 October at AAMI Park.

Play will continue until round six before the competition takes a month-long break as the Socceroos prepare for the World Cup in Qatar.

Action will resume on 11 December, eight days before the World Cup final.

There’s also at least two games set for Mars Stadium, with the Green and Black scheduled to take on the Newcastle Jets on Sunday, 15 January, and then host Central Coast Mariners under lights on Friday, 7 April.

Overall, the Australian Professional Leagues – administrators of the A-League – have made some adjustments to the fixture list which means Saturday night’s primetime game on free-to-air partner Network 10 will not clash with any other games.

Midweek matches have been scrapped except for congested periods around Christmas, Easter and Anzac Day with the majority of games to be played from Friday through to Sunday night.

Last year’s draw was heavily impacted by floods and player shortages due to COVID-19, with 113 of 226 games across the men’s and women’s competitions forced to be rearranged.

“This season we hope for a more healthy environment in our community with COVID-19 reducing its impact on our daily lives,” A-Leagues commissioner Greg O’Rourke said.

ALISTAIR FINLAY/AAP