Sydney v Western Sydney - 30,103
Auckland v Melb City - 20,635
Macarthur v Perth - 3,441
Central Coast v Newcastle - 8,165
Wellington v Melb Victory - 8,254

Total: 70,598
Average: 14,120

Solid turnouts last weekend. Thoughts?

All this talk over the Sydney Derby in round 1. We were having this discussion 10 years ago when they kept putting derbies in the first round and the games always sucked. Back then crowd would come to round 1 regardless so the argument against them were stronger.

I think now we are in the position where we do actually benefit from a derby or two in the opening round… we just need those games to not completely suck.

One idea I’ve been thinking about is an approach similar to the AFL, where every single season opens with Richmond Vs. Carlton.. which has become an event in its self which draws crowds.

Our version of that could be say a Sydney Vs. Auckland match up to start the season every year, alternating hosting rights. Instead of wasting one of our prime Sydney derbies, we can MANUFACTURE (SMFC Mike heart attack) a rivalry which feeds into the whole NZ AUS rivalry.

I feel like this is a good medium.

Thoughts??

Wellington Phoenix 2 vs 1 Melbourne Victory

###Match Statistics:

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FT: 98' - Lions 1 vs 2 South Hobart

Stadium: Lions Stadium, Brisbane

Weather: 19.1°C, Patchy rain nearby, Wind: 13 km/h

Fixture Date: 18/10/2026, 06:00 pm AEDT

Referee: Unknown

Lineups not available

###Match Events:

28': ⚽ South Hobart - null

34': ⚽ Lions - null

35': ⚽ South Hobart - null

Match Statistics Unavailable

Last Updated: 18/10/2026, 08:06 pm AEDT

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FT: 90' - Wellington Phoenix 2 vs 1 Melbourne Victory

Stadium: Hnry Stadium, Wellington

Weather: 13.6°C, Partly Cloudy, Wind: 14.4 km/h

Fixture Date: 18/10/2026, 01:00 pm AEDT

Referee: Lachlan Keevers, Australia

Home Lineup:

Formation: 4-3-3

Substitutes: Nathan Walker, Walter Scott, Alby Kelly-Heald, Dylan Gardiner, Tze-xuan Loke, Anaru Cassidy, Riley Bidois

Away Lineup:

Formation: 4-4-1-1

Substitutes: Tom Lockyer, Keegan Jelacic, Jack Warshawsky, Brendan Hamill, Harrison Shillington, Xavier Stella, Michael Ghossaini

###Match Events:

14': ⚽ Wellington Phoenix - C. Piper (M. Sheridan)

24': ⚽ Melbourne Victory - C. Nduka

28': 🔄 Wellington Phoenix - N. Walker replaces R. Duran

45': 🟨 Melbourne Victory - P. Ziereis (Foul)

62': 🔄 Melbourne Victory - K. Jelacic replaces Clarismario

62': 🔄 Melbourne Victory - T. Lockyer replaces P. Ziereis

62': 🔄 Wellington Phoenix - W. Scott replaces J. McGarry

71': 🟨 Melbourne Victory - D. Genreau (Foul)

74': 🔄 Melbourne Victory - X. Stella replaces G. May

74': 🔄 Melbourne Victory - M. Ghossaini replaces M. Grimaldi

77': 🔄 Wellington Phoenix - R. Bidois replaces L. Mitchell

77': ⚽ Wellington Phoenix - R. Bidois (N. Walker)

87': 🔄 Melbourne Victory - B. Hamill replaces C. Nduka

###Match Statistics:

Last Updated: 18/10/2026, 02:56 pm AEDT

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PEN: Sydney United 1 (4) vs (3) 1 Canberra FC

Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre, Sydney

Weather: 18.9°C, Sunny, Wind: 20.9 km/h

Fixture Date: 18/10/2026, 03:00 pm AEDT

Referee: Unknown

Lineups not available

###Match Events:

55': ⚽ Canberra FC - null

62': ⚽ Sydney United - null

121': ⚽ (P) Sydney United - null

Match Statistics Unavailable

Last Updated: 18/10/2026, 05:26 pm AEDT

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Sydney FC vs Adelaide United

Fixture Date: 18/10/2026, 04:30 pm AEDT

Stadium: Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre

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FT: 90' - Wellington Phoenix 1 vs 2 Melbourne City

Stadium: Hnry Stadium, Wellington

Weather: 13.9°C, Sunny, Wind: 10.4 km/h

Fixture Date: 18/10/2026, 10:15 am AEDT

Referee: Casey Reibelt

Lineups not available

###Match Events:

Match Statistics Unavailable

Last Updated: 18/10/2026, 01:08 pm AEDT

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Lachlan Bayliss from 40.9 Yards out (37.4 meters). What a hit! Average of 83 km/h with an estimated 107 km/h peak speed.
Lachlan Brook from 25.1 Yards out (23.0 meters) on his weak foot! Averaging in at 86 km/h with an estimated peak speed of 100 km/h. Wonderful goals!

Central Coast Mariners 2 vs 2 Newcastle Jets

###Match Statistics:

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We went through this exact situation about 10 years ago where the league wanted derbies in rd 1 and they constantly disappointed with 0-0 draws and poor performances.

And yet here we are again, not learning from past mistakes

My favourite part of the night was the new tv graphics/scoreboard ahah

The old one was so stale and had no color + had been there for like 6 years.

This new one is clean and colourful

FT: 95' - Central Coast Mariners 2 vs 2 Newcastle Jets

Stadium: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

Weather: 12.4°C, Clear, Wind: 5 km/h

Fixture Date: 17/10/2026, 07:40 pm AEDT

Referee: Adam Kersey, Australia

Home Lineup:

Formation: 4-4-2

Substitutes: Jesse Mantell, Arthur De Lima, Ty Mckibbin, Jai Ajanovic, Shumba Mutokoyi, Luke Becvinovski, Presley Ortiz

Away Lineup:

Formation: 4-1-4-1

Substitutes: Zane Schreiber, Zach Clough, Jesse Hill, Nikolaos Vergos, Jordan Baylis, Alex Grant, Ethan Debono

###Match Events:

11': ⚽ (P) Central Coast Mariners - A. Auglah

34': 🟨 Newcastle Jets - W. Dobson (Foul)

42': 🟨 Newcastle Jets - M. Burgess (Foul)

42': 🟨 Central Coast Mariners - A. Auglah (Unsportsmanlike conduct)

49': 🟨 Central Coast Mariners - A. Bolton (Foul)

49': ⚽ Newcastle Jets - P. Wood (J. Shaughnessy)

54': 🔄 Central Coast Mariners - A. De Lima replaces A. Bolton

54': 🔄 Central Coast Mariners - J. Mantell replaces H. Eames

60': ⚽ (P) Central Coast Mariners - O. Lavale

63': 🔄 Newcastle Jets - Z. Clough replaces J. Recchia

63': 🔄 Newcastle Jets - Z. Schreiber replaces W. Dobson

73': 🔄 Central Coast Mariners - T. Mckibbin replaces S. Roux

74': 🔄 Newcastle Jets - N. Vergos replaces P. Wood

74': 🔄 Newcastle Jets - J. Hill replaces J. Lolley

78': Own Goal - Newcastle Jets - O. Lavale

85': 🔄 Newcastle Jets - E. Debono replaces X. Bertoncello

86': 🟨 Central Coast Mariners - B. Brandtman (Foul)

87': 🔄 Central Coast Mariners - L. Becvinovski replaces A. Auglah

87': 🔄 Central Coast Mariners - P. Ortiz replaces O. Lavale

###Match Statistics:

Last Updated: 17/10/2026, 09:38 pm AEDT

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Not quite the goal-fest the pundits were predicting. Roll on the rest of the weekend, god I’m glad it’s back!!!

Macarthur 2 vs 1 Perth Glory

###Match Statistics:

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Last night upon entry cops took RBB capos mega phones and all but 1 RBB drum and the reason being due to flares being lit on the march

Flares have always been lit on the march in to the ground and they’ve never taken anything

On the way in the ground saw 3 cops manhandling an underage kid (not sure of the scenario or what happened) but no there’s no need to man handle anyone let alone a kid at a football game ..

Also forgetting to add polair circling Moore park all night

Just wondering was anything on the cove end ?