The countdown to the 2021-22 A-League season for Huskisson's Adam Federici and his Macarthur Bulls is on, after the competition's kick-off date was recently locked in.
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The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) confirmed on Thursday the A-League will kick- off on November 19, with the first six rounds of the competition to be based on a conference system.
The five NSW-based clubs plus the Wellington Phoenix will play each other in one half of the split, while the majority of the other games will be played in Victoria.
As such, Federici, fresh off his PFA Team of the Year season, and his Bulls will open their second A-League campaign against the Phoenix on Sunday, November 21 at Campbelltown Stadium.
This will be followed by fixtures against Sydney FC (November 27 at Jubilee Stadium), Central Coast Mariners (December 5 at Campbelltown Stadium), Western Sydney Wanderers (December 11 at Commbank Stadium), Newcastle Jets (December 19 at Campbelltown Stadium) and Sydney FC (December 26 at Campbelltown Stadium).
More details about subsequent fixtures will be released later in the year, with border restrictions predicted to be eased by the turn of the year under the federal government's national COVID-19 transition plan.
This season will also feature the inaugural club championship, a trophy awarded to the clubs with the most success across both the men's and women's leagues.
"Football is back and we can't wait to get started," said league commissioner Greg O'Rourke.
"We've got more football than ever before, with both an expanded finals series and the addition of Wellington Phoenix to the women's league.
"We've already seen some incredible young talent coming through the league and on to the Olympics, and with those players now more established, we are going to see even more great football stories."
With the season start dates having been adjusted to reflect the evolving landscape of COVID-19 restrictions, the club football season will finish with the men's grand final on May 28.
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Courtney Ward
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
