Following a historic championship win for Central Coast Mariners last season, attention has finally turned to the new A-League campaign.
Melbourne City made all the running last year, only to be smashed by Central Coast in the final and both sides are likely to be amongst the front runners again this term.
The usual suspects of Western Sydney Wanderers, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory are sure to be in the mix again this season, with the off-season movements from all clubs generating plenty of media attention.
It promises to be another memorable A-League campaign with all 12 teams raring to go.
Here are some of our A-League tips and preseason predictions:
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A-League Season Preview & Predictions
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2023-24 A-League Outright Winner
Best Bet – Melbourne City $3.50
It has been a couple of seasons for despair for Melbourne City, who have blitzed all in front of them during the regular season – only to run out of steam when it matters most in the Grand Final.
Western United did for them in 2022, with Central Coast repeating the feat in 2023 and all at City will be hoping to resurrect that this term.
Changes have been afoot in the off season, but Rado Vidosic has the bones of his squad from last season to work again with this term and they look to be the team to beat.
Next Best Bet – Western Sydney Wanderers $6.50
Development has been the key aim at Western Sydney Wanderers over the past few seasons and they now look to be in a position to mount a sustained A-League title charge.
They fell short in the playoffs last season but should be wiser for the experience coming into this term.
Mark Rudan has a squad packed with homegrown talent, in addition to some international superstars and he will believe that he has the key components to mount a title charge in 2023/24.
2023-24 A-League Outside Picks
Central Coast Mariners – $7.50
The absence of many household names did nothing to hurt Central Coast last season, who timed their run to perfection – thrashing Melbourne City 6-1 in an epic Grand Final.
Few tipped Central Coast to go all the way last term but there won’t be the same ignorance this term.
Mark Jackson has an excellent squad, with strength in depth and they should be firmly in the mix again this term.
Sydney FC – $8
All-change is the key mantra at Sydney FC, with Steve Corica looking to oversee another era of success at the blues.
Big name stars such as Joe Lolley and Jack Rodwell will be tasked with leading the troops to at least the playoffs this season, following a poor campaign last year and they have the resources and the personnel to at least mount a challenge to the likes of Melbourne City this term.
2023-24 A-League Golden Boot Winner
Best Bet – Jamie Maclaren – Melbourne City – $4.00
When it comes to banging the goals in, very few can compete with legendary Socceroo Jamie Maclaren.
Melbourne City have been reliant on his goal tally for the past few seasons and that doesn’t look set to change this season.
Next Best Bet – Alou Kuol – Central Coast Mariners – $8.50
Catching Maclaren is no easy task, but Central Coast Mariners have invested heavily in Alou Kuol, bringing him back from Stuttgart and they will be hopeful he can bang the goals in, as they look to defend their A-League title in style.
2023-24 A-League Outside Picks
Joe Lolley – Sydney FC – $11.00
Former Nottingham Forest forward Joe Lolley is a proven performer in the A-League, and he will be hoping to have an even better season in 2023/24.
He fits well into the Sydney FC system, and he could get some more goalscoring chances now that Adam le Fondre has departed the club.
Zach Clough – Adelaide United – $14.00
In a similar vein, Zach Clough comes from serious footballing stock in England, and he has enjoyed a good start to life at Adelaide United.
Craig Goodwin has departed Adelaide for the big-money riches of Saudi Arabia and Zach Clough will be tasked with filling his void for Adelaide.
2023-24 A-League To Finish Bottom
With 12 teams in the division and many of the top sides strengthening over the off-season, avoiding finishing bottom of the table will be a priority for many of the other A-League sides:-
Macarthur – $3.50
The 2022/23 campaign was one to forget for Macarthur, who only managed 7 wins in a poor season.
Of course, all at the club will be hoping to see a change in fortune this season but with very little change at the club, they could be in wooden spoon contention again this term.
Western United – $6.50
2022 A-League champions Western United endured a rough title defence in 2023, with a late run of form propelling them to 7th.
However, there has been very little in terms of development in the club in recent times and they could find the going quite tough from the outset this season.
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