Harman Patil (Editor)

2008–09 A League

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Season
  
2008–09

Goals scored
  
249 (2.96 per match)

Champion
  
Melbourne Victory FC

Matches played
  
84

Dates
  
15 Aug 2008 – 28 Feb 2009

2008–09 A-League

Champions
  
Melbourne Victory (2nd title)

Premiers
  
Melbourne Victory (2nd title)

AFC Champions League
  
Melbourne Victory, Adelaide United

Similar
  
2014–15 A‑League, 2015–16 A‑League, 2016–17 A‑League

The 2008–09 A-League was the fourth season of the Australian A-League soccer competition since its establishment in 2004. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion plans are on hold until the 2009–10 season. Based on their 2007–08 performances, the Central Coast Mariners !Central Coast Mariners and the Newcastle Jets !Newcastle Jets competed in the 2009 AFC Champions League for the first time.

Contents

Changes to the league included:

  • The introduction of both a youth league and women's league aligned with A-League clubs.
  • An increase in the salary cap to A$1.9 million.
  • The addition of a Junior Marquee player. (A player under the age of 23 who has up to A$150,000 of his salary outside of the cap.
  • Injury replacement players can only match the injured players' salary, or have any excess included within the total Salary Cap.

    • Foreign players

    The following do not fill a Visa position:
    1Those players who were born and started their professional career abroad but have since gained Australian Residency (and New Zealand Residency, in the case of Wellington Phoenix);
    2Australian residents (and New Zealand residents, in the case of Wellington Phoenix) who have chosen to represent another national team;
    3Injury Replacement Players, or National Team Replacement Players;
    4Guest Players (eligible to play a maximum of ten games)

    Pre-season Challenge Cup

    All A-League clubs played the pre-season cup competition held in July and August, and were drawn into two groups. Group A consisted of Adelaide United !Adelaide United, Melbourne Victory !Melbourne Victory, Newcastle Jets !Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory !Perth Glory. Group B was Central Coast Mariners !Central Coast Mariners, Queensland Roar, Sydney FC !Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix !Wellington Phoenix.

    The winner of each group, Melbourne Victory !Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix !Wellington Phoenix, met in Wellington on 6 August 2008 for the Pre-Season Cup Final. With the score at 0–0 after 90 minutes, the game went to penalties, Melbourne Victory !Melbourne Victory eventually prevailing 8–7, thus becoming the first team in A-League history to claim all three available trophies, after winning the Premiership and Championship in the 2006–07 season.

    Home and away season

    The 2008–09 A-League season was played over 21 rounds, followed by a finals series.

    League table

    Source: the-AFC.com
    Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
    1First place through to sixth place qualify for the 2009 A-League Finals Series.
    2First place qualifies for the 2010 AFC Champions League Group stage.
    3Winning the 2009 A-League Grand Final automatically earns qualification for the 2010 AFC Champions League Group stage, unless first place are champions.
    4Second place qualifies for the 2010 AFC Champions League Qualifying play-off, unless they qualify for the 2010 A-League Grand Final alongside first place or become A-League Champions, subsequently third place then qualify for the 2010 AFC Champions League Qualifying play-off.

    Rules for classification:1st points; 2nd goal difference; 3rd goals scored.
    # = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points.

    Awards

  • The Premiers' Plate was awarded to the Melbourne Victory !Melbourne Victory, who finished on top of the ladder after 21 rounds.
  • The Johnny Warren Medal was awarded to Shane Smeltz from the Wellington Phoenix !Wellington Phoenix
  • The Coach of the Year was awarded to Aurelio Vidmar of Adelaide United !Adelaide United
  • The Wooden Spoon was awarded to the Newcastle Jets !Newcastle Jets, who finished bottom on the ladder after 21 rounds.
  • The Reebok Golden Boot was awarded to Shane Smeltz of the Wellington Phoenix !Wellington Phoenix for scoring twelve goals at the end of the home and away season.
  • The Rising Star award was awarded to Scott Jamieson of Adelaide United !Adelaide United
  • The Fair Play Award was awarded to the Queensland Roar
  • Goalkeeper of the Year was awarded to Eugene Galekovic of Adelaide United !Adelaide United
  • Referee of the Year was awarded to Matthew Breeze
  • Foreign Player of the Year was awarded to Charlie Miller of the Queensland Roar

    • Attendance

    These are the attendance records of each of the teams at the end of the home and away season. The table does not include finals series attendances.

    * Adelaide United played a one off match at the Adelaide Oval against Sydney FC in their Round 18 match. This is why Adelaide United's highest single attendance exceeds the capacity of Hindmarsh Stadium.

    Fair Play Award

    The Fair Play Award was awarded to Queensland Roar, the team with the lowest points on the fair play ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season.

    References

    2008–09 A-League Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA