Season 2008–09 Goals scored 249 (2.96 per match) | Matches played 84 Dates 15 Aug 2008 – 28 Feb 2009 | |
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Premiers Melbourne Victory (2nd title) 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
- Foreign players
- Pre season Challenge Cup
- Home and away season
- League table
- Awards
- Attendance
- Fair Play Award
- References
Changes to the league included:
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
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.