Season 2009–10 Premiers Sydney FC (1st title) Goals scored 348 (2.58 per match) Champion Sydney FC | Champions Sydney FC (2nd title) Matches played 135 Period 2009 – 20 March 2010 | |
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AFC Champions League Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory Similar 2014–15 A‑League, 2015–16 A‑League, 2016–17 A‑League | ||
The 2009–10 A-League was the fifth season of the Australian A-League soccer competition since its establishment in 2004. The season marked the addition of two new teams from Queensland. Gold Coast United FC and the North Queensland Fury FC made their A-League debuts at the start of the season. Because of this, Queensland Roar were renamed to Brisbane Roar !Brisbane Roar, as they were no longer the only A-League club from Queensland. With the inception of the two new clubs, many club transfers took place both within Australia and New Zealand, and around the world.
Contents
- Foreign players
- Regular season
- Home and away season
- Attendance
- Discipline
- NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award
- References
The length of the regular season was longer than in previous years, with 27 rounds rather than 21, plus finals. The season began on 6 August, with Melbourne hosting the Central Coast at home. As well as these major changes to the league, the Pre-Season Challenge Cup was no longer held as part of the 2009–10 season due to a busier regular season schedule, and clubs attracting higher profile pre-season friendlies. The Premiership and Championship double was completed by Sydney FC with victory over Melbourne in the final match of the regular season and on penalties in the Championship Grand Final.
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)
Regular season
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 2010 A-League Finals Series.
2First place qualifies for the 2011 AFC Champions League Group stage.
3Winning the 2010 A-League Grand Final automatically earns qualification for the 2011 AFC Champions League Group stage, unless first place are champions.
4Second place qualifies for the 2011 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 2011 AFC Champions League Qualifying play-off.
Home and away season
The 2009–10 A-League season was played over 27 rounds, followed by a finals series.
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.
Discipline
The Fair Play Award will go to the team with the lowest points on the fair play ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season. It was awarded to Premiers Sydney FC who scraped in by just 1 point from rivals Melbourne Victory.
* The Newcastle Jets !Newcastle Jets' Tarek Elrich received a direct red card in their round 7 fixture against Sydney FC !Sydney FC. However, this was successfully appealed by the club and expunged from Elrich and the team's records.
* Adelaide United !Adelaide United's Iain Fyfe received a direct red card in their round 19 fixture against Perth Glory !Perth Glory. However, this was overruled by the match review panel and expunged from Fyfe and the team's records.
NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award
The NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award will be awarded to the finest U/21 player talent throughout the Hyundai A-League 2009–10 competition. One nominee is announced per month and all nominees will qualify to be named the NAB Footballer of the Year at the conclusion of the season.
At the end of season awards night, it was announced that Brisbane Roar !Brisbane Roar's Tommy Oar was the winner of NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award.