A-League 2018-19 full draw, fixtures, games: Blockbusters headline announcement, Melbourne Victory's nightmare run home

Kieran Francis

A-League 2018-19 full draw, fixtures, games: Blockbusters headline announcement, Melbourne Victory's nightmare run home image

The 2018-19 A-League campaign will begin with a bang after Football Federation Australia scheduled several blockbuster matches to start the season.

Marvel Stadium, formerly known as Etihad Stadium, will host a Melbourne derby between Victory and City on the Saturday of the opening weekend, with the season kicking off in Adelaide as the Reds welcome Sydney FC at Coopers Stadium on Friday October 19.

New Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic will face a baptism of fire in the opening round as his former club Western Sydney Wanderers visits nib Stadium.

Round two will see the first Sydney derby between the Sky Blues and the Wanderers at the Sydney Cricket Ground, while the third round features the grand final rematch as Newcastle Jets seek revenge against Victory at McDonald Jones Stadium.

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Jubilee Oval at Kogarah is the venue for the first Big Blue between Sydney FC and Victory in round five, with the Sky Blues also playing two home matches at Leichhardt Oval.

Both the league's big derbies will have their second editions close to Christmas with the Sydney version in round eight on December 15, while the traditional Melbourne duel will be in round nine on December 22.

The later start to the season accommodates the FIFA break in early October, while the league stops again for another set of international matches in mid-November and late March.

The summer of football returns in the January school holidays with 30 matches played between the 2nd and 27th of the first month of the year.

Champions Melbourne Victory face a nightmare finish to the season with four of their last five games away from home - against Perth, Sydney FC, Adelaide and Western Sydney - and also two Asian Champions League match days sandwiched in between.

A-LEAGUE FIXTURES 2018-19        
Round 1          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 19 October 2018 Adelaide United Sydney FC Coopers Stadium 07:20PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 20 October 2018 Melbourne Victory Melbourne City FC Marvel Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 21 October 2018 Wellington Phoenix Newcastle Jets Westpac Stadium 05:00PM 03:00PM
Sunday, 21 October 2018 Brisbane Roar FC Central Coast Mariners Suncorp Stadium 04:00PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 21 October 2018 Perth Glory Western Sydney Wanderers FC nib Stadium 04:00PM 07:00PM
Round 2          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 26 October 2018 Adelaide United Newcastle Jets Coopers Stadium 07:20PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 27 October 2018 Central Coast Mariners Melbourne City FC Central Coast Stadium 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 27 October 2018 Sydney FC Western Sydney Wanderers FC Sydney Cricket Ground 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 28 October 2018 Brisbane Roar FC Wellington Phoenix Suncorp Stadium 04:00PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 28 October 2018 Melbourne Victory Perth Glory AAMI Park 07:00PM 07:00PM
Round 3          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 2 November 2018 Melbourne City FC Sydney FC AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 3 November 2018 Wellington Phoenix Western Sydney Wanderers FC Westpac Stadium 07:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 3 November 2018 Newcastle Jets Melbourne Victory McDonald Jones Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 3 November 2018 Perth Glory Brisbane Roar FC nib Stadium 07:00PM 10:00PM
Sunday, 4 November 2018 Central Coast Mariners Adelaide United Central Coast Stadium 05:00PM 05:00PM
Round 4          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 9 November 2018 Melbourne City FC Wellington Phoenix AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 10 November 2018 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Brisbane Roar FC Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium (Mudgee) 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 10 November 2018 Newcastle Jets Sydney FC McDonald Jones Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 11 November 2018 Adelaide United Perth Glory Coopers Stadium 04:30PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 11 November 2018 Melbourne Victory Central Coast Mariners AAMI Park 07:00PM 07:00PM
12 - 20 November 2018 FIFA Break - November        
Round 5          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 23 November 2018 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Newcastle Jets Spotless Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 24 November 2018 Wellington Phoenix Adelaide United Westpac Stadium 07:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 24 November 2018 Brisbane Roar FC Melbourne City FC Suncorp Stadium 06:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 25 November 2018 Sydney FC Melbourne Victory Jubilee Oval 05:00PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 25 November 2018 Perth Glory Central Coast Mariners nib Stadium 04:00PM 07:00PM
Round 6          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 30 November 2018 Adelaide United Brisbane Roar FC Coopers Stadium 07:20PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 1 December 2018 Central Coast Mariners Sydney FC Central Coast Stadium 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 1 December 2018 Melbourne Victory Western Sydney Wanderers FC Marvel Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 2 December 2018 Wellington Phoenix Perth Glory Westpac Stadium 07:00PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 2 December 2018 Melbourne City FC Newcastle Jets AAMI Park 07:00PM 07:00PM
Round 7          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 7 December 2018 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Central Coast Mariners Spotless Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 8 December 2018 Sydney FC Wellington Phoenix Jubilee Oval 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 8 December 2018 Melbourne Victory Adelaide United Marvel Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 8 December 2018 Perth Glory Melbourne City FC nib Stadium 07:00PM 10:00PM
Sunday, 9 December 2018 Newcastle Jets Brisbane Roar FC McDonald Jones Stadium 05:00PM 05:00PM
Round 8          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 14 December 2018 Brisbane Roar FC Melbourne Victory Suncorp Stadium 06:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 15 December 2018 Wellington Phoenix Central Coast Mariners Westpac Stadium 07:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 15 December 2018 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Sydney FC ANZ Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 16 December 2018 Newcastle Jets Perth Glory McDonald Jones Stadium 05:00PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 16 December 2018 Adelaide United Melbourne City FC Coopers Stadium 06:30PM 07:00PM
Round 9          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 21 December 2018 Perth Glory Sydney FC nib Stadium 05:30PM 08:30PM
Saturday, 22 December 2018 Wellington Phoenix Brisbane Roar FC Westpac Stadium 07:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 22 December 2018 Melbourne City FC Melbourne Victory AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 23 December 2018 Central Coast Mariners Newcastle Jets Central Coast Stadium 05:00PM 05:00PM
Wednesday, 26 December 2018 Adelaide United Western Sydney Wanderers FC Coopers Stadium 07:20PM 07:50PM
Round 10          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 28 December 2018 Melbourne Victory Wellington Phoenix AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 29 December 2018 Sydney FC Brisbane Roar FC Jubilee Oval 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 30 December 2018 Newcastle Jets Adelaide United McDonald Jones Stadium 07:00PM 07:00PM
Monday, 31 December 2018 Central Coast Mariners Perth Glory Central Coast Stadium 07:00PM 07:00PM
Tuesday, 1 January 2019 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Melbourne City FC ANZ Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Round 11          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 4 January 2019 Sydney FC Central Coast Mariners Jubilee Oval 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 5 January 2019 Adelaide United Wellington Phoenix Coopers Stadium 05:05PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 5 January 2019 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Melbourne Victory ANZ Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 6 January 2019 Melbourne City FC Newcastle Jets AAMI Park 05:00PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 6 January 2019 Brisbane Roar FC Perth Glory Suncorp Stadium 06:00PM 07:00PM
Round 12 - midweek          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Wednesday, 2 January 2019 Newcastle Jets Brisbane Roar FC McDonald Jones Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Wednesday, 9 January 2019 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Wellington Phoenix ANZ Stadium 05:35PM 05:35PM
Wednesday, 9 January 2019 Adelaide United Melbourne Victory Coopers Stadium 07:20PM 07:50PM
Wednesday, 9 January 2019 Perth Glory Sydney FC nib Stadium 07:00PM 10:00PM
Wednesday, 16 January 2019 Central Coast Mariners Melbourne City FC Central Coast Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Round 13          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 11 January 2019 Melbourne City FC Brisbane Roar FC AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 12 January 2019 Wellington Phoenix Central Coast Mariners Westpac Stadium 07:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 12 January 2019 Melbourne Victory Newcastle Jets AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 13 January 2019 Sydney FC Adelaide United Jubilee Oval 06:00PM 06:00PM
Sunday, 13 January 2019 Perth Glory Western Sydney Wanderers FC nib Stadium 05:00PM 08:00PM
x 1 Tuesday          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 18 January 2019 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Adelaide United ANZ Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 19 January 2019 Sydney FC Newcastle Jets Jubilee Oval 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 19 January 2019 Melbourne City FC Perth Glory AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 20 January 2019 Melbourne Victory Wellington Phoenix AAMI Park 05:00PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 20 January 2019 Central Coast Mariners Brisbane Roar FC Central Coast Stadium 07:00PM 07:00PM
Round 15 - midweek          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Tuesday, 15 January 2019 Brisbane Roar FC Melbourne Victory [ TBC ] 06:50PM 07:50PM
Tuesday, 22 January 2019 Melbourne City FC Western Sydney Wanderers FC AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Wednesday, 23 January 2019 Wellington Phoenix Sydney FC Westpac Stadium 07:35PM 05:35PM
Wednesday, 23 January 2019 Newcastle Jets Central Coast Mariners McDonald Jones Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Wednesday, 23 January 2019 Perth Glory Adelaide United nib Stadium 07:00PM 10:00PM
Round 16          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 25 January 2019 Brisbane Roar FC Western Sydney Wanderers FC Suncorp Stadium 06:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 26 January 2019 Wellington Phoenix Melbourne City FC Westpac Stadium 07:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 26 January 2019 Melbourne Victory Sydney FC AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 27 January 2019 Adelaide United Central Coast Mariners Coopers Stadium 05:30PM 06:00PM
Sunday, 27 January 2019 Perth Glory Newcastle Jets nib Stadium 05:00PM 08:00PM
Round 17          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 1 February 2019 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Newcastle Jets ANZ Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 2 February 2019 Central Coast Mariners Melbourne Victory Central Coast Stadium 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 2 February 2019 Adelaide United Brisbane Roar FC Coopers Stadium 07:20PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 2 February 2019 Perth Glory Wellington Phoenix nib Stadium 05:00PM 08:00PM
Sunday, 3 February 2019 Sydney FC Melbourne City FC Jubilee Oval 05:00PM 05:00PM
Round 18          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Thursday, 7 February 2019 Newcastle Jets Wellington Phoenix McDonald Jones Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Friday, 8 February 2019 Brisbane Roar FC Sydney FC Suncorp Stadium 06:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 9 February 2019 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Central Coast Mariners [ TBC ] 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 9 February 2019 Melbourne City FC Adelaide United AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 10 February 2019 Melbourne Victory Perth Glory AAMI Park 05:00PM 05:00PM
Tuesday, February 12, 2019 ACL Preliminary Stage 2 (Newcastle Jets home - TBC)        
Round 19          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 15 February 2019 Newcastle Jets Melbourne City FC McDonald Jones Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 16 February 2019 Wellington Phoenix Melbourne Victory TBC 07:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 16 February 2019 Adelaide United Western Sydney Wanderers FC Coopers Stadium 07:20PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 16 February 2019 Perth Glory Brisbane Roar FC nib Stadium 07:00PM 10:00PM
Sunday, 17 February 2019 Sydney FC Central Coast Mariners Leichhardt Oval 05:00PM 05:00PM
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 ACL Play-Off Stage (Newcastle Jets away - TBC)        
Round 20          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 22 February 2019 Central Coast Mariners Brisbane Roar FC Central Coast Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 23 February 2019 Wellington Phoenix Sydney FC [ TBC ] 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 23 February 2019 Melbourne Victory Melbourne City FC Marvel Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 24 February 2019 Newcastle Jets Adelaide United McDonald Jones Stadium 05:00PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 24 February 2019 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Perth Glory [ TBC ] 07:00PM 07:00PM
Round 21          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 1 March 2019 Sydney FC Adelaide United Leichhardt Oval 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 2 March 2019 Melbourne Victory Newcastle Jets GMHBA Stadium (Geelong) 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 3 March 2019 Melbourne City FC Perth Glory AAMI Park 05:00PM 05:00PM
Tuesday, March 05, 2019 ACL MD1        
Wednesday, March 06, 2019 ACL MD1        
Friday, 8 March 2019 Brisbane Roar FC Western Sydney Wanderers FC Suncorp Stadium 06:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 9 March 2019 Central Coast Mariners Wellington Phoenix Central Coast Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 ACL MD2        
Wednesday, March 13, 2019 ACL MD2        
Round 22          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 15 March 2019 Melbourne Victory Brisbane Roar FC Marvel Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 16 March 2019 Newcastle Jets Central Coast Mariners McDonald Jones Stadium 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 16 March 2019 Sydney FC Melbourne City FC Sydney Cricket Ground 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 17 March 2019 Wellington Phoenix Western Sydney Wanderers FC Westpac Stadium 07:00PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 17 March 2019 Adelaide United Perth Glory Coopers Stadium 06:30PM 07:00PM
18 - 26 March 2018 FIFA Break - March        
Round 23          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT)
Friday, 29 March 2019 Brisbane Roar FC Sydney FC Suncorp Stadium 06:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 30 March 2019 Wellington Phoenix Newcastle Jets Westpac Stadium 07:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 30 March 2019 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Melbourne City FC ANZ Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 30 March 2019 Perth Glory Melbourne Victory nib Stadium 07:00PM 10:00PM
Sunday, 31 March 2019 Central Coast Mariners Adelaide United Central Coast Stadium 05:00PM 05:00PM
Round 24          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEDT, AEST)
Friday, 5 April 2019 Melbourne City FC Brisbane Roar FC AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 6 April 2019 Newcastle Jets Western Sydney Wanderers FC McDonald Jones Stadium 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 6 April 2019 Sydney FC Melbourne Victory Sydney Cricket Ground 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 7 April 2019 Adelaide United Wellington Phoenix Coopers Stadium 04:30PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 7 April 2019 Central Coast Mariners Perth Glory Central Coast Stadium 07:00PM 07:00PM
Tuesday, April 09, 2019 ACL MD3        
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 ACL MD3        
Round 25          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEST)
Friday, 12 April 2019 Brisbane Roar FC Wellington Phoenix Suncorp Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 13 April 2019 Melbourne City FC Adelaide United AAMI Park 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 13 April 2019 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Sydney FC ANZ Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 14 April 2019 Melbourne Victory Central Coast Mariners AAMI Park 05:00PM 05:00PM
Sunday, 14 April 2019 Perth Glory Newcastle Jets nib Stadium 05:00PM 07:00PM
Round 26          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEST)
Thursday, 18 April 2019 Sydney FC Perth Glory Sydney Cricket Ground 07:50PM 07:50PM
Friday, 19 April 2019 Adelaide United Melbourne Victory Coopers Stadium 07:20PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 20 April 2019 Brisbane Roar FC Newcastle Jets Suncorp Stadium 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 20 April 2019 Central Coast Mariners Western Sydney Wanderers FC Central Coast Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 21 April 2019 Wellington Phoenix Melbourne City FC Westpac Stadium 07:00PM 05:00PM
Tuesday, April 23, 2019 ACL MD4        
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 ACL MD4        
Round 27          
DATE HOME AWAY VENUE Kick-Off(Local) Kick-Off(AEST)
Thursday, 25 April 2019 Brisbane Roar FC Adelaide United Suncorp Stadium 02:00PM 02:00PM
Friday, 26 April 2019 Melbourne City FC Central Coast Mariners AAMI Park 07:50PM 07:50PM
Saturday, 27 April 2019 Newcastle Jets Sydney FC McDonald Jones Stadium 05:35PM 05:35PM
Saturday, 27 April 2019 Western Sydney Wanderers FC Melbourne Victory ANZ Stadium 07:50PM 07:50PM
Sunday, 28 April 2019 Perth Glory Wellington Phoenix nib Stadium 05:00PM 07:00PM

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.