As the drums of the new AFL season beat, I'll continue to break down each of the exciting matchups in depth. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that there will be a number of teams competing for the title this season. Although Melbourne City have only won the Grand Final once in the last three seasons, their regular season dominance will be a huge advantage. Jimmy McCarron, who won the Golden Boot for the fourth consecutive year, is undoubtedly the brightest striker in the Australian game. The addition of German player Tolki Aslan will undoubtedly greatly enhance the team's attacking power, and the newly signed left back Bei Xuanzhi and attacking midfielder Ham Sasaki are also powerful players, so the team's overall strength is not to be underestimated, and it is expected to realize the fourth consecutive championship.
Crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory, I think they have a good chance of finishing in mid-table. With proper management, they are fully capable of going further. Western Union, on the other hand, although they won the Grand Final two years ago, they did not perform well last season, and they desperately need to improve their goal-scoring efficiency in order to fulfill their dream of winning the championship.
FC Sydney expected to challenge Melbourne
As for the Sydney teams, I think FC Sydney, who won the Australian Cup, is the team most likely to challenge Melbourne City. Although they lost their main striker, Joe Fong, the addition of Zuruli is expected to fill the gap and I expect him to contribute at least double figures in goals and assists. Also key to the team is Rudyville, who is a standout individual and one of the best in the Aussie game.
Solid performance by Western Sydney Wanderers
Western Sydney Wanderers managed to reach the playoffs last season, and the performance of striker Banton Boley Road is trustworthy. It's also worth mentioning that the team's fans are also a big advantage. As for FC MacArthur, I expect them to hover around mid-table this season.
Mariners' A-League faces challenges
Elsewhere, last season's overall champions, the Mid-Shore Mariners, have lost star forward Jaison Gammings, but the return of Gouaux is expected to fill the void. However, I think their best goal is just to finish in the top six. Adelaide United have slipped due to the move of their good friend Gerry Gwynn to the Saudi Premier League and it's hard to get your hopes up. Wellington Phoenix's Oscar Shawada is expected to score more goals this season. Perth Glory are aiming for the top six and my former teammate Adam Teggart will play a key role. Brisbane Lions lacked goalscoring ability last season and I don't expect much to change for them this season. Finally, my former hosts Newcastle Jets have limited financial resources and with the departures of chief strikers Mikodadis and Suderio, this season will be extremely challenging.
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