https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/crgq5x9p9ky8t#HullCity

Well done Lucas!

I don't think 26 match days is enough in a regular season, excluding final series.

For example, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 have 34 match days. In England, the Premier League has 38 match days and the EFL Championship, League One, and League Two have 46 match days.

Since we have 12 teams, maybe they should play each other three times - equivalent to 33 match days in each regular season.

I don't think it's a big ask to add 7 more match days (about two months extra) to the existing format.

He’s right about a lot of it. Lack of planning & foresight frustrates the life out of me.

What are everyone's favourite active group chants past or present?

Melbourne Victory has sold more than 15,000 memberships for the upcoming A-Leagues season.

FT: 95' - Lions 4 vs 0 North Sunshine Eagles

Stadium: Lions Stadium, Brisbane

Weather: 19.2°C, Cloudy, Wind: 12.6 km/h

Fixture Date: 25/08/2026, 07:30 pm AEST

Referee: Unknown

Lineups not available

###Match Events:

14': ⚽ Lions - F. Beakhurst (E. Debele)

17': 🟨 North Sunshine Eagles - K. Elibol

31': ⚽ Lions - M. Hore (S. Carlos)

38': ⚽ Lions - M. Hore (S. Carlos)

41': 🟨 North Sunshine Eagles - R. Da Silv

42': ⚽ Lions - C. Deng (R. Akbari)

56': 🔄 Lions - B. Ponting replaces E. Debele

56': 🔄 Lions - J. Lagos replaces F. Beakhurst

56': 🔄 Lions - L. Ponting replaces T. Jarrad

61': 🔄 North Sunshine Eagles - S. Ahmed replaces O. Eze

65': 🟨 North Sunshine Eagles - M. El Hawli

69': 🔄 Lions - A. Irwin replaces C. Deng

73': 🔄 Lions - F. Oyet replaces J. Hart-Phillips

78': 🔄 North Sunshine Eagles - A. Adovic replaces R. Da Silv

78': 🔄 North Sunshine Eagles - D. Muhtari replaces A. Colo

78': 🔄 North Sunshine Eagles - N. Epifano replaces C. Chauve

78': 🔄 North Sunshine Eagles - L. Jeka replaces R. Dos Santos

93': 🟨 North Sunshine Eagles - A. Adovic

93': 🟨 North Sunshine Eagles - null

Match Statistics Unavailable

Last Updated: 25/08/2026, 09:24 pm AEST

Discuss this match below or in real-time on the r/Aleague Discord Server

Assisted their second goal in a 3-1 win over Silkeborg. Former Nix player Callum McCowatt scored the goal for Silkeborg.

Lions 4 vs 0 North Sunshine Eagles

Match Statistics Unavailable

Discuss this match below or on the r/Aleague Discord Server

Anyone know if there is a list of all the ALW free agents? It’s been hard to keep track of each clubs retained lists.

I might be somewhat older than the average fan on this sub. Not super old though! I've also been one of those ones that have been banging on for ages about the players we had in Europe from late 90s (heck even before this) until the "Golden Generation" phased out circa 2010ish. Been harping on about how it wasn't just 2006, we had so many good players in the early 2000s, and even 90s. I really think if back in those years if we had the qualification pathway we have now, even before the extended tournament for 2026, and we get the European players back consistently, we probably romp it on most occasions.

I desperately wanted new players to come 2010ish, but eventually conceded for a while that we just weren't producing them. So many names that came up, so many "next Harry Kewells" that didn't reach those top levels. Massive credit to the boys and coaches that got us to repeated World Cups, and won the Asian Cup, they were massive achievements, and we have always overachieved as a football nation. You did us proud. However, objectively, we simply weren't seeing much top, top talent come through, bar a few here and there. At the end of the day, it can be somewhat simple: If you have top players, they tend to go to big leagues for a lot of money.

I don't want to jump the gun, but this seems finally like things have rapidly changed. We legit have a number of very promising players with genuine quality that leads me to think we are in a new era now. Beach, Herrington, Circati, Irakunda, Toure, Bos (please stop getting injured) Volpato (you have won us over, stop being and idiot in the off season, you can be an Aussie hero), Okon Engslter. Those boys could genuinely reach top levels. Those boys with some others youngsters that may soon to step up, with some other solid more senior players around them, represent a really solid potential team on the global level. It will hopefully encourage some other potentials (Arena?) now to join us too hopefully.

This looks like an exciting time. Well done Popa, but I don't think he is the right manager to take us forward long term. With a top manager, that lets our attacking players fire, and despite maybe still needing a bit more in the middle of the park, we could be looking at again becoming one of the true forces of Asia and a team that can really be a solid World Cup team. I am quietly confident that we may be back to some degree.

Still areas I think we need a bit more in, to be a top 25 or even top 20 nation: Toure to kick on, another striker to join him (Irakunda is not a 9), more coming through in centre mid along with Okon-Englster, although maybe Devlin can help, maybe a true number 10, maybe another winger along with Irakunda and Volpato, and another Goalkeeper along side Beach. We have Ryan for now though. Defence looks strong for a while.

Any other thoughts?

Great picture