Players and coaches in both the A-League and W-League will enjoy something resembling normality,too,with hub-style fixturing abandoned for all teams – except the Wellington Phoenix,who will play their games at WIN Stadium in Wollongong – and only loose COVID-19 protocols to be observed by individuals on a daily basis.
The draw for the 2020-21 A-League campaign was released on Tuesday,barely a month before it begins and a week out from the day that clubs are due to legally obtain their hard-fought independence and assume full operational control of the competition from Football Federation Australia.
It looms as a transition season in many ways,as the clubs slowly come to grips with their responsibilities and roll out their plans to revitalise the ailing league – which has lost its naming rights sponsor,Hyundai,and does not have a broadcast deal beyond the grand final in June – ahead of a probable switch to a winter calendar in 2022.
Crowds will be back in the stands in line with the various restrictions imposed by each state government,interstate travel should be relatively straightforward by the time it begins (with the exception of Western Australia) and there are only a handful of matches in the draw that don't have locations or dates locked in.
"This has been one of the most challenging fixture processes we’ve ever been involved in because of the continually evolving restrictions,but our priority has always been bringing the best football to fans in the safest way,working with all our stakeholders to do so,"said A-League chief Greg O'Rourke.
The arrival of Macarthur FC as the A-League's 12th team not only removes the bye but means more derbies in Sydney,starting with their debut outing against their nearest rivals,the Wanderers.