Ante Juric’s Sky Blue squad may have just missed out on the Premiers Plate, but an epic finals campaign awaits. Here is our guide to the Liberty A-League finals series, including everything you need to know about the six squads for the next four weeks.
The Finals series will be decided over four weeks of football. Elimination finals take place this weekend and will be one off matches where winner progresses and loser is out. Should the match be drawn at full time, 30 minutes of extra time (15 minutes each way) will be played and if they still cannot be split a penalty shoot out will take place.
The two winners of these ties will then take on Melbourne City and Sydney FC across two legs. The aggregate score (combined score from both games) from both legs played home and away will move onto the grand final. Once again, if drawn on aggregate, extra time will be used and potentially penalties.
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The Grand Final will be a winner takes all match with the highest placed team earning hosting rights.
Here’s what to expect from each of the remaining seven matches of the Liberty A-League season.
Liberty A-League 2024 Finals Series:
Week 1 – Elimination Final
| Date | Position | Team | Location | Time | Broadcast Options |
| Saturday 13th of April | 3rd place v 6th place | Western United (3) v Newcastle Jets (6) | Regional Football Facility, Tarneit, VIC | 6:30pm AEDT | Paramount+ |
The last match played by Western United and Newcastle Jets resulted in a 3-1 victory for Newcastle with an opening goal from Libby Copus-Brown followed by goals from Lauren Allan and Sarina Bolden. Aimee Medwin scored on behalf of Western United in the 20th minute. These two Liberty A-League sides have never crossed paths in a finals series, making the match in two Saturdays time a first. It’ll be a tight tussle for the squads considering their current records. Western United have not had a win in their last four matches – their longest ever non-winning streak. On the other hand, Newcastle Jets have been victorious in their last three matches, marking their longest ever winning streak.
| Date | Position | Team | Location | Time | Broadcast Options |
| Sunday 14th of April | 4th place v 5th place | Melbourne Victory (4) v Central Coast Mariners (5) | Home of the Matildas, Bundoora, VIC | 4:00pm AEDT | Paramount+ |
The battle between Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariners could be a tight finish. Their last meeting in February ended in a nail biting 1-1 draw. Peta Trimis from the Mariners scored in the opening six minutes of the match but Matildas representative Emily Gielnek netted a crucial goal for her side in the second half. The two squads have never versed each other in a finals series.
Week 2 – Semi Final Leg 1
| Date | Position | Team | Location | Time | Broadcast Options |
| Friday 19th- Sunday 21st of April – Semi Final 1 | 1st placed v lowest-ranked Elimination Finals winner | Melbourne City (1) v TBC | TBC | TBC | Paramount+ |
Melbourne City’s successful campaign for the season saw them lift the Premiers Plate. Since their inaugural season in 2015, Melbourne City have won three premierships (2015/2016, 2019/2020 & 2023/2024). Melbourne City have gone on to win four Championships, three of which were consecutive. The first semi final leg will be an away game for Melbourne City against the lowest ranked winner of the Elimination Finals matches.
| Date | Position | Team | Location | Time | Broadcast Options |
| Friday 19th- Sunday 21st of April – Semi Final 2 | 2nd place v highest-ranked Elimination Finals winner | Sydney FC (2) v TBC | TBC | TBC | Paramount+ |
The Sky Blues were on track to make history with a fourth consecutive Premiership win. Despite just losing the Premiers Plate this season, Sydney FC are still in prime position. The Sky Blue women have made 16 finals appearances and have competed in 10 grand finals. Their most recent accolade was both a Premiership and Championship win for 2022/2023 season. A 2nd place finish will see the Sky Blues venture to enemy territory for the first semi final leg against the highest ranked winner of the Elimination Finals matches.
Week 3 – Semi Final Leg 2
| Date | Position | Team | Location | Time | Broadcast Options |
| Saturday 27th of April – Semi Final 1 | 1st placed v lowest-ranked Elimination Finals winner | Melbourne City (1) v TBC | TBC | TBC | Paramount+ |
| Date | Position | Team | Location | Time | Broadcast Options |
| Saturday 27th of April – Semi Final 2 | 2nd place v highest-ranked Elimination Finals winner | Sydney FC (2) v TBC | Leichhardt Oval | 3pm | Paramount+ |
Melbourne City and Sydney FC have the ideal position on the ladder. Their first and second place rankings give them the opportunity to skip the elimination final and head straight into the two leg semi finals – the first being an away game, and the second being an advantage at their home stadium.
In the result of a draw on aggregate (combined score from both games) across the two legs at the full time whistle, 30 minutes of extra time will take place. Should they be unable to be split with this additional 30 minutes then it will go to a penalty shoot-out
Week 4 – Grand Final
| Date | Position | Team | Location | Time | Broadcast Options |
| Saturday 4th of May – Grand Final | Winner Semi Final 1 v Winner Semi Final 2 | TBC v TBC | TBC | TBC | Paramount+ |
The grand final showdown is yet to be decided, but without a doubt it will be a heated contest between the six teams to reach the top spot. To help decide your grand final predictions, we have listed the Premiership and Championship statistics for Melbourne City, Sydney FC, Western United, Melbourne Victory, Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets.
| Team | Inaugural Season | League Runner Up | Premiership Wins | Finals Appearances | GF Appearances | GF Wins | GF Losses |
| Melbourne City | 2015/2016 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Sydney FC | 2008/2009 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Western United | 2022/2023 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Melbourne Victory | 2008/2009 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 2008/2009 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Newcastle Jets | 2008/2009 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
For more information on this finals series, visit the A-Leagues.
