This year’s Australia Cup has proved to be a very entertaining edition of the storied competition and has showcased the depth of quality football across the country.
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There’s been excitement, heartache, some fantastic goals and a record number of ‘cupsets’ – all of which have made it one of the best years in the competition’s history.
That is the opinion of Channel 10 football pundit Andy Harper. He says the Australia Cup has been terrific this year.
“I think it's been one of the best cups we've had so far,” he said.
“I think the timing of it has really helped. I think settling the format into a more compact version, where the Member Fed teams are still right in the middle of competition has really helped the competition and the cup itself - I think it's been terrific.”
Looking ahead, there are four thrilling Quarter Finals with an even mix of Member Federation representatives and Isuzu UTE A-League Men teams.
Andy said the team to watch in the next stage is Moreton City Excelsior, while he said the best tie in the Quarter Finals is Hume City vs South Melbourne – so that’s where we will start.
Hume City
For Hume, this match will be their last game of the 2024 season after they were knocked out of the NPL Men's Victoria Semi Finals by, you guessed it, South Melbourne.
However, Harper feels as though that will only drive them more, and backed by a good cup run, they could get the job done here.
“Hume have been excellent throughout the Cup so far, they were brilliant in Darwin; the Darwin Hearts were a very pleasant surprise for the first 45 minutes and Hume just rode out the storm and waited for them to tire,” he said.
And one player in particular has caught the eye, Aamir Abdallah, who scored the winning goal in the Round of 16 victory over FC Melbourne Srbija.
“I have to say Aamir Abdallah has been excellent for them this campaign, and apart from the billing of the clash, I'm really looking forward to seeing what level he can rise to in this match,” Andy added.
South Melbourne
For South Melbourne, Andy suggests that they are still yet to truly show how strong they are in the Australia Cup.
“South Melbourne should enjoy some favouritism perhaps, but I've heard there's a lot of very eager people to see how big the former giant can be in this competition,” he said.
“Needless to say, for that to happen, South Melbourne would have to beat Hume City, which is not going to be easy at all.”
In the Round of 16, South Melbourne needed extra time to defeat Olympic FC, in what was a much closer battle than many anticipated.
Before this Australia Cup clash, South Melbourne will be focused on the NPL Victoria Final in which they face off against Oakleigh Cannons, just four days prior.
Hume City v South Melbourne
Wednesday 11 September
Kick-off: 7:30pm AEST
Hume City Stadium
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Two Member Federation clubs are vying for a place in the Semi Finals in this match up making it a really juicy cup tie.
Add to that, these two clubs are old foes, and as mentioned they played each other just a week earlier in the NPL Men's Victoria Semi Finals.
“I actually think this is the pick of the Quarter Finals,” Andy said.
“With Hume at home, at Meadow Heights, given the configuration of that stadium, I think it will sell out and be very loud throughout, which could prove pivotal.”
“Because of the financial disparities between the A League and NPL One, you can't say it's inevitable that a Member Fed team is going to win the cup, but this year provides a great chance for that to happen, and this match could have that winner.”
Adelaide United
The Reds progressed to the Quarter Finals after a narrow win, 3-2 away from home over Olympic Kingsway.
It was an entertaining game for the neutrals but one that Adelaide perhaps would have wanted more from, according to Harper.
“They did end up finding Olympic Kingsway a little difficult in the end, but they got over the line and I can't see them taking the foot off the gas again like that," he said.
He added that Archie Goodwin is a player to watch within the squad, and is impressed, once again, by the youthfulness of the playing group.
“Archie Goodwin, I'm looking forward to seeing if they can get him right physically,” Andy said.
“I don't see any reason at all why Archie Goodwin fit is not going to be a major goalscorer in the league, and he could lead a charge to the Cup final. I mean, they've got an exciting young team and we know that it's just great to watch."
Western Sydney Wanderers
Western Sydney Wanderers cruised to a 4-0 win over Lions FC in the Round of 16 and looked very strong going forward.
Despite that, Harper feels there is a lot of uncertainty within the club still, both on and off the pitch.
“We're just not sure where the Wanderers are at, it's been a reasonably subdued off season, and obviously there’s been a lot of changes behind the scenes there,” he said.
“But winning the cup for (Alen) Stajcic, apart from being a great personal achievement, would maybe allow for some sort of discussions for stability in his coaching appointment.”
It remains to be seen whether new superstar signing Juan Mata will play any part in this match up as he gets settled into life in Wanderland.
Adelaide United v Western Sydney Wanderers
Thursday 12 September
Kick-off: 7:00pm Local / 7:30pm AEST
ServiceFM Stadium
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This tie is the only one featuring two A-Leagues clubs – and to state the obvious, it means another top flight club will be knocked out.
Taking that into consideration for the rest of the A-League Men season makes this cup tie extremely important and tense, says Harper.
“If you look back over the 10 years of the Australia Cup (in the modern era), for an A-Leagues club, doing well in the cup, more often than not, has predisposed teams for a good season to follow,” he said.
“So plain and simple, both teams will want to win this, and you could say they need to win this to start the season off well.
“Things are still settling down under the new coach at Western Sydney, which is totally understandable, but maybe to that extent it gives Adelaide a bit of an extra opportunity in this tie,” he said.
“But they haven't set the world on fire yet in the Australia Cup and there is so much riding on this game, it is tense.”
Oakleigh Cannons FC
Oakleigh Cannons’ journey in the Australia Cup this year has seen them upset Sydney FC in the Round of 32, before defeating Heidelberg in the Round of 16 on penalties.
Both games were tough, and on both occasions, Oakleigh were able to dig deep to come out on top and Harper feels they are a team that should be feared.
“Oakleigh have earned their way to the Quarter Finals; they are by no means an easy win at this stage,” Andy said.
“I also think they have a little bit more stability in defence than many would expect, and more to what Macarthur have faced so far in the Australia Cup.
“I think interested onlookers and certainly fans of Oakleigh should not think that they can’t win this tie.”
Macarthur FC
Looking at Macarthur FC, Harper said the post-season off-field dramas seem to be behind the club now and they are focussed on the season ahead.
Their impressive comeback win in the Round of 16 was a turning point for the club and highlighted their attitude.
“Macarthur had to pull off a massive escape act against Newcastle in the Round of 16, and all credit to them for doing so,” he said.
“Huge credit to them because they didn’t roll up the swag, they kept pumping along and they are, in large, a group of players who are very workmanlike.”
“You got to give huge credit to Mile Sterjovski, he's been able to pull the strands together tightly enough and certainly to get through that Round of 16 come from behind match will set them up nicely.”
Oakleigh Cannons FC v Macarthur FC
Saturday 14 September
Kick-off: 3:00pm AEST
Home of the Matildas
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Despite this tie featuring an A League club against an NPL Victoria outfit, Harper is unsure how the tie will play out.
“I don’t see this game being clear-cut at all, I thought Oakleigh were very good in the previous rounds and Macarthur are coming into improved fitness,” he said.
“I believe Joe Guest may be a question mark for this match, if he plays it will be a big in for Oakleigh, however they can still do it without him.
“And for Macarthur, well Valerie Germain has shown his class and quality to get his side to this stage, I think it could be a very interesting match up.”
Moreton City Excelsior FC
2024 has been a great year for Moreton City Excelsior FC, as they have made it to the NPL Men's Queensland Grand Final and the Australia Cup Quarter Finals.
Of course, they are not done and will be hoping to pull off another upset win over an A-Leagues opponent in Melbourne Victory.
Harper believes they have a good enough squad to do so and says the style of football the team is playing under the young manager Cameron Millar is good to watch.
“Beating Perth Glory was terrific for Moreton City, I thought they were terrific in the way they handled that and came through, it was brilliant,” he said.
“Ben Halliday and Marquez Walters are two fantastic attacking players and they showed that. They’ve also got a really good goalkeeper and the way Cam Millar has them gelled together as a squad is great to see.”
Melbourne Victory FC
Melbourne Victory defeated NWS Spirit FC 4-0 in their Round of 16 match, and prior to that they scored four in a 4-1 win over Lambton Jaffas in the Round of 32.
They have plenty of goalscorers within the squad, and in truth have been one of the form teams.
Harper said: “Melbourne Victory are always strong, and always reliable to put in maximum effort in the Australia Cup.
“They have shown that in the rounds up to this stage, where finding the back of the net has been no issue for them, it could be more of the same in the Quarter Finals.”
Victory will go into the match favourites, with reason too, as they will be hoping to add a third Australia Cup to the trophy cabinet.
Moreton City Excelsior FC v Melbourne Victory FC
Saturday 14 September
Kick-off: 6:00pm AEST
Perry Park
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This match features Harper’s team to watch in Moreton City Excelsior, although he admits they are coming up against a strong Melbourne Victory side.
“I think Victory will be too strong, it'll be a huge surprise if they don't win, but this, to me, is the second-best match of the Quarter Finals,” Andy said.
“Moreton City Excelsior have been excellent in the earlier rounds. Truly they have been excellent to watch so it will be a tough one for Victory, but I think they will prevail.”
One thing to note is the battle for top scorer in the Australia Cup as this game sees the current top two face off.
Nishan Velupillay has four goals for Victory, while Marquez Walters scored three for Moreton City. So, is it safe to assume this game will have plenty of goals? Let’s hope so!
“As I’ve said, Moreton City play exciting football, as do Melbourne Victory, I really think this will be an entertaining battle, definitely one to watch for the neutrals,” Andy said.
“In fact, all the ties are exciting, it really is one of the best Australia Cup’s we’ve seen in recent years!”
