FFA unveils A-League draw

The A-League will kick off on Thursday 5 August with the newest franchise Melbourne Heart hosting the Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park.

The extended weekend of football action continues on Friday night when Adelaide United takes on Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory v North Queensland Fury, when Robbie Fowler and Ian Ferguson play host to the club that they left.

On Saturday it’s a replay of last season's grand final when Sydney FC takes on Melbourne Victory at the SFS and on Sunday the weekend finishes with the ‘M1 Derby’ as Brisbane Roar travels south to take on Gold Coast United at Skilled Park.

The season culminates on the second weekend of March 2011.

FFA officially welcomes Melbourne Heart to an expanded 11-team A-League competition with an extra 30 matches taking the total season matches to 165.

While still fitting in to a 27-week period the A-League season will see 30 mid-week matches played in peak football and holiday periods taking on a more European style.

“This Hyundai A-League season sees more matches played, more inter-city derbies, and more intensity in fixture scheduling to move Australian football to the next level in its development,” FFA CEO Ben Buckley said.

“This season sees our first genuine derby begin as Melbourne Heart joins the competition and will face off against cross-town rivals - Hyundai A-League powerhouse Melbourne Victory.”

Some of the key changes are:

:: 11 teams all playing 30 matches each

:: 27 weeks of football

:: An additional 30 games taking the total number of regular season matches to 165

:: Clubs play each other three times

:: An increase in the number of midweek matches

:: First ever-double header

“In working through a myriad of possibilities we believe that we have produced a draw that is both equitable for clubs and exciting for fans,” Buckley said.

“Mid-week fixtures have increased due to the popularity of weekday matches during holiday periods in previous seasons and for the first time ever the Hyundai A-League proposes to hold a double header at the Sydney Football Stadium in Round 12.”