# 2023 A-League Men finals series

The 2023 A-League Men finals series was the 18th annual edition of A-League finals series, the playoffs tournament staged to determine the champion of the 2022–23 A-League Men season. The series was played over four weeks culminating in the 2023 A-League Men Grand Final, where the Central Coast Mariners won their second championship 6–1 against premiers Melbourne City.
It featured the first A-League Men Grand Final played at a fixed location (outside the 2020 Grand Final), which was played at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, based on an Australian Professional Leagues decision in December 2022 for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 A-Leagues Grand Finals to be played in Sydney in a deal with Destination NSW, which met fan backlash and soonly scrapped in October 2023.

## Qualification

Melbourne City was first to qualify for the 2023 finals series at Round 21, after a 1–1 draw with Macarthur FC and to claim the league premiership with two rounds left. Central Coast Mariners finished second as the other team heading directly into the semi-finals with Melbourne City. Elimination-finalists Adelaide United, Western Sydney Wanderers, Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix were the other four qualifying for the finals series.
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Melbourne City | 26 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 61 | 32 | +29 | 55 | Qualification for AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series |
| 2 | Central Coast Mariners (C) | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 55 | 35 | +20 | 44 | Qualification for AFC Cup group stage and Finals series |
| 3 | Adelaide United | 26 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 53 | 46 | +7 | 42 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 4 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 43 | 27 | +16 | 41 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 5 | Sydney FC | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 40 | 39 | +1 | 38 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 6 | Wellington Phoenix | 26 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 39 | 45 | −6 | 35 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 7 | Western United | 26 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 34 | 47 | −13 | 32 | |
| 8 | Brisbane Roar | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 26 | 33 | −7 | 30 | |
| 9 | Perth Glory | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 36 | 46 | −10 | 29 | Qualification for 2023 Australia Cup play-offs |
| 10 | Newcastle Jets | 26 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 30 | 45 | −15 | 29 | Qualification for 2023 Australia Cup play-offs |
| 11 | Melbourne Victory | 26 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 29 | 34 | −5 | 28 | Qualification for 2023 Australia Cup play-offs |
| 12 | Macarthur FC | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 31 | 48 | −17 | 26 | Qualification for AFC Cup group stage and 2023 Australia Cup play-offs |
* ↑ Determined by which of the Premiers for the 2021–22 or 2022–23 seasons accrued the most combined points over both seasons.
* ↑ The top two teams enter the finals series at the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third to sixth enter the finals series at the elimination-finals.
* ↑ Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for Asian Football Confederation competitions as they are based in New Zealand, which is under the Oceania Football Confederation.
* ↑ Qualified to the AFC Cup as the 2022 Australia Cup winners.

## Venues

| Sydney | Sydney | AdelaideGosfordMelbourneSydney | Melbourne |
| Allianz Stadium | CommBank Stadium | AdelaideGosfordMelbourneSydney | AAMI Park |
| Capacity: 42,500 | Capacity: 30,000 | AdelaideGosfordMelbourneSydney | Capacity: 30,050 |
| Gosford | Gosford | AdelaideGosfordMelbourneSydney | Adelaide |
| Industree Group Stadium | Industree Group Stadium | AdelaideGosfordMelbourneSydney | Coopers Stadium |
| Capacity: 20,059 | Capacity: 20,059 | AdelaideGosfordMelbourneSydney | Capacity: 16,500 |

## Bracket

The system used for the 2023 A-League Men finals series is the modified top-six play-offs by the A-Leagues. The top two teams enter the two-legged semi-finals receiving the bye for the elimination-finals in which the teams from third placed to sixth place enter the elimination-finals with "third against sixth" and "fourth against fifth". Losers for the elimination-finals are eliminated, and winners qualify for the two-legged semi-finals.
First placed team in the semi-finals plays the lowest ranked elimination-final winning team and secon placed team in the semi-finals plays the highest ranked elimination-final winner. Home-state advantage goes to the team with the higher ladder position, except for the Grand Final in this series.
| Elimination-finals | Elimination-finals | Elimination-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| 4 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Sydney FC | 2 | 5 | Sydney FC | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | |
| | | | 1 | Melbourne City | 1 | 4 | 5 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | 1 | Melbourne City | 1 |
| 3 | Adelaide United | 2 | | | | | | 2 | Central Coast Mariners | 6 |
| 6 | Wellington Phoenix | 0 | 3 | Adelaide United | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | |
| | | | 2 | Central Coast Mariners | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | |

## Elimination-finals
### Adelaide United vs Wellington Phoenix

The first elimination-finals match occurred between third-placed Adelaide United and sixth-placed Wellington Phoenix at Coopers Stadium. Adelaide won 2–0 thanks to a Craig Goodwin double into the two-legged semi-finals.
| Adelaide United | Wellington Phoenix |
| GK | 46 | Joe Gauci |
| RB | 21 | Javi López |
| CB | 4 | Nick Ansell | | 86' |
| CB | 3 | Ben Warland |
| LB | 7 | Ryan Kitto | 34' |
| DM | 8 | Isaías |
| DM | 18 | Jay Barnett | | 63' |
| RM | 26 | Ben Halloran | 85' | 86' |
| CM | 6 | Louis D'Arrigo |
| LM | 11 | Craig Goodwin |
| CF | 14 | George Blackwood | | 64' |
| Substitutes: ||
| FW | 66 | Nestory Irankunda | | 63' |
| FW | 9 | Hiroshi Ibusuki | | 64' |
| MF | 55 | Ethan Alagich | 90+1' | 86' |
| DF | 13 | Lachlan Barr | | 86' |
| GK | 1 | James Delianov |
| FW | 35 | Luka Jovanovic |
| FW | 36 | Panashe Madanha |
| Manager: ||
| Carl Veart ||
| GK | 20 | Oliver Sail |
| RB | 17 | Callan Elliot |
| CB | 4 | Scott Wootton |
| CB | 6 | Tim Payne |
| LB | 12 | Lucas Mauragis |
| DM | 14 | Alex Rufer | | 68' |
| DM | 5 | Steven Ugarkovic | | 86' |
| RM | 31 | Yan Sasse | 80' |
| LM | 7 | Kosta Barbarouses | | 46' |
| RF | 9 | Oskar Zawada |
| LF | 10 | David Ball |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | 11 | Bozhidar Kraev | 83' | 46' |
| MF | 23 | Clayton Lewis | | 68' |
| FW | 24 | Oskar van Hattum | | 86' |
| DF | 21 | Joshua Laws |
| GK | 40 | Alex Paulsen |
| MF | 13 | Nicholas Pennington |
| DF | 3 | Finn Surman |
| Manager: ||
| Ufuk Talay ||
* Assistant referees:
* Greg Taylor
* Brad Wright
* Fourth official:
* Daniel Elder
* Video assistant referee:
* Kris Griffiths-Jones
* Assistant video assistant referees:
* Alex King
* Kearney Robinson

### Western Sydney Wanderers vs Sydney FC

The second elimination-finals match occurred between fourth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers and fifth-placed Sydney FC at Bankwest Stadium; the first time a Sydney Derby was played in the finals series of the A-League Men. Despite Wanderers scoring first through a Morgan Schneiderlin penalty, Sydney made the comeback 2–1 over Western Sydney sent them to the two-legged semi-finals via Róbert Mak and Adam Le Fondre.
| Western Sydney Wanderers | Sydney |
| GK | 20 | Lawrence Thomas |
| RB | 31 | Aidan Simmons |
| CB | 5 | Tomislav Mrčela | | 61' |
| CB | 6 | Marcelo |
| LB | 3 | Adama Traoré | | 82' |
| RM | 28 | Calem Nieuwenhof |
| CM | 4 | Morgan Schneiderlin |
| LM | 17 | Romain Amalfitano | | 82' |
| AM | 10 | Miloš Ninković | 68' | 76' |
| RF | 11 | Amor Layouni | | 82' |
| LF | 26 | Brandon Borrello | 66' |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | 16 | Tom Beadling | | 61' |
| FW | 14 | Nicolas Milanovic | | 76' |
| FW | 23 | Yeni N'Gbakoto | | 82' |
| DF | 19 | Daniel Wilmering | | 82' |
| FW | 9 | Kusini Yengi | | 82' |
| MF | 8 | Oliver Bozanic |
| GK | 1 | Daniel Margush |
| Manager: ||
| Marko Rudan ||
| GK | 1 | Andrew Redmayne |
| RB | 23 | Rhyan Grant | 65' |
| CB | 6 | Jack Rodwell |
| CB | 4 | Alex Wilkinson |
| LB | 3 | Joel King |
| RM | 17 | Anthony Caceres |
| CM | 26 | Luke Brattan | 66' |
| CM | 8 | Paulo Retre | | 78' |
| LM | 11 | Róbert Mak | 39' | 86' |
| RF | 22 | Max Burgess | | 89' |
| LF | 9 | Adam Le Fondre |
| Substitutes: ||
| FW | 10 | Joe Lolley | | 78' | 89' |
| MF | 28 | Jake Girdwood-Reich | | 86' |
| DF | 2 | James Donachie | | 89' |
| FW | 19 | Adrian Segecic | | 89' |
| DF | 18 | Diego Caballo |
| GK | 20 | Tom Heward-Belle |
| FW | 12 | Patrick Wood |
| Manager: ||
| Steve Corica ||
* Assistant referees:
* Anton Shchetinin
* Ashley Beecham
* Fourth official:
* Jack Morgan
* Video assistant referee:
* Alex King
* Assistant video assistant referees:
* Kris Griffiths-Jones
* Kearney Robinson

## Semi-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Melbourne City | 5–1 | Sydney FC | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 4–1 | Adelaide United | 2–1 | 2–0 |

### Sydney FC vs Melbourne City

Sydney FC qualified for the two-legged semi-finals against Melbourne City starting off at home at Allianz Stadium which finished as a 1–1 draw with Mathew Leckie scoring first for City and Adam Le Fondre equalizing in a second-half penalty. The following week at AAMI Park, saw City breeze 4–0 with goals by Curtis Good, Marco Tilio, Richard van der Venne and an own goal winning 5–1 on aggregate heading to the Grand Final.
| Sydney | Melbourne City |
| GK | 1 | Andrew Redmayne |
| RB | 23 | Rhyan Grant | 77' |
| CB | 6 | Jack Rodwell |
| CB | 4 | Alex Wilkinson |
| LB | 3 | Joel King | 70' |
| DM | 26 | Luke Brattan |
| DM | 8 | Paulo Retre | | 84' |
| RM | 17 | Anthony Caceres |
| CM | 22 | Max Burgess | | 90+2' |
| LM | 11 | Róbert Mak | | 54' |
| CF | 9 | Adam Le Fondre | | 84' |
| Substitutes: ||
| FW | 10 | Joe Lolley | | 54' |
| MF | 28 | Jake Girdwood-Reich | | 84' |
| FW | 12 | Patrick Wood | | 84' |
| DF | 18 | Diego Caballo | | 90+2' |
| DF | 2 | James Donachie |
| GK | 20 | Tom Heward-Belle |
| FW | 19 | Adrian Segecic |
| Manager: ||
| Steve Corica | 90+6' |
| GK | 1 | Tom Glover |
| RB | 25 | Callum Talbot | | 84' |
| CB | 4 | Nuno Reis |
| CB | 22 | Curtis Good | 88' |
| LB | 38 | Jordan Bos |
| DM | 14 | Valon Berisha |
| DM | 10 | Florin Berenguer | | 84' |
| RM | 23 | Marco Tilio |
| CM | 8 | Richard van der Venne | | 76' |
| LM | 7 | Mathew Leckie |
| CF | 9 | Jamie Maclaren |
| Substitutes: ||
| FW | 15 | Andrew Nabbout | | 76' |
| DF | 3 | Scott Jamieson | | 84' |
| DF | 6 | Thomas Lam | | 84' |
| FW | 35 | Raphael Borges Rodrigues |
| FW | 37 | Max Caputo |
| DF | 2 | Scott Galloway |
| GK | 33 | Matt Sutton |
| Manager: ||
| Rado Vidošić ||
* Assistant referees:
* Greg Taylor
* Isaac Trevis
* Fourth official:
* Jonathan Barreiro
* Video assistant referee:
* Shaun Evans
* Assistant video assistant referees:
* Chris Beath
* Sarah Ho

### Melbourne City vs Sydney FC

Melbourne City won 5–1 on aggregate.
| Melbourne City | Sydney |
| GK | 1 | Tom Glover |
| RB | 4 | Nuno Reis |
| CB | 6 | Thomas Lam | 45+2' |
| CB | 22 | Curtis Good | | 74' |
| LB | 38 | Jordan Bos | | 83' |
| DM | 13 | Aiden O'Neill | | 73' |
| RM | 15 | Andrew Nabbout |
| CM | 14 | Valon Berisha | | 74' |
| CM | 7 | Mathew Leckie | | 83' |
| LM | 23 | Marco Tilio |
| CF | 9 | Jamie Maclaren |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | 8 | Richard van der Venne | | 73' |
| DF | 3 | Scott Jamieson | | 74' |
| DF | 25 | Callum Talbot | | 74' |
| MF | 10 | Florin Berenguer | | 83' |
| DF | 2 | Scott Galloway | | 83' |
| FW | 37 | Max Caputo |
| GK | 33 | Matt Sutton |
| Manager: ||
| Rado Vidošić ||
| GK | 1 | Andrew Redmayne |
| RB | 23 | Rhyan Grant |
| CB | 4 | Alex Wilkinson |
| CB | 6 | Jack Rodwell |
| LB | 3 | Joel King | 28' |
| DM | 26 | Luke Brattan | 43' |
| DM | 8 | Paulo Retre | | 67' |
| RM | 17 | Anthony Caceres |
| CM | 22 | Max Burgess | 20' |
| LM | 19 | Adrian Segecic | | 67' |
| CF | 9 | Adam Le Fondre | | 83' |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | 28 | Jake Girdwood-Reich | | 67' |
| FW | 10 | Joe Lolley | | 67' |
| FW | 12 | Patrick Wood | | 83' |
| DF | 18 | Diego Caballo |
| DF | 2 | James Donachie |
| GK | 20 | Tom Heward-Belle |
| FW | 25 | Jaiden Kucharski |
| Manager: ||
| Steve Corica ||
* Assistant referees:
* George Lakrindis
* Owen Goldrick
* Fourth official:
* Daniel Elder
* Video assistant referee:
* Kris Griffiths-Jones
* Assistant video assistant referees:
* Kate Jacewicz
* Richard Naumovski

### Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners

Adelaide United qualified for the two-legged semi-finals against Central Coast Mariners starting off at back home at Coopers Stadium which despite Adelaide scoring first, had Central Coast comeback 2–1. The following week at Industree Group Stadium fully attended, Central Coast extended their advantage by winning 2–0 thanks to goals by Samuel Silvera and Marco Túlio; winning 4–1 on aggregate to qualify for the Grand Final against Melbourne City.
| Adelaide United | Central Coast Mariners |
| GK | 46 | Joe Gauci |
| RB | 21 | Javi López |
| CB | 4 | Nick Ansell |
| CB | 3 | Ben Warland |
| LB | 7 | Ryan Kitto | 79' |
| DM | 8 | Isaías | 65' |
| RM | 26 | Ben Halloran | | 84' |
| CM | 10 | Zach Clough | | 69' |
| CM | 6 | Louis D'Arrigo |
| LM | 11 | Craig Goodwin |
| CF | 9 | Hiroshi Ibusuki | | 54' |
| Substitutes: ||
| FW | 66 | Nestory Irankunda | 82' | 54' |
| FW | 14 | George Blackwood | | 69' |
| FW | 36 | Panashe Madanha | | 84' |
| MF | 55 | Ethan Alagich |
| DF | 13 | Lachlan Barr |
| GK | 1 | James Delianov |
| DF | 41 | Alexandar Popovic |
| Manager: ||
| Carl Veart ||
| GK | 20 | Danny Vukovic |
| RB | 15 | Storm Roux |
| CB | 25 | Nectarios Triantis | 53' |
| CB | 3 | Brian Kaltak |
| LB | 5 | James McGarry | | 55' |
| RM | 7 | Samuel Silvera | | 88' |
| CM | 6 | Max Balard |
| CM | 4 | Josh Nisbet | | 77' |
| LM | 11 | Béni Nkololo |
| RF | 9 | Jason Cummings | | 88' |
| LF | 98 | Marco Túlio | | 77' |
| Substitutes: ||
| DF | 18 | Jacob Farrell | 62' | 55' |
| MF | 10 | Moresche | | 77' |
| MF | 13 | Harry Steele | | 77' |
| DF | 23 | Dan Hall | | 88' |
| FW | 31 | Christian Theoharous | 90+5' | 88' |
| GK | 24 | Yaren Sözer |
| FW | 14 | Dylan Wenzel-Halls |
| Manager: ||
| Nick Montgomery ||
* Assistant referees:
* Kearney Robinson
* Daniel Ilievski
* Fourth official:
* Jack Morgan
* Video assistant referee:
* Chris Beath
* Assistant video assistant referees:
* Shaun Evans
* Sarah Ho

### Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide United

Central Coast Mariners won 4–1 on aggregate.
| Central Coast Mariners | Adelaide United |
| GK | 20 | Danny Vukovic |
| RB | 15 | Storm Roux | | 82' |
| CB | 25 | Nectarios Triantis | 65' |
| CB | 3 | Brian Kaltak |
| LB | 5 | James McGarry | | 62' |
| RM | 11 | Béni Nkololo | 62' | 62' |
| CM | 4 | Josh Nisbet |
| CM | 6 | Max Balard | | 81' |
| LM | 7 | Samuel Silvera |
| RF | 98 | Marco Túlio | | 87' |
| LF | 9 | Jason Cummings |
| Substitutes: ||
| DF | 18 | Jacob Farrell | | 62' |
| FW | 31 | Christian Theoharous | | 62' |
| MF | 13 | Harry Steele | | 81' |
| DF | 23 | Dan Hall | | 82' |
| MF | 10 | Moresche | | 87' |
| GK | 24 | Yaren Sözer |
| FW | 14 | Dylan Wenzel-Halls |
| Manager: ||
| Nick Montgomery ||
| GK | 46 | Joe Gauci |
| RB | 21 | Javi López | | 81' |
| CB | 41 | Alexandar Popovic | 37' |
| CB | 3 | Ben Warland |
| LB | 7 | Ryan Kitto |
| DM | 6 | Louis D'Arrigo | | 62' |
| DM | 8 | Isaías |
| RM | 10 | Zach Clough | | 81' |
| CM | 55 | Ethan Alagich | | 75' |
| LM | 11 | Craig Goodwin |
| CF | 26 | Ben Halloran |
| Substitutes: ||
| FW | 66 | Nestory Irankunda | | 62' |
| FW | 14 | George Blackwood | | 75' |
| MF | 23 | Luke Duzel | | 81' |
| FW | 36 | Panashe Madanha | | 81' |
| DF | 13 | Lachlan Barr |
| GK | 1 | James Delianov |
| FW | 35 | Luka Jovanovic |
| Manager: ||
| Carl Veart ||
* Assistant referees:
* David Walsh
* Brad Wright
* Fourth official:
* Jonathan Barreiro
* Video assistant referee:
* Kate Jacewicz
* Assistant video assistant referees:
* Kris Griffiths-Jones
* Richard Naumovski

## Grand Final

The Grand Final featured Melbourne City in their fourth consecutive Grand Final, against the Central Coast Mariners appearing in their first Grand Final in a decade and fifth overall. Central Coast scored the first and second goals through Jason Cummings and Samuel Silvera, with City getting one back by substitute Richard van der Venne, with Mariners leading 2–1 at half time. Since, they scored through two penalties by Cummings completing his hat-trick and further goals by Béni Nkololo and Moresche in stoppage time. Central Coast Mariners became champions of the A-League Men after defeating Melbourne City 6–1 in the Grand Final.
| Melbourne City | Central Coast Mariners |
| GK | 1 | Tom Glover |
| DF | 38 | Jordan Bos | | 88' |
| DF | 22 | Curtis Good |
| DF | 6 | Thomas Lam |
| DF | 4 | Nuno Reis | 45' | 69' |
| MF | 13 | Aiden O'Neill |
| MF | 23 | Marco Tilio | 79' |
| MF | 7 | Mathew Leckie |
| MF | 14 | Valon Berisha | | 22' |
| FW | 15 | Andrew Nabbout | | 88' |
| FW | 9 | Jamie Maclaren (c) |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | 8 | Richard van der Venne | | 22' |
| DF | 25 | Callum Talbot | | 69' |
| MF | 10 | Florin Berenguer | | 88' |
| DF | 2 | Scott Galloway | | 88' |
| FW | 37 | Max Caputo |
| DF | 3 | Scott Jamieson |
| GK | 33 | Matt Sutton |
| Manager: ||
| Rado Vidosic ||
| GK | 20 | Danny Vukovic (c) |
| DF | 5 | James McGarry | | 63' |
| DF | 3 | Brian Kaltak |
| DF | 25 | Nectar Triantis | 51' | 85' |
| DF | 15 | Storm Roux | | 78' |
| MF | 11 | Béni Nkololo |
| MF | 6 | Max Balard | | 78' |
| MF | 4 | Josh Nisbet |
| MF | 7 | Samuel Silvera | | 85' |
| FW | 9 | Jason Cummings |
| FW | 98 | Marco Túlio | 89' |
| Substitutes: ||
| DF | 18 | Jacob Farrell | | 63' |
| DF | 23 | Dan Hall | | 78' |
| MF | 13 | Harrison Steele | | 78' |
| FW | 10 | Moresche | 90+2' | 85' |
| MF | 31 | Christian Theoharous | | 85' |
| GK | 24 | Yaren Sözer |
| FW | 14 | Dylan Wenzel-Halls |
| Manager: ||
| Nick Montgomery ||
| Man of the Match (Joe Marston Medal): Jason Cummings Assistant referees: Anton Shchetinin Ashley Beecham Fourth official: Adam Kersey Fifth official: Brad Wright Video assistant referee: Kate Jacewicz Assistant video assistant referees: Shaun Evans Kearney Robinson | Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Seven named substitutes. Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time. |