# 2008–09 Wellington Phoenix FC season

The 2008–09 season was Wellington Phoenix's second season in the A-League.

## Players
### First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | NZL | Mark Paston |
| 2 | DF | NZL | Jeremy Christie |
| 3 | DF | NZL | Tony Lochhead |
| 4 | DF | AUS | Jon McKain |
| 5 | DF | AUS | Karl Dodd |
| 6 | MF | NZL | Tim Brown (Vice-Captain) |
| 7 | MF | NZL | Leo Bertos |
| 8 | FW | NZL | Vaughan Coveny |
| 9 | FW | NZL | Shane Smeltz |
| 10 | MF | AUS | Michael Ferrante |
| 11 | MF | BRA | Daniel |
| 12 | MF | AUS | Richard Johnson |
| 13 | MF | AUS | Troy Hearfield |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 15 | FW | AUS | Adam Kwasnik |
| 16 | DF | NZL | David Mulligan |
| 17 | MF | AUS | Vince Lia |
| 18 | DF | NZL | Ben Sigmund |
| 19 | FW | NZL | Greg Draper |
| 20 | GK | NZL | Glen Moss |
| 21 | MF | CHN | Leilei Gao |
| 22 | DF | AUS | Andrew Durante (Captain) |
| 23 | FW | NZL | Kosta Barbarouses |
| 25 | DF | AUS | Manny Muscat |
| 26 | MF | BRA | Fred |
| 30 | GK | AUS | Scott Higgins |

### Transfers
#### In

| No. | Pos. | Player | From | Notes |
| 4 | DF | Jon McKain | FCU Politehnica Timişoara | |
| 7 | MF | Leo Bertos | Perth Glory | |
| 13 | MF | Troy Hearfield | Newcastle Jets | |
| 16 | DF | David Mulligan | Port Vale | |
| 21 | MF | Leilei Gao | MyPa | |
| 22 | DF | Andrew Durante | Newcastle Jets | |
| 25 | DF | Manny Muscat | Green Gully Cavaliers | |
| 26 | MF | Fred | D.C. United | On loan |
| 30 | GK | Scott Higgins | Adelaide United | Short term injury cover |

#### Out

| No. | Pos. | Player | From | Notes |
| 4 | DF | Cleberson | America | |
| 13 | DF | Steven Old | Macarthur Rams | |
| 14 | DF | Steven O'Dor | South Melbourne | |
| 15 | MF | George | Carabobo | |
| 16 | DF | Kristian Rees | Adelaide City | |
| 18 | MF | Ahmad Elrich | Central Coast Mariners | |
| 21 | MF | Felipe | Wisla Krakow | |
| 22 | FW | Royce Brownlie | Peninsula Power | |
| 26 | MF | Fred | D.C. United | Loan expired |
| 30 | GK | Jacob Spoonley | Auckland City FC | |

## Matches
### 2008 Pre-Season Cup fixtures

Group B
| Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| Wellington Phoenix | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 7 | Advances to final |
| Central Coast Mariners | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 6 | |
| Sydney FC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 3 | |
| Queensland Roar | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 1 | |

### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Ground | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | D | L | L | D | L | W | D | W | L | L | W | W | W | L | D | W | L | W | L | D | L |
| Position | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |

### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Melbourne Victory (C) | 21 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 39 | 27 | +12 | 38 | Qualification for 2010 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series |
| 2 | Adelaide United | 21 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 19 | +12 | 38 | Qualification for 2010 AFC Champions League group stage and Finals series |
| 3 | Queensland Roar | 21 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 25 | +11 | 36 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 4 | Central Coast Mariners | 21 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 | 32 | +3 | 28 | Qualification for Finals series |
| 5 | Sydney FC | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 26 | |
| 6 | Wellington Phoenix | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 31 | −8 | 26 | |
| 7 | Perth Glory | 21 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 31 | 44 | −13 | 22 | |
| 8 | Newcastle Jets | 21 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 39 | −18 | 18 | |

## Statistics
### Appearances

| Rank | Player | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Minutes played by round | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total |
| Rank | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | App. | GS | | | Min. |
| 1 | Tony Lochhead | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 63 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1,863 |
| 2 | Shane Smeltz | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 83 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 89 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 1,792 |
| 3 | Michael Ferrante | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 21 | 24 | 26 | | 23 | 90 | 90 | 81 | 90 | 73 | 75 | 61 | 77 | 80 | 10 | 90 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 1,181 |
| 4 | Jon McKain | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 88 | 78 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 1,606 |
| 5 | Karl Dodd | 89 | | 16 | 87 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | | 22 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 1,384 |
| 5 | Tim Brown | | | | 3 | 6 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 72 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 51 | | 17 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1,302 |
| 5 | Daniel | 72 | 61 | 29 | 72 | 90 | | 18 | | 16 | 18 | | 16 | 2 | 18 | 17 | 24 | | 90 | 44 | 74 | 67 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 728 |
| 8 | Andrew Durante | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | 46 | | 8 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1,314 |
| 8 | Leo Bertos | 90 | | 90 | | | | | 10 | 44 | 72 | 89 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 16 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 1,125 |
| 10 | Ben Sigmund | | | | 18 | 5 | 90 | 66 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 68 | | | 90 | | 90 | 90 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 1,147 |
| 11 | Manny Muscat | 90 | 74 | | | | 90 | | | | | 90 | 69 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 1,223 |
| 11 | Troy Hearfield | 18 | 90 | 90 | 74 | 70 | | | | | | 78 | 21 | 7 | 27 | 90 | 66 | 71 | 89 | 64 | | | 14 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 855 |
| 13 | Glen Moss | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | | | | | | | | | 44 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1,124 |
| 14 | Adam Kwasnik | 90 | 90 | 55 | | 20 | 90 | 72 | 80 | 46 | | | | | | | | 19 | 1 | | 16 | 23 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 602 |
| 15 | Jeremy Christie | | 16 | | | | 21 | 24 | | | | | | 9 | | | 15 | 29 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 151 |
| 16 | Mark Paston | | | | | | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 46 | | | | | | | | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 766 |
| 16 | Vaughan Coveny | | 29 | 35 | 90 | | 69 | 66 | 64 | 74 | 66 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 494 |
| 18 | Leilei Gao | | | 61 | 16 | 90 | 69 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 67 | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 573 |
| 19 | Richard Johnson | 1 | 90 | 74 | 90 | 84 | 90 | 90 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 519 |
| 20 | Kosta Barbarouses | | | | | | | | | | 24 | 12 | | | | | | | 1 | | 80 | 82 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 199 |
| 21 | David Mulligan | | | 90 | 90 | 85 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 265 |
| 21 | Fred | | | | | | | | | | | | 74 | 88 | 90 | | | | | | | | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 252 |
| 23 | Greg Draper | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Vince Lia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Player started   Player subbed in   Player suspended   Player injured

### Goal scorers

| Rank | Player | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Goals by round | Total | Total |
| Rank | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Total | Total |
| 1 | Shane Smeltz | 1 | 2 | | | | 1 | 2 | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | | 2 | | | | 12 |
| 2 | Tim Brown | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | 3 |
| 3 | Troy Hearfield | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | | 2 |
| 3 | Leo Bertos | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 2 |
| 5 | Fred | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 5 | Karl Dodd | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 5 | Kosta Barbarouses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| 5 | Own goal | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 |
Goal scored from penalty kick   2 goals scored from penalty kick

### Goal assists

| Rank | Player | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Assists by round | Total | Total |
| Rank | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Total | Total |
| 1 | Leo Bertos | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | | 6 |
| 2 | Troy Hearfield | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 2 | | | | 3 |
| 3 | Daniel | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | 2 |
| 3 | Tony Lochhead | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 3 | Jon McKain | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | 2 |
| 6 | Tim Brown | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 6 | Vaughan Coveny | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 6 | Leilei Gao | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| 6 | Ben Sigmund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| 6 | Shane Smeltz | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 |

### Discipline

| Rank | Player | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Cards by round | Total | Total | Total |
| Rank | Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | | | |
| 1 | Jon McKain | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | | |
| 2 | Troy Hearfield | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | 1 |
| 2 | Tim Brown | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 1 | |
| 2 | Karl Dodd | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | |
| 5 | Andrew Durante | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 1 | |
| 6 | Michael Ferrante | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | |
| 6 | Leilei Gao | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | |
| 6 | Manny Muscat | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | |
| 9 | Leo Bertos | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 9 | Tony Lochhead | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 9 | Richard Johnson | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 9 | Shane Smeltz | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | |
| 13 | Vaughan Coveny | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| 13 | Daniel | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| 13 | David Mulligan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| 13 | Ben Sigmund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| 13 | Adam Kwasnik | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| 13 | Fred | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |

### Home attendance

| Date | Round | Attendance | Opposition | Stadium |
| 17 August 2008 | Round 1 | 10,516 | Queensland Roar | Westpac Stadium |
| 24 August 2008 | Round 2 | 6,110 | Melbourne Victory | Westpac Stadium |
| 14 September 2008 | Round 4 | 6,926 | Central Coast Mariners | Westpac Stadium |
| 28 September 2008 | Round 6 | 6,729 | Sydney FC | Westpac Stadium |
| 26 October 2008 | Round 9 | 6,543 | Queensland Roar | Westpac Stadium |
| 23 November 2008 | Round 12 | 5,500 | Newcastle Jets | Westpac Stadium |
| 28 November 2008 | Round 13 | 7,953 | Melbourne Victory | Westpac Stadium |
| 14 December 2008 | Round 15 | 6,362 | Perth Glory | Westpac Stadium |
| 19 December 2008 | Round 16 | 6,722 | Central Coast Mariners | Westpac Stadium |
| 4 January 2009 | Round 18 | 7,520 | Newcastle Jets | Westpac Stadium |
| 18 January 2009 | Round 20 | 8,241 | Adelaide United | Westpac Stadium |
| Total | 79,122 | 79,122 | 79,122 | 79,122 |
| Average | 7,193 | 7,193 | 7,193 | 7,193 |

## Club
### Technical staff

* First team coach: Ricki Herbert
* Assistant coach: Stu Jacobs
* First team Physiotherapist: Adam Crump
* Masseur: Dene Carroll
* Strength & conditioning coach: Ed Baranowski

### Kit

Supplier: Reebok Sponsor(s): Sony
| Home | Away |

### End-of-season awards

    See also List of Wellington Phoenix FC end-of-season awards
* Sony Player of the Year: Leo Bertos
* Members' Player of the Year: Ben Sigmund
* Players' Player of the Year: Shane Smeltz
* Media Player of the Year: Shane Smeltz
* Golden Boot: Shane Smeltz - 12 goals