From the might of the Hyundai A-League clubs to the minnows of teams below NPL divisions, the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 draw returns on Thursday 27 June.
Six Hyundai A-League clubs are set to face off against each other, while the other four take on teams from lower levels around the country.
It’s a tournament that has typically treated Perth Glory well; the club made the tournament’s first two Cup Finals and Glory have never crashed out in the first round of the competition.
Ahead of the fourth edition of the Westfield FFA Cup, we put our 31 potential competitors under the microscope, starting at home in WA.
Best of the West Australians
Sorrento FC (NPL WA) and Western Knights (State League Division 1)
The Western Knights are a massive wildcard heading into the Round of 32; WA’s first non-NPL or A-League side to compete in the tournament after a shock win over local giants Bayswater City. They’re joined by Sorrento FC, making their second appearance in the cup’s history. Both sides will be hungry to win as no non-A-League has won a match in the Westfield FFA Cup’s 3 year history.
What a moment it would be to see Glory drawn in a local cup derby!
Hyundai A-League Giants
Adelaide, Roar, Mariners, Jets, City, Victory, Sydney, Wellington, Wanderers
There’s a 60% Glory will be drawn against a Hyundai A-League side in the Round of 32 and history suggests that will be the case once again. Glory faced Newcastle Jets in the Round of 32 in both 2014 and 2015, while squaring off against Brisbane Roar in 2016.
If we draw an A-League opponent, we’ll be confident; we won all three of those Round of 32 games away from home.
Old NSL Sides
APIA Leichardt, Queensland Lions, Blacktown City, Hakoah Sydney City East, Heidelburg United, South Melbourne, Sydney United 58 FC
It’s amazing that in three seasons of Westfield FFA Cup action, Glory’s only old National Soccer League opponent they’ve faced is Adelaide United! What a trip down memory lane it would be if Glory went back to face South Melbourne at Lakeside Stadium or Sydney United FC 58 at Edensor Park.
Glory of course faced Queensland Lions (aka Hollandia) two seasons ago in Westfield FFA Cup action but neither team met during the NSL era. Could we see a rematch there?
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Off-the-beaten-track: Non-A-League Towns
Darwin Rovers FC, FNQ Heat, Canberra Olympic, Gold Coast City, Moreton Bay United
Not all cities in Australia are blessed with a Hyundai A-League team to visit, but when they do, crowds are almost guaranteed! Glory could find themselves on an away trip to the Top End to face Darwin Rovers FC, who famously (infamously?) turned up to last years Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 clash against Brisbane Strikers in a stretch Hummer limo.
Other options include Far North Queensland (FNQ) Heat in Cairns, Olympia FC Warriors in Hobart, Canberra Olympic in the nations capital, Gold Coast City and Moreton Bay United just south of the Sunshine Coast.
The Rest
Bankstown Berries, Bentleigh Greens, Broadmeadow Magic, Edgeworth Eagles, Hills United, Hume City, MetroStars, Peninsula Power
Have you ever heard of a sporting club in the world called the ‘Berries’? Well now you have, and Glory could find themselves up against the Bankstown Berries in the first round of the Westfield FFA Cup!
They’re not the only intriguing club we could end up facing; Broadmeadow Magic feature ex-Glory players Ruben Zadkovich (coach) and Mitch Oxborrow (player), and would mark our third Round of 32 trip to Magic Park in four Westfield FFA Cup campaigns. Edgeworth Eagles (Northern NSW), Hume City (Victoria) and MetroStars (South Australia) are strong clubs in their respective NPL leagues, while outer-Sydney’s Hills United and Brisbane’s Peninsula Power could prove to be unknown quantities.
Westfield FFA Cup 2017 Round of 32 Draw
When:Â Thursday, June 29, 2017
Time:Â 1:00pm (AWST)
Broadcast: The draw will be LIVE on Fox Sports News (Channel 500) and streamed LIVE onwww.foxsports.com.au and www.theffacup.com.au
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So how does it work? The draw process (Two pots – Pot A & Pot B)
Pot A: 6 balls drawn out one at a time from Pot A (home then away) for the three (3) Hyundai A-League v Hyundai A-League matches.
Pot B: 18 balls drawn out one at a time from Pot B (home then away) for the nine (9) Member Federation v Member Federation matches.
Pot B & A: Remaining balls drawn out one at a time (home from Pot B & then away from Pot A) for the four (4) Member Federation v Hyundai A-League matches.
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For further information about the Westfield FFA Cup visit www.theffacup.com.au.
