After the glut of soccer jerseys unveiled by European clubs through each July and August, the well for such news can run a little dry over the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere. Luckily, though, things are just about to get going Down Under as the 2021-22 A-League Men season is set to kick off on Friday, Nov. 19, with defending champs Melbourne City hosting Brisbane Roar FC, and it will run through the sunny summer months south of the equator. Let’s take a look at what some of the best clubs in Australia and New Zealand will be wearing when they take the pitch …
(Includes kits unveiled as of November 18, 2021)
- Nickname: The Reds
- Based in: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Founded: 2003
- Stadium: Cooper’s Ground (16,500)
- A-League Championships: 2016
- Kit manufacturer: Ucan
Adelaide United’s traditional red home and dark blue away kits are complemented this season by a coral third kit with a white collar and sleeve cuffs trimmed with red. The club crest is also rendered in monochromatic red. A piping shrike graphic appears on the back collar to highlight the club’s ties to South Australia.
- Nickname: The Roar
- Based in: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Founded: 1957 (as Hollandia Inala FC)
- Stadium: Moreton Daily Stadium (11,500)
- A-League Championships: 2011, 2012, 2014
- Kit manufacturer: New Balance
The 2021-22 season marks Brisbane Roar FC’s first season with New Balance as their kit manufacturer. On the away and third kits, the club logo is embroidered on the shirt without the bounding shield — another first for the club. Inside the collar of the home shirt is a version of the original Hollandia Inala FC logo from 1957, honouring the club’s founding by Dutch immigrants.
- Nicknames: The Mariners; The Yellow and Navy
- Based in: Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
- Founded: 2004
- Stadium: Central Coast Stadium (20,059)
- A-League Championships: 2013
- Kit manufacturer: Paladin
The Central Coast Mariners — perhaps best known as the club who gave Olympic sprinting champion Usain Bolt a tryout in 2018 — have switched manufacturers this season, going from Umbro to Paladin. All three kits feature an angled tonal checkerboard pattern, with a navy blue band across the chest containing the logo of sponsor Mate, an internet and mobile provider.
- Nickname: The Bulls
- Based in: South Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Founded: 2017 (as Macarthur South West United)
- Stadium: Campbelltown Stadium (20,000)
- A-League Championships: none
- Kit manufacturer: Macron
Macarthur FC’s 2021-22 home kits are inspired by “traditional football outfits,” according to their website. The front of the home shirt features black and white vertical stripes trimmed with gold, while the sleeves are solid black. The crew neck collar is mostly black with gold trim.
- Nicknames: City; Heart
- Based in: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Founded: 2009 (as Melbourne Heart)
- Stadium: AAMI Park (30,050)
- A-League Championships: 2021
- Kit manufacturer: Puma
Like most other clubs under the City Football Group umbrella — including Manchester City of England’s Premier League — Melbourne City FC wear sky blue home kits made by Puma. City’s kits will be adorned with gold A-League logos on the right chest, honouring their 2021 championship.
- Nicknames: Victory; Boys in Blue; Big V
- Based in: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Founded: 2004
- Stadium: AAMI Park (30,050)
- A-League Championships: 2007, 2009, 2015, 2018
- Kit manufacturer: Macron
Melbourne Victory’s 2021-22 kits are their first with new manufacturer Macron, but they retain the club’s traditional “Big V” motif. They also incorporate neon yellow accents on the collar and sleeve cuffs.
- Nickname: The Jets
- Based in: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Founded: 2000
- Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium (33,000)
- A-League Championships: 2008
- Kit manufacturer: Viva
For the first time in 10 years, Newcastle Jets are wearing gold kits at home in 2021-22. The shirts, manufactured by Viva, feature a geometric tonal pattern all over, plus navy blue collars, sleeve cuffs and piping on the shoulders. The club also has a new primary sponsor, the Port of Newcastle.
- Nickname: The Glory
- Based in: Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Founded: 1995
- Stadium: HBF Park (20,500)
- A-League Championships: none
- Kit manufacturer: Macron
The A-League’s westernmost club, Perth Glory, are going retro with their 2021-22 kits to mark their 25th anniversary. The home and away shirts feature a retro crest on the left chest. The home kit features an embossed pattern comprised of the number “1996” — the club’s inaugural A-League season — and an embossed version of their current badge on the back, below the number.
- Nickname: The Sky Blues
- Based in: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Founded: 2004
- Stadium: Jubilee Oval (20,500) / Leichhardt Oval (22,000)
- A-League Championships: 2006, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2020
- Kit manufacturer: Macron
The A-League’s most successful franchise, Sydney FC, and Under Armour are taking a new “angle” on the club’s kits for 2021-22. All three kits feature a tonal pattern of triangles of varying sizes that form hoops. The away kit fades from white to sky blue near the bottom, making the white triangles more pronounced.
- Nickname: The Nix
- Based in: Wellington, New Zealand
- Founded: 2007
- Stadium: Sky Stadium (34,500)
- A-League Championships: none
- Kit manufacturer: Paladin
Wellington Phoenix are currently the A-League’s only New Zealand-based club. Both of their 2021-22 kits, manufactured by Paladin, retain popular motifs from years past. The home kit features black stripes on a yellow background, while the away kit has a pattern of distorted diagonal teal stripes on a navy blue background.
- Nickname: The Wanderers
- Based in: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Founded: 2012
- Stadium: CommBank Stadium (30,000)
- A-League Championships: none
- Kit manufacturer: Kappa
Western Sydney Wanderers are celebrating their 10th season in the A-League with several special uniform elements. Both the home and away kits feature 10 hoops — red and black at home, and white and red away — and a special anniversary crest. The third kit introduces a light grey (“tin”) into the colour scheme, and features tapering lines that form an X under the crest on a black base.
- Nickname: n/a
- Based in: Truganina, Victoria, Australia
- Founded: 2018 (as Western Melbourne)
- Stadium: GMHBA Stadium (36,000) / Mars Stadium (11,000) / AAMI Park (30,050)
- A-League Championships: none
- Kit manufacturer: Kappa
Western United was formed in 2018 to represent the western part of the state of Victoria, including the western suburbs of Melbourne; the regional cities of Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo; and various country towns in the area. The club’s 2021-22 home kits feature their traditional green and black vertical stripes, which rise out of a black gradient at the bottom. The away kit features vertical black and green splatter stripes down the centre of the shirt, which is inspired by the region’s vibrant street art culture.
