Preview: Adelaide City v Avondale FC
Adelaide City’s historic first Australian Championship campaign kicks off at Oakden, with Foundation Club Avondale FC as its first opponent.
Although Avondale finished third in the NPL Victoria regular season, seven points behind premiers Oakleigh Cannons, they won just one fewer game. This was a clear sign of the quality that would ultimately carry them to the Championship in the finals series a few weeks later.
After dispatching fellow Australian Championship Foundation Club Preston Lions 2-0 in the first final, Avondale eliminated second-placed Hume City before taking the Oakleigh Cannons to penalties in the Grand Final and ultimately claiming the 2026 Championship.
In the lead-up to the match, Adelaide City coach Vas Parhas reflected on his club’s success in reaching the national stage and its first clash with Avondale.
“We've been looking forward to this moment for pretty much 12 months. We're just very, very proud that we're the group that's been able to get there, and we look forward to giving it a red-hot crack.”
Despite the stellar end to Avondale’s NPL season, it didn’t lack drama, with coach Jonathan Germano and star Bruno Fornaroli leaving the club after Championship celebrations.
The quick turnaround between competitions can be challenging but a well-resourced club like Avondale was always positioned to prepare effectively for the Australian Championship.
In the second half of their NPL season, Avondale made a statement signing by bringing in A-League veteran and former Ivory Coast international Adama Traore.
Since claiming the NPL Victoria title, Avondale have continued their recruiting spree, with Jaushua Sotirio, Anthony Lesiotis and Harry van der Saag joining Traore as A-League Men alumni at Avenger Park. Panos Armenakas joins from Sydney Olympic after years overseas, and the Fornaroli exit has been eased by the signings of Niyah Joseph, on loan from Peninsula Power, where he scored 16 goals in 2026, and Ryan Feutz from New Zealand’s South Island United.
Avondale’s core squad also includes former Campbelltown City player Blake Carpenter, who has been prolific in front of goal in the NPL Victoria finals series, and star midfielder Kristian Trajceski.
“[Avondale] are a very ambitious club; they may not have the same history that we do, but you can see the ambition,” Parahs reflected on Avondale’s squad.
The Avengers’ biggest signing arrived just four days before the Australian Championship kick-off and for good reason.
Avondale poached South Melbourne coach Sinisa Cohadzic, who guided Hellas to historic Australian Championship and Australia Cup triumphs in the past 12 months.
After analysing Avondale FC and Cohadzic’s South Melbourne, Parhas shared the stylistic contrast that stood out to him.
“If you watch South Melbourne’s games, you'll see that they're a very aggressive team. They press very hard, very high. Many times they'll go man-to-man, so they're very brave off the ball and quick in transitions.
“My gut feel is [Cohadzic] will look to implement a similar approach [at Avondale] to what he had at South Melbourne, particularly on the back of success… Because of the time that he's had, which has been kind of limited, maybe we end up playing against a side who's got a bit of a fusion there of the previous approach, which was a little bit more passive, a little bit more compact, and his approach, which is all out.”
An extremely talented squad and a high-achieving coach have all the tools to piece together a cohesive team despite a quick turnaround.
In their first-ever clash with Avondale, Adelaide City present a much more stable picture. With Vas Parhas in charge for the past couple of seasons and signings to complement an already strong squad, the Black and White’s achievements may mirror Avondale’s, but the two clubs' journeys in 2026 contrast.
Despite their opponents' potential firepower, Parhas is backing his side and their style of football, promising to take the game to their talented opponents.
“We will be on the front foot; we don't want to be passive. That's not how I coach. It's not how my team plays.
“We are going to be taking the game to them and putting them on the back foot. That's what I believe football should be; that is my philosophy as a coach. I don't care who we play. You bring Real Madrid, we’d do the same thing.”
Last week’s hit-out against Adelaide United's A-League squad offered a glimpse of what the Black and White can expect when facing a side with several players capable of competing at that level.
Finally, Parhas invited the South Australian community to come out and support his side as they return to the national stage.
“We have a proud history as a state; we want to do South Australian football proud. We absolutely bat above our average as a state.” Parhas said.
“We're a club for every single South Australian. It doesn't matter what your cultural background is. It doesn't matter where you've come from. It doesn't matter what language you speak. Our arms are open to you and we want to extend an invitation for you to come and watch some great football, come and enjoy the hospitality, and see what Adelaide City is all about.”
Join us at Adelaide City Park tonight and support our side and South Australian football on this historic occasion!
Match Details
A2026 Australian Championship — Round 1
Adelaide City v Avondale FC
Friday, 16 October 2026
Kick-off 7.00pm
Adelaide City Park
