2012–13 A-League
The 2012–13 A-League was the 36th season of top-flight soccer in Australia, and the eighth season of the Australian A-League since its establishment in 2004. The 2012–13 season saw the introduction of a new Western Sydney-based team, the return of Newcastle Jets FC after their A-League licence was returned by FFA, and the end of Gold Coast United after they were removed from the competition at the end of the previous season. This season was also the last A-League season to be broadcast exclusively on paid television, after SBS obtained the rights to a live Friday night game each week of the A-League season, and all A-League finals games on a one-hour delay, on a $160 million four-year broadcast deal, effective from the 2013–14 A-League season onwards.
Clubs
| Team | City | Home ground | Capacity |
| Adelaide United | Adelaide | Hindmarsh Stadium | 17,000 |
| Brisbane Roar | Brisbane | Suncorp Stadium | 52,500 |
| Central Coast Mariners | Gosford | Bluetongue Stadium | 20,119 |
| Melbourne Heart | Melbourne | AAMI Park | 30,050 |
| Melbourne Victory | Melbourne | Etihad Stadium AAMI Park | 56,347 30,050 |
| Newcastle Jets | Newcastle | Hunter Stadium | 33,000 |
| Perth Glory | Perth | NIB Stadium Patersons Stadium | 20,500 43,500 |
| Sydney FC | Sydney | Allianz Stadium | 45,500 |
| Wellington Phoenix | Wellington | Westpac Stadium | 36,000 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | Sydney | Parramatta Stadium | 21,487 |
Personnel and kit specifications
Transfers
Managerial changes
Foreign players
The following do not fill a Visa position:1Those players who were born and started their professional career abroad but have since gained Australian Residency ;
2Australian residents who have chosen to represent another national team;
3Injury Replacement Players, or National Team Replacement Players;
4Guest Players
5Additional Expansion Club Visa Player
Salary cap exemptions and captains
Regular season
League table
Home and away season
The 2012–13 season sees each team play 27 games, kicking off on 5 October 2012, and concluding on 31 March 2013.Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18
Week 19
Week 20
Week 21
Week 22
Week 23
Week 24
Week 25
Week 26
Week 27
Table of results
Positions by round
Finals series
In its eighth season the A-League has adopted a new knock-out format for the finals with six teams competing over a three-week series climaxing in the decider. As a result, the play-offs have been reduced from four to three weeks and the top two teams no longer receive a double chance. Instead they will get the opening week of the final series off and will only need to win one game to make the grand final.Elimination Finals
Semi Finals
Grand Final
Season statistics
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 |  Daniel McBreen | Central Coast Mariners | 17 |
| 2 |  Jeremy Brockie | Wellington Phoenix | 16 |
| 3 | Marco Rojas | Melbourne Victory | 15 |
| 4 |  Besart Berisha | Brisbane Roar | 14 |
| 4 |  Alessandro Del Piero | Sydney FC | 14 |
| 6 | Mark Bridge | Western Sydney Wanderers | 11 |
| 7 | Ryan Griffiths | Newcastle Jets | 9 |
| 7 |  Emile Heskey | Newcastle Jets | 9 |
| 7 | Dario Vidošić | Adelaide United | 9 |
| 10 | Mark Milligan | Melbourne Victory | 8 |
| 10 | Archie Thompson | Melbourne Victory | 8 |
Own goals
Attendances
These are the attendance records of each of the teams at the end of the home and away season. The table does not include finals series attendances.Updated to 3 February 2013
Top 10 Season Attendances
Discipline
The Fair Play Award will go to the team with the lowest points on the fair play ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season.Current as of 5 January 2013
;Notes
- Brisbane Roar's Thomas Broich was given a straight red card that was later rescinded by the Match Review Panel.
Awards
NAB Young footballer of the Year Award
The NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award was awarded to the finest U-21 player talent throughout the Hyundai A-League 2012–13 competition, based on a monthly nomination| Month | Nominee | Club |
| October 2012 | Craig Goodwin | Newcastle Jets |
| November 2012 | Tom Rogić | Central Coast Mariners |
| December 2012 | Marco Rojas | Melbourne Victory |
| January 2013 | Rhyan Grant | Sydney FC |
| February 2013 | Bernie Ibini-Isei | Central Coast Mariners |
| March 2013 | Trent Sainsbury | Central Coast Mariners |
End of season awards
- Johnny Warren Medal – Marco Rojas, Melbourne Victory
- NAB Young Footballer of the Year – Marco Rojas, Melbourne Victory
- Nike Golden Boot Award – Daniel McBreen, Central Coast Mariners, 17 Goals
- Goalkeeper of the Year – Ante Covic, Western Sydney Wanderers
- Manager of the Year – Tony Popovic, Western Sydney Wanderers
- Fair Play Award – Brisbane Roar
- Referee of the Year – Peter Green
- Goal of the Year – Marcos Flores, Melbourne Victory
Team of the Season
| Nat. | Position | Name | Club |
| GK | Ante Covic | Western Sydney Wanderers |
 | RB | Jérome Polenz | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| CB | Trent Sainsbury | Central Coast Mariners |
| CB | Nikolai Topor-Stanley | Western Sydney Wanderers |
 | LB | Adama Traoré | Melbourne Victory |
 | RM | Shinji Ono | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| CM | Mark Milligan | Melbourne Victory |
| LM | Michael McGlinchey | Central Coast Mariners |
| RF | Jeremy Brockie | Wellington Phoenix |
| ST | Alessandro Del Piero | Sydney FC |
| LF | Marco Rojas | Melbourne Victory |
| Coach | Tony Popovic | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| Substitutes: | - | - | - |
| GK | Eugene Galekovic | Adelaide United |
| CB | Michael Thwaite | Perth Glory |
 | CM | Marcelo Carrusca | Adelaide United |
| ST | Archie Thompson | Melbourne Victory |
| ST | Daniel McBreen | Central Coast Mariners |