FFA considers ANZ for Sydney A-League GF

FFA chief executive David Gallop has pointed to ANZ Stadium as a likely venue for a Sydney-based A-League grand final, assuring fans there will not be a repeat of last season's scheduling catastrophe.

Due to a fixturing clash with the AFL, 2015's decider between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC was staged at AAMI Park instead of the much larger Etihad Stadium.

It meant around 20,000 fewer fans were able to see the match live at AAMI Park - a total of 29,843 to be exact were there, as opposed to what could have been around 50,000.

FFA has taken all measures to ensure this season's showpiece, to be held on May 1, is not dogged by a similar debacle.

The governing body has provisionally booked Etihad Stadium in case Victory or Melbourne City earn hosting rights, and have also locked up Adelaide Oval in the scenario Adelaide United get there.

But with seven regular-season rounds to go, Western Sydney and Brisbane are the hot favourites - the former leading the league only on goal difference.

The Roar could host the grand final at Suncorp Stadium, but the Wanderers' situation is far less clear-cut should they find themselves with the rights.

The Wanderers are eager to play as many matches as possible at Pirtek Stadium before having to move while it's torn down and reconstructed.

However with a capacity of just under 21,000, the Parramatta venue would be insufficient for a match of that magnitude.

Gallop said the 83,500-capacity ANZ Stadium was a strong option for any Sydney-based finale.

"You would have to say we're looking at it carefully," he said.

"We want as many people to be able to go to the game as possible, but there's always discussions with the club, and the commercial terms that would need to be nutted out."

The other alternative in Sydney would be Allianz Stadium, where the Premiers' Plate-winning Wanderers hosted and lost the 2012-13 grand final to Central Coast.

Gallop admitted it would not be ideal to force Tony Popovic's side to host a finale at the home ground of fierce cross-town rivals Sydney FC.

"That's obviously a consideration, and it was a different environment in 2013," Gallop said.

"I don't think ANZ Stadium was available.

"The Wanderers have gotten bigger and bigger, and more people want to see them.

"That lends support to ANZ Stadium, apart from the neutral-ground issue.

"The Mariners was a different proposition as an opponent to Sydney FC for example."

Sydney's grasp on a top-six spot has become vulnerable after a run of poor results.

Should they progress to the finals and end up facing the Wanderers for a fourth time this season, Gallop said FFA would reserve the right to choose whether the fixture was played at ANZ Stadium or Allianz Stadium.

"Again, we'd need to look at the horses-for-courses approach and what's the best place to play the game," Gallop said.