2022 A-League Men finals series

Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory were confirmed in their automatic semi-final spots within the last week of the regular season.^[1] Western United finished third for the top three finishers based in Melbourne to guarantee most of the finals series to be played in Melbourne, as Adelaide United, Central Coast Mariners and Wellington Phoenix were the last three finishers into the 2022 finals series.

Western United who finished third appeared in their first home finals match in club history, against the Wellington Phoenix who finished sixth. Wellington won all three matches in the regular season over Western United, and unbeaten since the first meeting in October 2019. Western United won 1–0 through a 10th-minute strike by Aleksandar Prijović to send them through to the two-legged semi-finals against Melbourne Victory.^[5]

Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners met in a finals match for the first time since 2014 in Gosford. Central Coast hadn't beaten Adelaide United away since 2016, heading into this elimination-final.^[6] Adelaide won 3–1, where Craig Goodwin and Kusini Yengi led Adelaide by two, Storm Roux with one back for the Mariners as Bernardo capped the match off with a 92nd-minute winner heading for two-legged semi-finals against Melbourne City.^[7]

Western United qualified for the two-legged semi-finals at AAMI Park against rivals Melbourne Victory.^[8] Western United started off as the home side losing the first leg through a Jake Brimmer volley in the 74th minute, as Victory held the advantage 1–0 up in the first leg.^[9] Despite this, Western United won 4–1 in the second leg thanks to a brace from Aleksandar Prijović and goals to Lachlan Wales and Dylan Wenzel-Halls; winning the two-legged semi-finals 4–2 on aggregate to send them through to their first Grand Final.^[10]

Western United won 4–2 on aggregate.

Adelaide United qualified for the two-legged semi-finals against Melbourne City. Adelaide were unbeaten to Melbourne City in all three matches in the regular season, as well as Melbourne Victory and Western United which at least one is obligated for City to verse should they qualify for the Grand Final.^[11] The first leg resulted in a 0–0 draw in Adelaide.^[12] Although, Melbourne City won 2–1 after overtime from a comeback win thanks to goals by Marco Tilio and Jamie Maclaren for City reaching their third consecutive Grand Final.^[13]

Melbourne City won 2–1 on aggregate.

The 2022 Grand Final featured premiers Melbourne City for the third consecutive time and Western United for the first time at AAMI Park, also being the first featuring two expansion clubs in the A-League Men grand final. City won the double in the previous season and Western United searching for their first club trophy. It was won 2–0 by Western United as they claimed their first championship thanks to two first half goals by an own goal and Aleksandar Prijović; also winning the Joe Marston Medal.^[14]

• A-Leagues official website