If you’ve been refreshing the A-League table lately looking for the "Green and Black," you've probably noticed something weird. Or rather, you've noticed a glaring absence. Despite being one of the most ambitious projects in Australian football, Western United FC standings for the 2025-26 season are effectively non-existent.
It’s a bit of a gut-punch for the fans in Tarneit.
The reality is that the club isn't actually competing in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men this time around. After a whirlwind few years that included a shock Championship win in 2022, the club entered a "hibernation" period for the current season. This wasn't just a random choice; it followed a series of licensing issues and a massive squad exodus that saw almost every senior player find a new home.
The Empty Slot in the A-League Table
Usually, when we talk about standings, we’re dissecting points per game or goal differences. But for Western United right now, the only "stat" that matters is the 0-0-0 line on the FBref and official A-League databases. They are technically listed as 13th—or sometimes not at all—simply because they aren't taking to the pitch.
Honestly, it’s a strange sight. Just a year ago, names like Noah Botic and Angus Thurgate were the core of a team trying to reclaim their place at the top. Botic actually became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer in May 2025, overtaking the legendary Besart Berisha. But as of September 2025, the club hit a pause button.
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- Licensing: The club's participation was "hibernated" following ownership and licensing shifts.
- Player Releases: Every senior player was released from their contract.
- The Last Match: Their final competitive outing before this break was a 1-0 loss to Sydney FC in the Australia Cup on July 29, 2025.
If you're looking at the live ladder today, you'll see Auckland FC and Sydney FC duking it out for the top spot. Western United is just... gone. For now.
Where Did Everyone Go?
When a club hibernates, the players don't just sit around. It was basically a fire sale, except everything was free. Since the club lost its license for the 2025-26 window, the squad scattered across the league and even overseas.
Matthew Grimaldi, a huge bright spot for the fans, headed to Melbourne Victory. Ben Garuccio, the reliable left-back, stayed in the city but put on a Sydney FC shirt. It’s gotta be tough for the Western Melbourne Group to watch their talent pool help their rivals climb the standings while they sit on the sidelines. Even the youngsters like Dylan Leonard—who made history as the club's youngest-ever goalscorer at 17—ended up moving on, with Leonard landing a spot at Schalke 04 in Germany.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Hibernation
Some folks think the club is dead. That’s not quite right.
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The "Western United FC standings" situation is a pause, not a full stop. The club still owns Ironbark Fields. They still have a vision for that stadium precinct in Tarneit. The hibernation was a strategic (albeit painful) move to get the financial and structural house in order rather than trying to field a sub-par team under heavy duress.
Why the 2022 Championship Matters Now
You can't talk about the current void without mentioning the 2022 peak. That 2-0 win over Melbourne City in the Grand Final proved the "Western" model could work. They had the right mix of veteran grit (Leo Lacroix, Alessandro Diamanti) and clinical finishing (Aleksandar Prijović).
The problem? They never quite found that consistency again. In the 2023-24 season, they finished 11th. In 2024-25, they were middling. The decline in the standings was the precursor to the off-field troubles that led to this season's absence.
The Statistical Legacy (For Now)
Before the lights went out on this season, Western United had built some respectable numbers. If you're a stats nerd, these are the benchmarks the club will have to beat if they return:
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- Top Scorer: Noah Botic (28 goals total).
- Most Appearances: Tomoki Imai (142 games).
- Biggest Win: A 6-0 thrashing of Perth Glory back in 2022.
The current "standings" are basically a ghost town. But the infrastructure remains. The academy is still a thing. The identity of the "West" is still tied to that patch of dirt in Melbourne's growth corridor.
What Happens Next for Fans?
If you're a supporter, you're basically a free agent this year. Most fans are keeping an eye on the A-League Men standings just to see how their former players are doing. Watching Angus Thurgate run the midfield for Western Sydney Wanderers probably feels weird, but that’s the reality of the 2026 landscape.
The focus for the club leadership now is the 2026-27 license application. They need to prove that the "hibernation" did its job—clearing debts, stabilizing the front office, and ensuring that when they return to the ladder, they aren't just making up the numbers.
Basically, the "standings" for Western United right now aren't on a football pitch. They're in a boardroom.
To stay in the loop, watch for official announcements from the APL (Australian Professional Leagues) regarding the 2026-27 season structure. Follow the progress of former WUFC players in the current A-League season to see where the "Green and Black" DNA has spread. Most importantly, keep an eye on the developments at Ironbark Fields; if construction and community events continue, the club is still breathing.