SYDNEY: Melbourne Victory won their third Premiers' Plate by finishing top of the regular A-League season standings with a 3-1 final day defeat of the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday.
Sydney FC's 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix earlier in the day ensured the Premiers' Plate would come down to the final match of the regular season, with Victory needing to avoid a loss of more than six goals.
But goals to Daniel Georgievski, Archie Thompson and Besart Berisha meant the most unlikely of last-day results was never on the cards.
The last-round results confirmed Adelaide and Wellington as hosts for next week's opening to the finals series.
On Friday, defending champions Brisbane will travel to play Josep Gombau's Adelaide United, while the Phoenix host Melbourne City in New Zealand on Sunday.
Winners from week one will play Victory and Sydney FC in week two for a place in the A-League grand final.
After a trophyless six years, Melbourne Victory once again became A-League premiers with victory over the Mariners in Melbourne.
First-half goals to Georgievski and Thompson set Victory's premiership party in motion.
While Eddy Bosnar's deflected free-kick reduced the Mariners' deficit, it was never going to deny Victory.
Sydney FC secured second place and earned a week off in the finals series with a tense victory over the Phoenix in Wellington.
Goals to Bernie Ibini and Shane Smeltz cancelled out Michael Boxall's strike to ensure the Sky Blues matched their own record by remaining the only A-League club to go an entire season undefeated away from home and set a new club record for points earned in a season (50).
Adelaide United snapped a run of consecutive losses and cruised past Melbourne City 4-1 on Saturday.
The Newcastle Jets were consigned to the wooden spoon after a 2-1 loss to Brisbane Roar, while Irishman Andy Keogh's second-half winner helped a 10-man Perth Glory complete their tainted campaign on a high with a 2-1 win at Western Sydney Wanderers.
It was a resilient performance from the Glory, whose recent salary cap infringement means they will be relegated to seventh after this weekend's round.
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