For the first time in seven years, the Hyundai A-League will open the 2019/20 season with a brand new team in its ranks.
This coming campaign, Western United FC will have a unique opportunity to define themselves as a club and lay the foundations for generations to follow.
The quest to create history may weigh heavy on new head coach Mark Rudan's shoulders but this opportunity to shape a legacy is like no other.
It would take a miracle year to match the standard set in Western Sydney Wanderers FC's Premiership-winning debut season but, regardless of their final position, here are three fixtures that we believe will be crucial to establishing Western United as a force to be reckoned with.
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The story begins...
Open the history books. Western United FC write their first chapter with a trip across the ditch to the land of the long white cloud.
Whatever happens at Westpac Stadium in the Round 1 clash against Wellington Phoenix will go down in legend and every player that steps out in a Western United FC jersey will have the opportunity to be remembered forever.
Will the exciting Mediterranean combo of Alessandro Diamanti and Panagiotis Kone spark on their Hyundai A-League debuts? Or will one of United's promising youngsters, like Connor Pain or Apostolos Stamatopoulos, instantly become a legend?
As if there isn't enough interest in a brand new club's opening game, but head coach Rudan, captain Andrew Durante and goalkeeper Filip Kurto return to the club they thrilled the Hyundai A-League with in 2018/19.
Wellington Phoenix v Western United FC
Round 1 - Sunday 13 October 2019
Westpac Stadium
Kick-off: 4pm AEDT, 6pm local
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The battle for Victorian pride
The men in green and black will christen their new home turf at GMHBA Stadium with a Round 2 encounter with Hyundai A-League Premiers Perth Glory, but we skip forward to Round 3 for what will be Western United's first ever state derby.
The competition's next newest club, if you go by team name, Melbourne City FC, are the visitors.
With Melbourne Victory also occupied with the Original Derby against Adelaide United and the Big Blue rivalry with Sydney FC, could this all Victorian-clash become the Hyundai A-League next major territorial battle?
Both teams will be desperate to earn the first bragging rights in this contest. With City also under new management, Erick Mombaert's charges will be just as eager as Rudan's side to establish their own new identity and secure valuable points so early in the campaign.
Western United FC v Melbourne City FC
Round 3 - Sunday 27 October 2019
GMHBA Stadium
Kick-off: 6pm AEDT
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Reaching new frontiers
In what will seem like a relentless season of firsts for Western United FC, the last match of their inaugural calendar year, 2019, will be a Round 12 home encounter against Wellington Phoenix.
Unlike the six home matches which will have been played previously, this one will mark their arrival at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.
United will travel 90kms north east of the Victorian capital to engage with a whole new community of supporters in the Central Highlands, a key focus of their origin story.
And there may be another fascinating storyline to follow on this historic day. Will there be revenge in store on the banks of the Yarrowee River for the outcome in Round 1? There's potential for the birth of new Hyundai A-League feud to close out 2019.
Western United FC v Wellington Phoenix
Round 12 - Saturday 28 December 2019
Mars Stadium
Kick off: 5.15pm AEDT
