United (docuseries)


United is a Network Ten and Amazon Prime Video sports docuseries. In the series, Australian A-League Men side Western United's progress was charted through their 2021–22 season, after their unenviable 10th-place finish in their previous season, and to become A-League Men champions for the first time.
The series was written and directed by Dan Jones and was executive produced by Silvio Salum and Vasili Papanicolou. The six episodes were released on 7 December 2022.

Background

were formed in 2018 as the Western Melbourne Group via a successful bid to enter the A-League Men; their inaugural season ultimately in 2019–20 finishing in the semi-finals within a COVID-19 pandemic struck finish. The following season in 2020–21; despite a promising first half to the league campaign, it would end out of the finals series spots at 10th place, with concerning outcomes based on consecutive losses to end the season. The club entered a set of issues such as no home ground, undergoing million dollar losses and sacking of head coach Mark Rudan, which ultimately would involve the replacement of John Aloisi for the 2021–22 season.

Plot

Western United started their league season in defeat to Melbourne Victory before claiming their first league win in 10 matches to then claim four consecutive wins and defeated again by Melbourne Victory at the end of 2021. They went a further 9 matches unbeaten, until ups and downs on results dropped them from second to third place spot, and missing out on the Premiership by four points at the conclusion of the regular season. They finished the league season in third place with 13 wins, 6 draws and 7 defeats at 45 points; the most in their history, qualifying for the finals series.
They won the elimination-finals against Wellington Phoenix 1–0 to qualify for the two-legged semi-finals against Melbourne Victory; losing the first leg 1–0, but recovering to win 4–1 to qualify for the Grand Final against Melbourne City, which they won 2–0; winning their first A-League Men Championship.

Episodes

Cast

Players

First-team players
The following first-team players make appearances in the docuseries.

Non-playing staff

Coaching and medical staff
Note: Age as of 1 July 2021
PositionNationNameAgeNotes
First-team Head Coach

Production and release

It was first announced on that Western United's journey towards their first A-League Men Championship would be implemented into a docuseries, along with the official trailer on 30 November 2022. All six episodes were released collectively on 7 December 2022.