Brisbane Roar were the surprise packet of the 2015-16 Hyundai A-League campaign. Everyone wrote them off, no one thought they had a chance in any respects. To just take the field in round one was a success for the club, after an offseason filled with financial troubles.
Low and behold, seven months later and Brisbane were only one game away from the Championship and only finished one point off first place in the regular season. No one saw that coming.
Through a combination of hard work, quality coaching and passion for the game, the Roar were able to play free flowing football and prove to the A-League that they are still a force to be reckoned with.
MORE: A-League season report cards
The Story
After a tumultuous offseason, the bar was set quite low. Teams and fans alike expected Brisbane to cave to off-field stresses, turn into a limp team and barely make it through. The team was filled with minimal new faces, an aging Spaniard, a young striker with unknown potential and very similar names across the field.
Mainly due to their home form throughout the regular season, consisting of 11 wins, two draws and only one loss across 14 games, Brisbane was able to finish in third. Their charge to the top of the table fell at the last hurdle with a 0-0 draw against Melbourne Victory.
Then there was the finals. If there was one word to describe their finals campaign it would be entertaining. A 2-1 win against the Victory thanks to a last minute goal from Thomas Broich was followed up by one of the greatest games the A-League has ever seen, a 5-4 loss to the Western Sydney Wanderers. While they may have seen defeat, Brisbane managed to win over fans across the league.
Key Player – Corona
Brisbane’s form this season is mainly down to the collective team effort. Each player played an integral role in the success enjoyed by the boys in orange, however, there must be a key player.
While Jamie Maclaren was incredible, scoring goals everywhere he went, the key player for Brisbane this season was Corona. The 35-year-old, a product of the Real Madrid youth system, was a surprise singing from Almeria, the Spanish second division team, and proved to be the best signing of 2015-16.
His passing was second to none, ending the season as number one on the list of total passes, a whole 180 more than second and with an accuracy of 81%. This is not to mention finishing with the fourth most crosses made, chiming in with five assists, two goals and an average of 2.1 tackles per game as well as winning 88% of take-ons attempted. If Matt McKay is the heartbeat of the team, then Corona was truly the brain.
Manager
This season marked the coming of age for John Aloisi. After various stints as a youth team coach, and a notable failure at the helm of Melbourne City, the expectations were low. He was brought in to steady the ship, bring some heart to the team, and show that the second chanced granted to him by the club was worth their while.
After making one of his most integral signings, placing brother Ross as his assistant, Aloisi proceeded to make a mockery of early season judgements, propelling the team to unbelievable heights, shrugging of all the off-field pressure and creating a team that played without fear and as a close knit group of footballers.
Furthermore, his relationship with the media was important. As a former Fox Sports critic and Socceroo, Aloisi generated a friendly rapport with reporters and pundits, creating a mutual respect. His passion on the sidelines pushed the club forward and combined with the execution of his game plan, Brisbane became the force we know and love under his tutelage. Great things are already expected next season.
Off-season recruitment
Brisbane have wasted no time in the offseason, cutting Steven Lustica, Javier Hervas and Jean Carlos Solorzano. This combines with the retirement of Shane Stefanutto and leaves a few holes for Aloisi to fill.
But the regeneration has begun. Young defenders Kye Rowles and Connor O’Toole, 17 and 19 respectively, have already signed. Rowles comes with a huge reputation as a future Socceroo and has trialled with Club Brugge, while O’Toole will be competing with Brown for the left-back position and will surely push his way into first team consideration.
Should Brisbane also sign a quality midfielder and another striker then a tilt at the premiership next season is definitely not out of the equation. This time around was an absolute success, in terms of where they started and finished. The club will hope to build on this in seasons to come.
Final Grade – A
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