It’s that time of year again, finals.
What an engrossing encounter in prospect for week one of the finals after last week’s dramatic draw between the sides.
Brisbane Roar will rue the missed opportunity to clinch the Premiers Plate, while a second string Melbourne Victory can use that gritty display as a source of inspiration for Friday night’s elimination final at Suncorp Stadium.
Outside90 sought the thoughts of Nic Hines from The Den and MV.net‘s Jason Bevilacqua to analyse their teams, pick apart the opposition and the upcoming clash.
- How would you sum up Victory/Roar fans?
Hines: You have to appreciate the numbers that show up each week and the North Terrace sticking to their beliefs after their non-negotiable demands weren’t met. But the levels of arrogance after they win and saltiness when they lose are staggering.
Bevilacqua: They have some passionate fans, it’s just a shame more of the Brisbane public don’t get out to games.
- Which Victory/Roar player do you rate the most?
Hines: Finkler, his free kicks are on another level. I would have liked to see the Roar make a play for him.
Bevilacqua: Maclaren. He has taken that extra step this season, going from super sub at Perth Glory to deadly striker. He’ll be the one to watch on Friday.
- What would you rate the season just concluded out of 10?
Hines: 8/10. What a dramatic finish. No-one could have predicted how this season would have panned out. Adelaide going from wooden spoon contenders to title winners. Both of last year’s grand finalists struggling, and Brisbane going from almost being wound up to one game away from the winning the title, it will be a season to remember for some time.
Bevilacqua: 5/10. Trying to defend our title from sixth is less than ideal after a disappointing year, but we’re still in it, and we can still do it.
- If you were Aloisi/Muscat how would you set up for this clash tactically?
Hines: Well, we all dream of team of Jamie Young’s, however I think JA should stick with the same team as last week. Oar can only get better with more game time and we will hopefully see Borrello used off the bench this week.
4-1-2-2-1: Young; Hingert, Donachie, North, Brown; Corona; Petratos, McKay; Oar, Maclaren; Broich.
Bevilacqua: For the first time in months, Kevin has just about every player to pick from.
4-3-3: Thomas; Georgievski, Delpierre, Broxham, Geria; Valeri, Bozanic, Finkler; Khalfallah, Berisha, Barbarouses.
5. How disappointing was it not to win the Premiers Plate last Saturday night?
Hines: It was devastating. We had about 200 people come to Hotel LA just to watch the game. Pregame I was a mix of anxious, nervous and excited, thinking about how far we had come as a club this season and how much winning the title would mean. But from the second minute when we missed an absolute sitter it just didn’t feel right. We had so many chances just couldn’t convert. Once the final whistle blew I sat staring into nothingness thinking about what could have been for about 15 minutes after the game.
5.1 How proud were you of a second-string Victory to deny Brisbane a Premiers Plate at home?
Bevilacqua: It was perhaps the most memorable moment of our season to date. In a season where we have had our backs against the wall, it was great to pull out a real underdog-type result. It felt like a win, so much so that I was kind of expecting Daryl Braithwaite’s Horses to be played over the AAMI Park PA in what has now become a tradition after Victory wins.
- Who will be more important to getting the win in your opinion?
Hines: Broich. He is a big game player, his vision and skills will be what gets us over the line on Friday night.
Bevilacqua: Valeri and Berisha. Both shouldn’t be even playing this game for different reasons, but we have them in the starting XI on Friday night and Brisbane Roar will be very nervous I would think. Valeri is the ace up our sleeve, while Besart will be giving grief to the Roar defence all evening.
- Prediction, thoughts leading into the match?
Hines: Brisbane at home are a completely different team. Our home record this year shows that. Last time we faced MV at home we smashed them 5-0, while this time I don’t see it being that sort of scoreline I can see us putting a few in the back of the net and claiming the win.
Bevilacqua: I go into this one full of confidence. We’re a completely different side to the one that lost 5-0 at Suncorp in March. Victory 2-0 with a Berisha double, just to really rub it in.
- One word answer when you hear the name:
Hines:
Muscat – Arrogant
Berisha – Mental
Valeri – Meh
Broxham – DJBrox
Barbarouses – Who?
Bevilacqua:
Aloisi: Soon-To-Be-Throwing-Bottles-In-The-Dressingroom-With-His-Brother
Maclaren: Lethal
Broich: Class
McKay: Harry-High-Pants
Corona: Only-With-Lemon
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