This season’s A-League grand final sees two teams with players of incredible pedigree and incredible levels of firepower pitted against each other.
It is shaping up to be one of the greatest finals in the league’s history. However, it can often be the unsung heroes that have the greatest impact on a grand final. Look at Mark Bridge and his winning goal, Erik Paartalu and his bullet header or the workhorse-like effort by Iacopo La Rocca in last year’s decider, albeit to no avail.
While both teams have incredible players across the board, two in particular have flown under the radar, with the impact of both to be integral in the showdown at AAMI Park. For Melbourne Victory it is midfielder Carl Valeri, and for Sydney FC, defender Matthew Jurman.
Carl Valeri
Valeri has been a wonderful acquisition for the club after returning to Australia from Italy after 12 years. In a season where Mark Milligan has only played 19 games due to injury and other commitments, the Victory have been able to rely on the work ethic and metronomic passing of the former Socceroo.
His value to the team has been forgotten somewhat at times, due to the incredible talent Melbourne Victory have in the front third with players such as Besart Berisha, Gui Finkler, Kosta Barbarouses and Milligan in midfield all pushing the Victory towards the premiership. However, it is players such as Valeri who do the so-called ‘dirty work’; winning tackles, starting attacking forays and playing the enforcer role that makes a team tick.
When compared to Sydney FC’s midfield enforcer for much of the season, Milos Dimitrijevic, or Adelaide’s equivalent James Jeggo, Valeri has shone. He has made more tackles (50) than either player and has a better winning percentage of aerial duels. His ability to get his hands dirty and roll up his sleeves, covering every blade of grass, makes him an invaluable asset to any team.
Further, the 30-year-old is a prime example of Socceroos who are thinking of coming home to ply their trade in the A-League. After giving up the Italian dream, Valeri has mentioned on many occasions how happy he is back in Australia, and with games such as the Melbourne Derby semi-final, the atmosphere is as good as any heavyweight meeting in Europe.
Come Sunday, Valeri’s ability to shut down the creative force of Dimitrijevic, and help to nullify Sydney’s attack with the constant threat of Marc Janko, will make for an intriguing battle throughout the course of the evening. Whoever wins those duels will no doubt be holding aloft the trophy as the A-League’s best team.
Matthew Jurman
One of the shining lights throughout Sydney FC’s charge up the table was the re-emergence of the undoubtedly talented Matthew Jurman. The former Sydney Olympic and Brisbane Roar player was given an opportunity at centre-back when Nikola Petkovic was played at left-back, and the team never looked back with Jurman in particular going form strength to strength.
The 25-year-old has been outstanding, having started the last 10 consecutive games, earning plaudits for his defensive efforts and maturity beyond his years. When compared to more senior and distinguished players in the league, such as defensive counterpart Matthew Delpierre, the statistics do not lie. Jurman has won just as many tackles and aerial duels, with a similar percentage of duels won, while he has managed to make more clearances over the course of the season.
In conjunction with his impressive defensive displays, Jurman has developed an instinctive and imposing partnership with fellow centre-back Jacques Faty. The two, flanked by Petkovic and Ryall, combine for a settled and cohesive defensive line, something missing from the initial stages of Sydney’s season. While all represent crucial cogs in the team’s play, Jurman has been an unsung hero.
This game represents the biggest test in his career, against one of the best players in the league, Berisha. The Albanian will look to ruffle him physically and impose his style of play against his younger opponent, all the while looking to involve fellow players and catch the Sydney defender out of place. He will prove to be a greater challenge than any player from Adelaide was able to provide in last week’s fixture. But should Jurman keep his fellow former Brisbane player at bay, then he will surely deserve to have a winners medal around his neck come full time.
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