Brisbane Roar have locked in their travelling squad for Saturday’s 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League season opener against Auckland at Go Media Stadium with eight players in the mix to make their league debuts for the club.
It’s been a busy off season for Head Coach, Ruben Zadkovich, who has overseen his first transfer window at the helm in Brisbane with eleven new faces arriving ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
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New recruits Rafael Struick, Neicer Acosta, Walid Shour, Harry Van Der Saag, Ben Warland, Hosine Bility and Adam Zimarino are all in the mix to make their first league appearances for the club.
Struick links up with the squad after appearing in World Cup qualifiers against China and Bahrain which included a goal against the former across the course of the international break.
Additionally, Ben Halloran who is back for a second stint at his home-town club could make his first league appearance since returning to Roar after time away that’s seen him play in the likes of Germany, Japan and Korea.
Young Queensland duo Sam Klein and Ivan Ozzi, who both signed Youth Development Agreements ahead of the 2024/25 season have both been named in the travelling squad.
Ozzi, who made his first senior appearance for the club on the Roar’s pre-season tour of India and top scored for Young Roar with eight goals in the NPL in 2024 is in line to make his A-League debut.
Klein played his maiden A-League match for Roar in 2022 and returns to the club after impressing with 2024 NPL Premiership winners, Gold Coast Knights.
Scott Neville continues to work his way back from a knee injury that kept him out for the back end of last season as he builds towards a return to action in November.
Marcus Ferkranus also sidelined for round one with a lower body injury.
Corey Brown misses Saturday’s season opener through suspension after being sent off in Roar’s Australia Cup clash against Perth Glory, while young-gun Quinn MacNicol is away on Joeys duty.
Saturday’s season match against Auckland kicks off at 2pm AEST at Go Media Stadium and will be broadcast live on Paramount+.
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 4. Ben WARLAND, 6. Joe CALETTI, 7. Rafael STRUICK, 8. Walid SHOUR, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 11. Neicer ACOSTA, 15. Hosine BILITY, 16. Thomas WADDINGHAM, 17. Harry VAN DER SAAG, 19. Jack HINGERT, 21. Antonee BURKE-GILROY, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 24. Sam KLEIN, 26. Jay O’SHEA (C), 27. Ben HALLORAN, 29. Matt ACTON (GK), 35. Louis ZABALA, 43. Adam ZIMARINO, 49. Ivan OZZI. (two to be omitted)
Unavailable: 2. Scott NEVILLE (knee), 3. Corey BROWN (suspension), 5. Marcus FERKRANUS (knee), 30. Quinn MACNICOL (international duty)
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 – Round 1: Auckland FC vs Brisbane Roar
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Saturday, 19 October (2:00pm KO AEST)
