Brisbane Roar are up against Perth Glory in their final home match of 2024 at Suncorp Stadium in Isuzu UTE A-League Round 9 action on Saturday afternoon.
The two sides head into Saturday’s contest eager to kick start their season with three points with the pair sitting level at the bottom of the A-League ladder, with two points apiece.
Roar look to build on a battling 2-2 draw with Western Sydney Wanders at CommBank Stadium in their last outing which saw Ruben Zadkovich’s side find the back of the net through Thomas Waddingham and an own goal, while Brandon Borrello struck twice for the hosts.
Waddingham’s first half strike takes him to four goals for the 2024/25 campaign, a tally only bettered by Wellington’s Kosta Barbarouses and the Wanderers, Nicolas Milanovic who have each scored five goals this season.
Saturday’s draw in Western Sydney also saw 17-year-old defender, Lucas Herrington put in an impressive shift in the heart of the defence on his A-League debut.
Adam Zimarino, who made his first start A-League start for the club on Saturday could face his former side this weekend.
Zimarino is one of several ex-Glory players in the Roar squad alongside Scott Neville, Keegan Jelacic and Antonee Burke-Gilroy while Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich and assistant Chris Coyne were also previously at Perth.
Perth Glory suffered a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Newcastle Jets last weekend and will equal a competition record run of 19 straight winless games if they fail to beat Brisbane on Saturday.
Saturday’s match which kicks off at 4pm AEST starts a run which sees the Roar play three of their next four games at home over the Christmas and New Year period.
WHAT WAS SAID
“It sounds funny but they all seem like big games at the moment because obviously we need the points, but it’s a great opportunity.
We’ve been through a very difficult start which everyone knows about now, but we’re fit and we’re healthy, we’ve got a real togetherness in the squad and we get an opportunity at home now to play a team that I know they’re going to come out fighting and swinging because they’re like us they’re desperate so it’ll be a really good contest.” – Ruben Zadkovich
“We’re more fired up than ever, we obviously still stick to our processes and we’re building each week.
We got a positive point last week against Western Sydney Wanderers and we’re looking to build on that heading into Christmas with a win.” – Ben Warland
TEAM NEWS
Roar are boosted by the return of Keegan Jelacic, who is named in the match day squad after missing last weekend’s clash against Western Sydney Wanderers with a shoulder complaint.
Rafael Struick is away on international duty with Indonesia at the ASEAN Championships, with the forward due to return either late this month or early January dependant upon how deep his country goes into the tournament.
Defensive duo, Scott Neville and Corey Brown will remain sidelined this week as the club continues to manage their return from respective injury concerns.
Brisbane Roar Isuzu UTE A-League Men Squad: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 4. Ben WARLAND, 6. Joe CALETTI, 8. Walid SHOUR, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 12. Lucas HERRINGTON, 15. Hosine BILITY, 16. Thomas WADDINGHAM, 17. Harry VAN DER SAAG, 18. Jacob BRAZETE, 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), 30. Quinn MACNICOL, 35. Louis ZABALA, 43. Adam ZIMARINO
Ins: 6. Joe CALETTI, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 24. Sam KLEIN
Outs: 11. Neicer ACOSTA
Unavailable: 7. Rafael STRUICK (international duty)
LAST TIME WE MET
A pair of second half goals from Henry Hore and Jay O’Shea sealed a 2-1 win over Perth Glory when the two sides last went head-to-head at Suncorp Stadium.
Roar are unbeaten in their last five home matches against the Glory in a run that stretches back to January, 2019.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 54
Brisbane Roar wins: 27
Perth Glory wins: 16
Draws: 11
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 – Round 9: Brisbane Roar FC v Perth Glory FC
Suncorp Stadium, Milton
Saturday, 21 December (4:00pm AEST KO)
TICKETS
