18-year-old home-grown defender Lucas Herrington capped his final match at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, helping the Roar seal a crucial home win before his January move to Major League Soccer (MLS) side Colorado Rapids in the USA.
While Herrington still has several matches for the Roar ahead of his move, the match marked his final fixture at Suncorp, and it was a memorable one. The tense 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory extended the Roar’s unbeaten streak to four games and lifted them to second place on the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder.
Herrington was key in securing the win, making crucial tackles, clearances, and blocks to shut down Victory’s forwards. “I think the boys fought really well and deserved the three points. It was really special to play in front of a good crowd and finish on a win here at Suncorp,” Herrington said. The 8,218-strong home crowd lifted the men in orange and gave the team an extra edge on the pitch.
The Roar have been formidable at home this season, unbeaten and yet to concede on home soil. “We really enjoy playing here. All the boys really appreciate the home support,” Herrington said.
A Brisbane local through and through, Herrington played for Toowong FC, Taringa Rovers, and Brisbane City before joining the Roar academy in 2019. He worked his way through the youth system before making his senior debut as a 17-year-old in December 2024 in a 2-2 draw with the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Since then, the 6’4” defender has become a cornerstone of the Roar’s backline. In his impressive debut season, he won 70% of his duels and 72.1% of his aerial contests, earning him the club’s 2024/25 Young Player of the Year award.
Herrington has also represented Australia at U17, U18 and U19 levels and was part of the winning U20 AFC Asian Cup Young Socceroos side in February along with representing the team at the U20 FIFA World Cup this year.
With friends and family in the stands, the match held extra significance for the young Brisbane defender who grew up watching matches from the Suncorp terraces.
“It was pretty surreal. I’ve been a fan in the crowd for the past 13 years, and I’ve been lucky enough to play in front of them for the last year and a half. It meant a lot,” he reflected.
The home-grown talent is regarded as one of Australia’s brightest young prospects and signed a four-year deal with the Colorado Rapids in August this year for a club-record transfer fee.
“[The MLS] is an expanding league, with a lot of top players. I think it’s going to be a really good step for me. I’m feeling a bit of everything. Excited and nervous,” he reflected.
From a Brisbane Roar academy player to a first-team defensive mainstay, Herrington is a true local success story and is set for a bright future in the MLS.
Herrington’s next match for the Roar will be this Sunday, as the team travels to South Australia to face Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 6:35pm AEST.
