Head Coach John Aloisi says tomorrow’s clash in regional Victoria will be another good measure of how his side are coming along in pre-season.
The Roar will mark 50 days to do until the Round 1 clash at Suncorp Stadium with a pre-season fixture against defending champions Melbourne at Morwell’s Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Stadium (2:30pm KO).
It will be the Roar’s first meeting against the Victory since the team’s impressive 2-1 victory at AAMI Park back in February.
“It’s another good test for us to see where we’re at against a side who has been really strong over the past few years, and won the championship last season,” Aloisi said.
“I’m sure they’ll want to come out and test themselves because they didn’t have a good result in the FFA Cup [losing 2-1 to APIA Leichhardt in the Round of 16].
“We know it’s still pre-season but these games are important for us because we want to be ready come Round 1.”
A number of fresh faces are in line to feature for the Victory, including former Brisbane defender Corey Brown while a number of new BRFC recruits will make their first interstate trip.
The Roar will also use the trip to the town approximately 150km outside of Melbourne as a guide for the Round 4 trip clash against the Wanderers in Mudgee – 270km north-west of Sydney.
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“Early on in this season we’re playing the Wanderers in Mudgee. We need to get used to the travel and the preparation,” Aloisi continued.
A relatively early start to pre-season preparations has placed the Roar in good stead with still a tick over seven weeks until they host the Mariners at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, 21 October.
With a handful of pre-season fixtures still to be played, Aloisi’s side will use each outing to prepare for season 2018/19.
“We’ve actually worked really hard in this period – it’s probably been our heaviest block,” he added.
“The boys have coped with it well and I’m so happy with the progression so far this pre-season. Tomorrow afternoon we’ll be looking for continued improvement on our last game.”
“We want to win every game and get better every session, but we’re preparing not only for Round 1, but the 30 games to be played this season. We want to be there on Grand Final Day.”
Brisbane will be gunning for a record-breaking ninth straight Hyundai A-League Finals appearance at the pointy end of the season, but a hunger for success across the playing group means this season’s goals go much further than finals qualification.
“In every sport, if you have a good pre-season, that translates into the season. Not only in terms of results but the new players getting the chance to gel and it’s been important that most of our squad have stayed fit and healthy during pre-season,” Aloisi said.
“There has been a lot of success at this football club, and when it hasn’t been there, that hunger really comes back again because you’re desperate for that feeling again – not only the supporters, but throughout the whole club.
“There is nothing better than winning trophies and there is a real hunger here. Every player here is a winner and wants to win again.”
Follow us on Twitter for LIVE updates from Morwell tomorrow from 2:30pm
MATCH DETAILS
Hyundai A-League pre-season fixture: Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Latrobe City Sports & Entertainment Stadium
Saturday, 1 September (2:30pm KO)
