The Great Dane, a Socceroo legend and our two fullbacks are just a few of a number of strong contributors to Brisbane’s start to the season.
Thomas Kristensen
The Great Dane has been one of the Roar’s standout players in his first Hyundai A-League season and has played every minute bar the second half on Saturday night against Sydney FC.
Going forward, TK, as he is known by the playing group, opened his Brisbane Roar account with a well-struck shot in Round 3 against Central Coast before adding a second with an incredible strike against the Sky Blues. Alongside Jamie Maclaren, he is the only Roar player to have netted twice this season.
On the ball he leads the squad for passes (378) and sits in the league’s top 20 for combined passes & passing accuracy, with his rate of 85.2% success only bettered by Luke DeVere
It’s his contribution off the ball that has won him the praise of many. Kristensen leads the Roar for both tackles attempted (26) interceptions (27) and has often been an impassible object between opposition midfields and attacks.
Brett Holman
The 63-time Socceroo has become a pivotal link in Brisbane’s attack in his first season in Australia in over a decade.
One of five players to find the net in the opening seven matches, he has featured in every Hyundai A-League fixture so far and has gone within inches of scoring more on numerous occasions.
His 161 completed passes at 72.2% sees him alongside three Roar teammates in the league’s top 20 for passing & passing accuracy, contributing to the five chances he has created.
Holman has also won the majority of tackles he’s been involved in, as well as making a number of crucial tackles and interceptions.
The tale of two fullbacks
Fullbacks Corey Brown and Jack Hingert are two of just four squad members to have played every minute so far this season.
While central defenders have often been required to defend against opposition’s most publicised attacking threats, the work of the two fullbacks consistently thwarting the presence of wide attackers has strongly contributed to Brisbane’s tight defensive record this season.
Hingert has made more touches (553) than any other Brisbane player this season while Corey Brown has been named as Man of the Match in the last two matches at Suncorp Stadium.
Brown provided an incredible assist from the left wing for Jamie Maclaren against Perth Glory, while the duo’s performances against Melbourne City wide attackers was a key aspect of an historical defensive performance from the Roar that did not allow City a single shot on target for just the second time in the Victorian club’s history.
Both fullbacks are passing with an accuracy over 75%, have won the majority of duels and are tackling at over 70%.
Michael Theo
He’s one of the Hyundai A-League’s foundation players, has been involved in almost half of the Championship winning sides in the competition’s history and despite turning 35 this season, says he’s still got a few years left in him.
His performance between the posts against Sydney FC was heralded as one of the great goalkeeping performances.
Theo made five saves throughout the encounter, most notably from two one-on-one situations in the first half before a game-saving block in the dying stages against Bernie Ibini.
The experienced goalkeeper has played every minute of the season so far and is a strong contributor to Brisbane’s strong defensive record, with only the Sky Blues conceding less goals than the Roar.
