Brisbane Roar make the trip to Commbank Stadium to face Western Sydney Wanderers in Isuzu UTE A-League Round 8 action on Saturday night.
Roar aim to kick start their season with three points against a Wanderers side who start the weekend in ninth position on the league table.
Ruben Zadkovich’s side look to bounce back after suffering a disappointing 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Melbourne City in their last outing.
The Wanderers, who triumphed 2-0 over City in their last match come into the weekend’s match off the back of a bye.
Saturday’s match pits two of the competition’s most exciting young Australian players against one another in Nicolas Milanovic, who is the league’s top scorer with five goals to his name going up against Thomas Waddingham who is the equal second highest scoring Australian with three strikes so far this season.
Roar are unbeaten in their last six league meetings with the Wanderers in a run that stretches back to May 2021.
WHAT WAS SAID
“My belief never wavers … the tide will turn.”
Where we are right now is not where we’ll end up. We would like that change to happen quicker … (but) unfortunately for us, we’ve got some individuals that are making crucial mistakes in moments, and it’s costing us goals, and that’s something that we’re looking to rectify.
The responsibility’s on me, and I’m enjoying embracing the hardships of trying to keep this group together and the belief high, and continue the process of improvement.” Ruben Zadkovich
“I’ve been through tough times like this before and the only way we get out of it is sticking together, working hard.
We’ve been looking at our video, working with the coaches and we’ve still got full belief in our processes and the way that we are moving forward.
But it’s up to us to stick together and I think you always fall back on your processes and your hard work, that’s what kind of gets you through it.” – Jack Hingert
TEAM NEWS
For Roar’s A-League men, Ben Halloran returns to the extended squad ahead of Saturday’s trip to face the Wanderers after missing last weekend’s match against Melbourne City as a precautionary measure.
Quinn MacNicol, who looks to play his first minutes of the new campaign and Adam Zimarino have been added to the squad for Saturday’s match.
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 in Brisbane this weekend as a precautionary measure as the club manages the pairs load after returning from injury in recent weeks.
Brisbane Roar Squad: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 4. Ben WARLAND, 6. Joe CALETTI, 8. Walid SHOUR, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 11. Neicer ACOSTA, 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 (two to be omitted)
INS: 27. Ben HALLORAN, 30. Quinn MACNICOL, 43. Adam ZIMARINO
OUTS: 2. Scott NEVILLE, 3. Corey BROWN, 7. Rafael STRUICK
UNAVAILABLE: 7. Rafael STRUICK (international duty)
LAST TIME WE MET
Roar defeated Wanderers 2-1 at Commbank Stadium in April thanks to goals from Tom Aldred and Henry Hore.
Wanderers found the back of the net through Dylan Pierias and were denied a share of the spoils by a brilliant 91st minute Macklin Freke penalty save.
Roar are unbeaten in their last six league meetings with the Wanderers in a run that stretches back to May 2021.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 37
Brisbane Roar wins:14
Western Sydney Wanderers wins: 11
Draws: 12
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 – Round 8: Western Sydney Wanderers vs Brisbane Roar
Commbank Stadium, Sydney
Saturday, 14 December (6:35pm KO)
