Brisbane Roar midfielder Thomas Broich admits he didn’t plan on staying in Australia long-term when he originally signed for the club but he’ll mark his 100th Hyundai A-League match when he takes the field against Newcastle Jets at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Brisbane Roar midfielder Thomas Broich admits he didn-t plan on staying in Australia long-term when he originally signed for the club but he-ll mark his 100th Hyundai A-League match when he takes the field against Newcastle Jets at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
The German playmaker originally signed a three year contract in May 2010 before extending his deal by four seasons in 2012, meaning he-s at the Roar until the end of the 2016/17 season.
He-s achieved plenty in his adopted country – one Johnny Warren Medal for the competition-s best player, two Gary Wilkins Medals for Player of the Year at the club as well as two Championships and one Premiers Plate alongside tags of the Hyundai A-League most influential import, or even player.
But in his usual style, Broich was quick to downplay his achievements ahead of his milestone match but said he was happy with life in Brisbane, on and off the football pitch.
“I thought I-d stay two or three years and it was never my plan to stay this long,” he explained.
“I kind of surprised myself that I actually love it that much here and as you know, I-m locked in for another three years.”
Head Coach Mike Mulvey said Broich-s individual qualities were well documented but acknowledged the 33-year-old-s focus was always on the collective effort.
“But what I will say is that what along with that is the hard work off the ball and if there-s one thing I can say about Thomas is that he-s a team player,” he said.
“It-s about the team – I know he feels a bit awkward with personal praise but he-s also mature enough to know it-s part of the journey.”
With two of Brisbane-s four losses so far this season coming against this weekend-s opponents, Broich said his team were up for the challenge against the Jets on Sunday.
Newcastle haven-t won any of their past seven Hyundai A-League matches with their last win coming against the Roar in Brisbane on December 20.
Broich refused to call the Jets their “bogey team”, instead choosing to shift the focus to the fact Brisbane could go ten points clear at the top of the table with a victory.
“Last time we played them, they managed to get a goal just before half time, they defended well, they were very desperate that day and we were lacking creativity,” he said.
“Sometimes that happens, we just have to make sure it doesn-t happen too often.
“For us, it-s a massive chance, our nearest opponents are not playing this weekend and if we can get this one right, we-ll be in a really good position.”
This weekend-s match at Suncorp Stadium also marks the first time a foreign referee has taken charge of a Hyundai A-League match with Takuto Okabe from Japan appointed to officiate.
Sunday, 16 February 2014
Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 4:00pm local
Referee: Takuto Okabe (JPN)
Assistant Referee 1: Brad Hobson
Assistant Referee 2: Ashley Beecham
Fourth Official: Alan Milliner
TV Broadcast: 5.00pm (AEDT) Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 2HD and Delayed Broadcast on Sky Sport 1 (New Zealand).
Radio Broadcast: 612 ABC Brisbane, Local Radio QLD, 1233 ABC Newcastle, Online/A-League Live Mobile phone app
Brisbane Roar squad: 1.Michael THEO, 2.Matthew SMITH (c), 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 5.Ivan FRANJIC, 7.Besart BERISHA, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 10.HENRIQUE, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Diogo FERREIRA, 15.James DONACHIE, 16.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Matthew ACTON (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 26.Corey BROWN **One to be omitted**
Ins: 19.Jack HINGERT (promoted), 26.Corey BROWN (promoted)
Outs: 11.Liam MILLER (suspended – one week)
Unavailable: 17.Matt McKAY (ankle – one week), 25.George LAMBADARDIS (knee – season)
Newcastle Jets squad: 1.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 3.Taylor REGAN, 4.Kew JALIENS, 6.Zenon CARAVELLA, 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (c), 9.Emile HESKEY, 11.Craig GOODWIN, 12.Connor CHAPMAN, 13.Joey GIBBS, 15.Josh BRILLANTE, 16.Jacob PEPPER, 17.James VIRGILI, 19.Michael BRIDGES, 21.Sam GALLAWAY, 20.Ben KENNEDY (gk), 22.Adam TAGGART, 23.David CARNEY, 24.Mitch OXBORROW **Two to be omitted**
Ins: 9.Emile Heskey (returns from injury), 17.James VIRGILI (promoted), 12.Connor CHAPMAN (promoted), 23.David CARNEY (promoted)
Outs: 7.Andrew HOOLE (suspended – one week), 27.Nick WARD (knee – short term)
Unavailable: 2.Scott NEVILLE (knee injury – long term), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI (knee – short term), 25.Mitch COOPER (knee injury – long term), 29.Joel GRIFFITHS (suspension – one week)
