Defender Corey Brown will take on the leadership role as captain of Brisbane Roar’s National Youth League team, following the departure of Jason Geria to Melbourne Victory.
Defender Corey Brown will take on the leadership role as captain of Brisbane Roar-s National Youth League team, following the departure of Jason Geria to Melbourne Victory.
Brown, one of the club-s full-time youth players alongside George Lambadaridis and Nick Fitzgerald, is one of the most experienced players in John Sime-s squad having represented Australia at both U-17 and U-20 levels.
He has also played a senior match for Brisbane, the full 90 minutes against Beijing Guoan in last season-s final AFC Champions League match at Suncorp Stadium.
Brisbane-born Brown was pleased to have the faith of Brisbane Roar Youth Head Coach John Sime.
“He spoke to me the day Jason left saying he-s going to appoint me as captain,” Brown said.
“He said he had trust in me so it was good to see that the coaching staff me as a leader.
“It-s not about doing things differently but more of a leadership role.
“Hopefully it brings me closer to pushing for that first team spot which is what I want.”
Having played together at Australian Institute of Sport and for Australia-s U-20 side Qantas Young Socceroos, Brown and Geria had developed a strong understanding of each other-s play and were also close friends off the pitch.
“It-s great news for Jase,” Brown said.
“He-s finally doing what he wants to do, be a professional footballer.
“I wish him all the best but I miss him a lot already.”
Last weekend-s 1-0 win over Central Coast Mariners was Brown-s first match of the current National Youth League campaign, after weeks away with Qantas Young Socceroos and the 18-year-old was looking forward to his first home match this Sunday.
“It was good to finally play this season,” he said.
“I-ve been waiting all pre-season to play and I watched all the boys get results.
“I-d been overseas with the national team which is good in itself but you always miss the club and playing with the boys.”
The warm weather around Brisbane is set to continue over the weekend but Brown said prior experience would play its part as he prepared for the fixture.
“I-m hoping it cools down but doesn-t look like it-s going to,” he said.
“We should be more adapted to the heat than them so we should be able to come over the top of them in the last 20 minutes and hopefully we-re in a leading position by then anyway.
“I have played in some very hot place and the hottest would have to be Mexico in this place called Torreon.
“It was the round of 16 at the U-17 World Cup against Uzbekistan in the middle of the Mexican desert so after that, nothing will compare.”
Brisbane Roar Youth play Adelaide United Youth on Sunday, 2 December at Goodwin Park, Yeronga. Kick-off is at 4pm.
Tickets available at the gate – adults $5, concessions $2, U-15 and BRFC members free.
