Death, taxes, the world’s longest off-season. Certain things in life may be unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean we have to like them.
So it is a mere 182 days after Brisbane Roar’s Men’s team last kicked a ball in A-League anger – a 2-1 ANZAC Day defeat to this week’s opponent Perth Glory – the boys in orange are finally back in action.
How do we know this isn’t all just a fever dream? Because almost six months to the day since that final-round defeat – which, coincidentally, felt like the last time it rained in Brisbane – the heavens have opened.
It wouldn’t be the start of a new A-League Men’s season without some inclement weather, and the rain gods have duly obliged.
A forecast that could politely be described as “chucking it down” suggests Friday’s showdown with Perth Glory could be a somewhat scrappy affair on a heavy Suncorp Stadium surface.
But that doesn’t mean coach Michael Valkanis and his men won’t be itching to get down to business, especially after last weekend’s Round 1 clash with Adelaide United was postponed.
That has meant the club has been forced to wait an extra week to get their season under way on the back of what was an intriguing opening round of fixtures.
Glory themselves probably thought they had done enough to down Macarthur when Welsh import Tom Lawrence opened the scoring on the hour mark in Campbelltown.
But a twice-taken Ryan Fraser penalty incurred the wrath of Glory coach Adam Griffiths – “they were looking for something,” he said after goalkeeper Matt Sutton had originally saved Fraser’s initial spot-kick – and ensured Glory will run out under the Friday night lights with a bee in their bonnet after conceding a late Jonathan Aspropotamitis winner in a 2-1 defeat last time out.
So the home team will need to be on their guard against a team that has proved a tricky opponent in recent years, particularly with a familiar face in Henry Hore in Glory’s attack.
But after such a disappointing finish to last season’s campaign – yes, we all know what happened and no, we don’t need to discuss it – there’s every reason to expect the home team to fire up on Friday night.
In have come the likes of Joel King and Tate Russell to strengthen the defence, the returning Tom Aldred needs no introduction, Sabit Ngor and Marko Ilic should provide an X-factor and Moldovan striker Virgiliu Postolachi cut his teeth at French superclub Paris Saint-Germain.
But it’s the signings of former South Korean international Nam Tae-hee and ex-Fulham midfielder Tyrese Francois that should get fans genuinely excited, with the pair a real step up in pedigree from the average A-League signing.
If Nam can stay fit – and he featured in 39 games for K League side Jeju United in his last season in South Korea – then Brisbane Roar may well have signed one of the most effective creative talents in the league.
Much will hinge on whether Postolachi can get up to speed quickly on the A-League’s hard pitches, but if the Moldovan can find his feet – and the weather won’t faze him on Friday – then Roar fans should have every reason to feel confident of a change of fortunes this season.
I know, I know. We said the same thing last season!
But that was then and this is now, and if you can’t go into a new season sporting an almost certainly misguided belief that your team is going to win it all, then what’s the point?
Welcome back, crushing lows and dizzying highs! We’ve missed you.
Mike Tuckerman
About Mike Tuckerman: Mike is a freelance football journalist and long-time Brisbane Roar watcher. He has written for the ABC, The Guardian, Australian Football Weekly, Football Australia and theroar.com.au.
