It’s not every day Brisbane Roar fans can go into a crucial A-League Men’s clash feeling quietly confident of claiming all three points.
But in the form the two sides are currently in, there’s no reason to believe Michael Valkanis’ men can’t extend their three-game unbeaten streak and put the Victorians to the sword.
Lachlan Brook might have stunned Dean Bouzanis with one of the free-kicks of the season in Auckland’s 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar last Saturday, but it was one-way traffic after that.
Michael Ruhs was unlucky not to open his account when he rattled the crossbar 33 minutes in, but he then went and did the next best thing when his slide-rule pass played in Justin Vidic to bury the equaliser.
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And had the bounce of the ball favoured the men in orange, they might have taken all three points.
But they might also have left the City of Sails with nothing as well, after Francis de Vries thumped the angle of the post and crossbar with a stoppage-time free-kick that was somehow even more spectacular than Brook’s successful first-half effort.
Such are the fine margins in football.
“I was very proud of our performance,” Valkanis said in the wake of the 1-1 draw in Auckland.
“I thought, in the first half, we were very much so the more dominant side
“We created clear-cut chances that could have (led to) a different situation in terms of the result,” he added.
But having conceded only three goals in their five games so far, Bouzanis and his defenders will hardly feel overawed by the visit of a Victory side that has only scored four goals of their own.
Which is not to say that Victory possess zero attacking weapons.
Any team that contains a former World Cup winner in Juan Mata is always going provide a threat going forward.
But having been held scoreless by Sydney FC in a 3-0 defeat at a rain-swept Leichhardt Oval last time out, the visitors won’t exactly arrive in Brisbane brimming with confidence.
They won’t enjoy a hostile reception from The Den either, with the visit of Melbourne Victory having always been one of the highlight fixtures on the calendar.
With the club offering 2-for-1 tickets for what is the last home game of the year, there’s no better time to jump back on the Brisbane Roar bandwagon.
A tough stretch on the road awaits – including quickfire trips to both Adelaide and Parramatta, before the calendar year finishes with a couple more away games in Campbelltown and Gosford.
With the team currently only four points off top spot, now is the time to start banking those wins and laying the platform for a genuine run at the finals.
This time last season, this was a fixture that would have struck fear into the hearts of Brisbane Roar fans.
Not anymore.
After holding one of the strongest teams in the competition to a 1-1 draw last weekend, it’s time to dream big.
It’s been almost two years since Brisbane Roar defeated Melbourne Victory in A-League Men’s action – a 3-2 defeat in November 2023 in which Tommy Waddingham nabbed the winner.
That was the same scoreline the A-League Women’s team just downed Victory by in their season opener at Spencer Park.
Coincidence? Or a sign of things to come?
Whatever happens on Friday night, one thing is clear.
Our football is so much more enjoyable when there are fans in the stands creating an atmosphere.
So grab your scarves, chuck on your favourite jersey, and – most importantly – bring a friend.
Because there has never been a better time to take on Melbourne Victory.
And in a game of such fine margins, you never want to miss out on the chance to celebrate a home win.
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.
