Head Coach John Aloisi is embracing the side’s jam-packed schedule which has presented opportunities for the whole squad ahead of Saturday’s important Hyundai A-League home match.
A number of players have been rotated through the squad in recent weeks, with a number of young players grasping their opportunity in the first team.
Teenagers Dane Ingham and Joe Caletti as well as young defender Cameron Crestani have impressed in their Hyundai A-League debuts over the past fortnight, highlighting the depth within the Roar squad.
“Whenever a player is out we’re disappointed but it’s an opportunity for someone else. We feel that we have players who can come in and do a job,” Aloisi said.
“We have Matt McKay and Thomas Kristensen coming back in and we’ll put out a really good side tomorrow.
“Cam Crestani (below) played well on Tuesday night [in the AFC Champions League against Muangthong United] and will get another opportunity tomorrow.”
Saturday afternoon’s fixture against the Phoenix will be Vice-Captain and key defender Jade North’s 100th Hyundai A-League match for the club, a milestone only reached by 10 players before him.
Get your tickets to our Vice-Captain’s milestone match HERE!
Brisbane are undefeated in five Hyundai A-League matches but three consecutive draws have seen the side slip to fourth on the ladder.
The Roar finished the 2015-16 season strongly, and with four of their remaining seven games Hyundai A-League matches to be played at Suncorp Stadium, Aloisi is backing his side to finish the season with momentum.
“We always want to win and if we keep performing like we have in recent weeks then the results will come,” Aloisi said.
“We had a strong finish to last season and we have a lot of home games in the last bit of the season.”
Tomorrow’s opposition Wellington Phoenix have selection considerations of their own with experienced players Roly Bonevacia, Gui Finkler and Michael McGlinchey all unavailable for the trip to the River City.
The Roar won the side’s only meeting this season, a 1-0 win in Wellington in January.
The Roar also hold an incredible home record over the Phoenix, with the visitors taking three points from the fortress just once in competition history.
That victory however did come in the side’s last meeting at Suncorp Stadium in 2015 and Aloisi is wary of the attacking threat the Phoenix can provide.
“They’re a good side with dangerous players so we will have to be switched on and try and play our game and make them run. They won’t be used to the warm conditions, especially with an afternoon kick-off,” he said.
“We know who is available for them and we’ll look at their strengths and weaknesses just as we would with any other opposition.”
Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Round 21. Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix. Saturday, 25 February 2017. Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Kick-off 4:35pm (QLD Time)
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 10.Brett HOLMAN, 13.Jade NORTH, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 15.ARANA, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Shannon BRADY, 21.Jamie Young, 22.Thomas BROICH, 24.Connor O’TOOLE, 25.Kye ROWLES, 28.Brandon BORRELLO, 29.Joe CALETTI, 33.Joey KATEBIAN, 46.Cameron CRESTANI **two to be omitted**
Ins: 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN (promoted), 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS (promoted), 19.Jack HINGERT (returns from injury), 20.Shannon BRADY (promoted), 21.Jamie YOUNG (promoted), 24.Connor O’TOOLE (promoted), 25.Kye ROWLES (promoted), 33.Joey KATEBIAN (promoted)
Outs: 3.Luke DEVERE (calf – 4 weeks), 8.Jacob PEPPER (not selected), 11.Tommy OAR (not selected), 26.Nick D’AGOSTINO (not selected), 43.Tomislav BILIC (gk) (not selected), 50.Dane INGHAM (not selected)
Unavailable: 4.Daniel BOWLES (knee – season), 5.Corey BROWN (hamstring – 2 weeks)
Wellington Phoenix Squad: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Jacob TRATT, 6.Dylan FOX, 8.Alex RODRIGUEZ, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 11.Hamish WATSON, 12.Adam PARKHOUSE, 13 Marco ROSSI, 15, James McGARRY, 17.Vince LIA, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 21 Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 24.Logan ROGERSON, 25.Sarpreet SINGH, 30.Oliver SAIL (gk), 99.Shane SMELTZ **two to be omitted**
Ins: 2.Jacob TRATT (returns from injury), 15.James McGARRY (promoted), 22.Andrew DURANTE (returns from suspension), 24.Logan ROGERSON (promoted), 30.Oliver SAIL (promoted)
Outs: 4.Roly BONEVACIA (omitted), 5.Ryan LOWRY (omitted), 19.Tom DOYLE (omitted)
Unavailable: 7.Gui FINKLER (paternity leave – 1 week), 10.Michael McGLINCHEY (knee injury – 1 to 2 weeks)
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones; Assistant Referee 1: Nathan MacDonald; Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Lindsay; Fourth Official: Alex King
