Brisbane Roar Head Coach John Aloisi says his side is showing no nerves ahead of the biggest game of their season – the chance to secure the Premier’s Plate with a win over Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Saturday (7.30pm KO).
Aloisi – who today named the same 18-player squad as he did last week – said training this week had continued the determined belief that he has seen in his players for several months now.
“The players have been fantastic this week,”Aloisi said.
“Every game over the last month has been like a final for us and our preparation for this week is just a continuation of what we have been doing for several weeks now.
“It’s a big game (on Saturday) but there are no nerves, everyone is looking forward to it.”
The Roar, who have a one-point lead at the top of the table ahead of the chasing Adelaide United, Western Sydney and Melbourne City, will secure the club’s third Premiership with a win over the sixth-placed Victory.
A draw could still land the silverware but other results would have to fall the Roar’s way.
It was a relaxed and jovial group that began training today and after several warm-up exercises the squad quickly got down to work.
Every player did the full session and Aloisi watched intently as the players went through several three-quarter and full-field exercises, stepping in several times to make key points and stress the importance of maintaining the structures that have become a hallmark of the Roar’s game this season.
Leading goal-scorer Jamie Maclaren (above) showed no discomfort from the knocks he iced after being substituted against the Jets at the weekend and cracked several stunning goals during today’s 75-minute session.
Fellow strikers Thomas Broich (below), Dimitri Petratos, Brandon Borrello and Tommy Oar also found the net repeatedly as the Roar drilled their attacking formations.
The Roar will do another short training session at Griffith University Nathan campus tomorrow morning (8am start) before flying to Melbourne later in the day.
Hyundai A-League Round 27, Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar FC, AAMI Park, Melbourne, Saturday, 9 April 2016. Kick-Off: 7:30pm
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 5.Corey BROWN, 7.CORONA, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 10.HENRIQUE, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Daniel BOWLES, 15.James DONACHIE, 17.Matt McKAY (c), 18.Javier HERVAS, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk) (pictured below), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 24.Tommy OAR, 28.Brandon BORRELLO. **two to be omitted**
Ins: 3.Shane STEFANUTTO (promoted), 18.Javier HERVAS (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 2.Jason GERIA, 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Gui FINKLER, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 11.Connor PAIN, 13.Oliver BOZANIC, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 15.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO, 17.Matthieu DELPIERRE, 19.George HOWARD, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 23.Jai INGHAM, 24.Thomas DENG. **two to be omitted**
Ins: 11.Connor PAIN (promoted), 15.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO (promoted), 22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS (promoted), 23.Jai INGHAM (promoted), 24.Thomas DENG (promoted)
Outs: 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (omitted), 8.Besart BERISHA (suspended), 16.Rashid MAHAZI (omitted)
Unavailable: 4.Nick ANSELL (quad)
Referee: Peter Green; Assistant Referee 1: Paul Cetrangolo; Assistant Referee 2: Ashley Beecham; Fourth Official: Lucien Laverdure
TV: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7pm (AEST) and Sky Sport 4 (New Zealand)
Radio: Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live
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