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Back in their home state to lick their wounds, the Queensland Roar would by now be well into the post-mortem of its 2008/09 season.
But while the disappointment at bowing out 1-0 in Saturday night’s A-League preliminary final will still be painfully fresh for Frank Farina and his men, there will be some solace once the fugue clears.
Like Coldplay once sang, everything’s not lost.
In Mitch Nicholls they have one of the brightest young midfielders in the country, though Saturday night’s performance indicates there is much he still has to learn.
Nicholls missed a number of gilt-edged chances, shot when he should have passed, and appeared on the verge of throwing a dummy-spitting, ground-thumping tantrum every time he fluffed his lines.
But it’s worth remembering the Australian Under 20 representative is just nineteen, and Saturday was only his ninth career start for the Roar.
His positioning is reminiscent of a young Tim Cahill, and while Nicholls has a long way to go to be considered a potential long-term replacement once the Everton star gives it away, it is promising.
Nicholls is, of course, just one of a much-vaunted pride of exciting young lions that should help ease the pain for Roar fans.
Michael Zullo – like Nicholls – had a game he’d rather forget, but still deserved his call up to the Australian squad for the Asian Cup qualifier against Indonesia last month.
After a season spent in the National Youth League, Isaka Cernak showed enough in his first couple of starts to indicate that he could be a successor to the outgoing Tahj Minniecon.
Luke DeVere has been just as promising in his apprenticeship under Craig Moore and will be keen to stake his claim as the Socceroo’s first-choice partner next season.
Seventeen-year-old Tommy Oar could well end up being the jewel in the crown for the Roar, but he must first overcome Zullo to get a spot on the left wing.
Nor are the youngsters the only reason for Queensland fans to gaze optimistically at the horizon.
Central midfielders Massimo Murdocca and Matt McKay give the Roar an industry many A-League sides would kill for, while Sergio Van Dijk has been the perfect signing to lead Farina’s formation.
Moore’s influence on the team needs no discussion, while another former Rangers man’s impact has been almost as immense. Charlie Miller had his knockers in his Roar career, arriving in Australia armed with a questionable reputation and a less-than supple figure.
But like a Picnic Bar, the gifted attacking midfielder proves that looks can be deceiving, and he has thoroughly deserved his Foreign Player of the Season award.
So while it all might come as scant consolation for Queensland fans so soon after its elimination from the title race, the future is bright for Queensland.
As two more sides from the sunny state prepare to enter the league, they could do worse than attempt to emulate the blend of exciting youth, experience and reliability currently in the Roar squad.
While a spot in the A-League’s grand final has eluded them once again, it won’t be long until it is the season of the Lion.
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