Finals rivals have hailed Brisbane Roar one of the greatest ever A-League teams but insist they are far from unbeatable in the race to the championship.
Ange Postecoglou’s side heads into week one of the finals on the back of a remarkable 25-game unbeaten streak and as firm favourites to carry their success all the way to a maiden title.
Postecoglou’s coaching counterparts heaped praise on the minor premiers’ achievements at Monday’s finals series launch, ahead of their major semi-final first leg clash with Central Coast at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday.
And while reluctant to buy into talk the Roar were the best outfit seen in the six seasons of the A-League, Postecoglou believed his side’s performance would be remembered for years to come.
“I think when you purely look at the statistics of it and what we’ve done and I think the football we’ve played, I think it has been an outstanding season and I think it will span the ages,” Postecoglou told AAP.
“I think people will look at this team and say it’s a pretty extraordinary side.
“But I think to truly emphasise it even further we need to win the grand final as well to emphasise how special a season it’s been.”
Mariners coach Graham Arnold said Brisbane had single-handedly improved the standard of the league with their performances, forcing other sides lift their game to remain competitive.
Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg summed up his admiration for the Roar by revealing he felt powerless in watching his side fall 4-0 to them in their final regular-season match on Saturday.
“They were so good in a way that I felt helpless on the bench the other night,” Bleiberg said.
“Anything we try on the bench, anything we did, it was a lost cause.”
But while in awe of the Brisbane juggernaut, all finals coaches were keen to insist it would count for little when the finals begin with a “clean slate”.
“They themselves admit and everybody else knows it’s a new competition,” Bleiberg said.
“I think everybody can start fresh so I don’t think they have a mental edge.”
Adelaide’s Rini Coolen said it was a case of “anyone can beat anyone” in the finals while Melbourne Victory’s Ernie Merrick has good reason to believe his fifth-placed side can deny Brisbane the title.
The Victory inflicted Brisbane’s only defeat this season, a 3-0 win at AAMI Park in round five in September.
“Finals football is about playing the type of football you played to get into the finals,” Merrick said.
“It’s not about doing anything spectacular and it’s certainly not through panicking because we’re in the finals and the pressure’s on.
“We’ve been pretty good in finals football over the years and the core of our squad has a lot of experience in finals.
“So on our day, if we get 11 players up for it, I think we can take any team in this league.”
The finals kick off on Friday when third-placed Adelaide host sixth-placed Wellington at Hindmarsh Stadium, with the winner of that elimination match to face the victor of Sunday’s clash between fourth-placed Gold Coast and Melbourne.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Joe Lolley was outstanding for the Sky Blues, scoring a brace as Sydney FC equaled their biggest ever victory.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
