The build-up to Sunday’s blockbuster has been fraught with tension, with both coaches trading barbs as excitement mounts ahead of a dream finale between the league’s top two finishers.
Asked on a live Courier Mail blog whether Central Coast had recorded a moral victory after drawing 2-2 with the Roar in their recent Suncorp Stadium semi-final, Roar coach Ange Postecoglou replied, “I could not see the moral scoreboard from where I was sitting, so not sure!”
It was a typically witty riposte from a coach who has proved an ornament to the competition, and how Postecoglou has been vindicated for his decision to clear out Brisbane’s playing stocks and reinvigorate the squad with youth.
That Brisbane had seven players named in the Professional Footballers’ Australia assocation Team Of The Year speaks volumes for their dominance, but it’s the fact youngsters like Ivan Franjic, Matt Smith and Kosta Barbarouses were named which deserves recognition, with Postecoglou richly rewarded for investing his faith in youth.
Graham Arnold also deserves applause, and he too has done his part to keep the pot boiling, stating that this is a grand final Brisbane “need to win” and suggesting his side are relishing the role of underdogs.
Arnold’s signing of a couple of formerly European-based players in Josh Rose and Oliver Bozanic has proved a masterstroke, Dutch giant Patrick Zwaanswijk has been an almighty colossus in defence, and even the injury-plagued form of Patricio Perez has been overshadowed by the discovery of precocious young talent Mustafa Amini.
And as oft-spouted a cliche as it is, is there not an element of truth to Arnold’s claim the pressure is all on Brisbane? In other words, am I the only one who sniffs the very faint scent of an upset in the air?
Whatever happens on Sunday, it’s great to finally see some positive headlines, with the city of Brisbane well and truly throwing their support behind the Roar – something the travelling contingent of Mariners fans will be fully aware of as the two teams run out.
How ironic that in the same week NRL supremo David Gallop is left to defend yet another very public player infraction, it’s the A-League stealing his thunder with some refreshingly positive press.
I caught the start of One HD’s new rugby league show “The Game Plan” last night, and the nostalgia-fest kicked off barely ten minutes in with a segment looking back at the legends of yesteryear – despite the new NRL season kicking off in less than 24 hours!
As a sports fan, I’d rather see something fresh, something new and something vibrant, and I can do that on Sunday afternoon along with 50,000 other sports lovers wanting to be part of something special.
We haven’t always been able to say that about football, but our time has come, our time is here and our time is now.
Sunday’s Grand Final will be something special – so we should savour it – because as every Australian football fan can attest, the good times don’t last forever.
apaway
Roar Guru
Hey MLF, it's all hindsight now after watching an amazing GF. But to answer your question, in my experience, players never dwelled on "streaks" and the longer you went, the more invincible and confident in your abilities you felt. I think that was proven tonight by the Roar. What a team.
Art Sapphire
Guest
MLF, its not just Fuss and AF. As you no doubt realise, the pieces I have published over the last 4 weeks have been met with enthusiasm and support from the wider public. They even know who I am. Have some cajones, you should stand up for all the nonsense you have posted in the past and put your name to it. No accountability, No Respect.
Twatter
Guest
I've been waiting for this game all week and cant wait, even for the match day hype before hand. You don't have to be Einstein to say the Brisbane F.C are favourites, but their was one thing i noticed when they played Central Coast, F.C. when it looked as though the mariners may obtain that home grand final, the heavy timber(subs) were produced by Postecoglou and then the G.F. was booked for Suncorp. In saying that i wish both Managers and their teams the best of luck it's a pitty the Brisbane media cant take football a bit more seriously. A Brisbane win late in the game.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Lucky you Art Sapphire, you have the full support of Fussball and, ahem, Australian Football. With that sort of support you'll be able to outdo even George Dubbya in the credibility stakes. Congratulations!!
Rob McLean
Guest
And...after I post that, it appears there was actually something in the Courier. Four pages is pretty good. Also a pretty positive promotion of soccer, wouldn't you think?
Rob McLean
Guest
That is very disappointing. If the match had been in Adelaide, it would have been throughout the paper. That's definite.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Art Henceforth, I'm going to try to ignore the ARFers when they post on the Football forum. They add ZERO to the football discussion. It's a a telling sign of the major changes that are occurring to the sporting landscape in Australia that ARFers cannot find anything interesting to discuss in their preferred sport. Of course, Football fans have always known that, if you want a sport that generates rich discussion and a multitude of opinions about: how the Laws were interpreted, assessment of a player's technical attributes, analysis of tactics and prognostications of outcomes ... nothing matches The Beautiful Game.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Art----you have proven to the Football Community many times over that you are a true fan and supporter of Australian Football----your credibility on the Football tab could never be questioned. Not like the other fella.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Ha.. your approach....you abused the entire football community last year with soccerina taunts. You keep hiding behind multiple false personalities. I've got no such problem. Everyone knows my name. Unlike you, my credibility is intact. I welcome diversity of opinion. What I don't have time for are fraudsters. Keep hiding...
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Yes, true, I have a great dislike of human company. I see that as a very human trait.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
You're one of the prime offenders. The minute you read something you don't like, you hurl personal abuse rather than offer an alternative view - try and put forward your case with a cogent argument - try and refrain from personal attacks. Try and emulate my approach where I back my arguments up with facts and figures and reputable sources. This is the more civilised way to conduct a discussion. Be keen to welcome a diversity of opionion, try and open your mind to alternative views, try and break out from your closeted view of the world.
Roarchild
Guest
To answer your question about behavior MLF it depends on wether he was playing poker in the premises of an approved sponsor. With all the money betting agencies put into sport you can't go around making the public aware of alternative ways to lose their money! In the Gosford leg the Mariners hit the post a couple of times with the keeper beaten. So while the score looked bad it was a very fine margin. The high workrate of CCM's two forwards really set the standard for there team and make it difficult to play out. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Arnies tactics will be similar to the last time CCM played the Roar: an energetic pressing game to restrict the Roar's space and time on the ball, wide mids marking the full backs to stop opportunities for overlapping - full backs moving in to mark mids coming forward, then ducking round their own mids where they will find space to overlap, getting crosses into the likes of Simon. It's in CCM's interests to keep the game as tight as possible, and they have the armoury to score from set pieces, another two goals will win them the title. But can they score those two goals a second time - that's the question. The other key question is the weight of expectation on the Roar to maintain this unbeaten run, an unprecedented run, the Roar has shown they have the focus, or the capacity to regain their focus when things don't fall in to place. They have demonstrated this all season, and showed it again when CCM challenged them last time. Grand finals are won in the head. I think the Roar has the werewithal to take it out.
Art Sapphire
Guest
See, comments like that are not very helpful. No wonder, soccer fans agree you're a dill :)
Art Sapphire
Guest
You said that you liked games being played in empty stadiums. When did size come into it? Empty stadium is an empty stadium. Its the only time you'll turn up to a game as you have already stated that don’t like to mix with people.
NF
Guest
45k for Broncos, Roar will beat that but this ain't about that this is the Brisbane Roar's special moment so let put the jabs aside considering everything QLD went through code wars is last thing on agenda. There is people out there who use sport as a form of escapism from the every day world to immerse themselves in the thrilling action on the field no matter the code. I tip the Roar to win but in the end QLD wins.
Ifsit
Guest
You've got to beat 45119 for a home and away rugby league game with one team (the Cowboys) who nearly came dead last in 2010. I give soccer until 3011.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
If A-League teams could play in smaller stadiums, say of 10k capacity, it would probably have a sustainable business model. I'm not the first to say that, and I won't be the last.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
This is precisely why we need live coverage!!
Nathan
Guest
Oh damn you to hell! I was just sitting down to watch it :S