- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
After 27 rounds and another month of finals, it all comes down to this. Brisbane Roar will take on Perth Glory for the A-League Championship, live from Suncorp Stadium at 4.00pm.
I don’t think anybody (myself included) had Perth playing in the big one in April.
But through a great late-season charge, a team running on self-belief, and a man who is without a doubt the best striker in the history of the A-League, here they are.
But there’s still the slight issue of Brisbane Roar standing in their way.
The team on the verge of becoming the A-League’s first true dynasty, a great advertisement for football in Australia and in front of a sold-out Suncorp Stadium, will be fancying their chances against a Glory side that they have put 10 goals past in their three encounters this season.
It would be a mistake to underestimate any opponent in a grand final, but the Roar will go into this game looking every bit the favourite that they are.
They were fantastic in both legs against the Mariners and, indifferent Asian Champions League form aside, have been looking ominous for the last few weeks.
Key men for Brisbane
Besart Berisha – if any player in the league could be talked about in the same breath as Smeltz, it’s the A-League’s top scorer of 2011-12.
Not always the most lovable figure, the Albanian has drawn as much criticism for his antics as praise for his goal scoring.
Thomas Broich – and the man providing service for the league’s top scorer is the league’s best player; it was clear from the German midfielder’s absence earlier in the year that this team simply cannot function without him.
The Glory will be hoping he’s off his game on Sunday. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have off days.
Erik Paartalu – The foil to Broich’s genius, and a man who clearly knows how to score goals in big games.
Was rewarded with his first Australia call-up earlier in the year and has gone from strength to strength since being brought over from Scotland.
Key men for Perth
Shane Smeltz – the Kiwi marksman has hit form at the right time, bagging eight goals in his last four games, and if the Glory are to have any chance, it will ride on either the foot or the forehead of ‘Smeltzy’.
I think he was as surprised as anyone to not get on the scoresheet despite the Glory grabbing three in that win over the Phoenix.
Liam Miller – I’ll admit I wasn’t his biggest fan when he arrived, but this may have been in part to what I’d seen and heard of his time at Celtic.
But credit where it’s due, the Irishman has been a constant source of quality passing for the Perth front men.
Danny Vukovic – It’s clear that Brisbane are going to rack up the shots in this one, and the Glory keeper will be keen to avoid defeat after being on the wrong end of a grand final once before.
A man-of-the-match performance might be required from the former Mariner if the Glory are to complete the upset.
If this game is anywhere near as engrossing as the last two A-League grand finals, then we’re in for a treat. Join us just before 4.00pm AEST for all the line-ups, formations and last minute news before live scores and commentary throughout the match. And feel free to tweet us @TheRoarSports or me @TheMattBungard.
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.