FRIDAY, April 15
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium 7.35pm
Head to head: Brisbane 12 Melbourne Victory 17 drawn 7
Last clash: Round 27 2015-2016 – Melbourne Victory 0 drew Brisbane 0 at AAMI Park
Tab Sportsbet: Brisbane $2.15 Melbourne Victory $3.25 Draw $3.55
The groans from Brisbane fans could be heard interstate on Tuesday night when Besart Berisha won his bid to have a two-week suspension reduced so he could play in this sudden-death blockbuster. But the Roar’s players reckon they’ll be all over whatever the explosive Victory striker brings to his old stomping ground for the feisty rematch of last Saturday’s scoreless draw. Coach John Aloisi is adamant there are no mental hangovers from that game at AAMI Park, which cost the Roar the Premiers Plate. Quite the opposite. Both he and Victory counterpart Kevin Muscat are backing their respective teams’ big-game form. No arguments there; Victory won the last championship and FFA Cup, while the Roar have three titles in the last five years. Rashid Mahazi has been ruled out for Victory, though returned captain Carl Valeri will almost certainly replace him as holding midfielder.
Key: Jamie Maclaren. He’s Brisbane’s antidote to Berisha, and has scored 11 of his 18 goals for the season at home – three of them in last month’s 5-0 home whitewash of a full-strength Victory.
Tip: Brisbane
SUNDAY, April 17
Melbourne City v Perth Glory at AAMI Park 5.00pm
Head to head: Melbourne City 5 Glory 9 drawn 6
Last clash: Round 26 2015-2016 – Glory 3 bt Melbourne City 2 at nib Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Melbourne City $2.10 Glory $3.20 Draw $3.75
City have Sydney FC to thank for avoiding a nightmare knockout trip west, where they were vanquished 3-2 by Perth two weeks ago. A lacklustre Glory botched their chance to host this match by losing 4-0 to the Sky Blues in Sunday’s final regular-season game. The man who was conspicuously missing, Diego Castro, is set to return having recovered from a hamstring niggle. It would be a massive boost and music to the ears of prolific striker Andy Keogh, a major beneficiary of Castro’s vision and skill. With Chris Harold (hamstring) also named in the squad, Perth appear in good shape. City, meanwhile, face a big challenge to replace suspended winger Harry Novillo, whose contribution of 10 goals and five assists has been integral. But they will still have league top-scorer Bruno Fornaroli and the enigmatically brilliant Aaron Mooy, who creates a chance with every 20.2 touches. These sides are the only two to progress to the finals on the back of a final-round loss, after City fell to Adelaide 2-0 last Friday.
Key: When the league’s highest-scoring side (City) play the equal second-best attack (Glory), defence becomes more pertinent than ever. Perth’s backline went walkabout against Sydney, and Kenny Lowe can’t afford a repeat.
Tip: Glory
Tom
Guest
Sorry Cameron, I now see that you were actually commenting on Kasey's post and not on mine which has been taken down by the moderator. My post was a blistering attack on the ABC and how it should be closed permanently for carrying on a undeclared proxy war against Football by blacking out ALL information on the ALeague finals during the past week leading up to the game between Brisbane and MV and questioning who gave the orders to do it or for which rival sport's benefit it was done??
Cameron
Roar Guru
What are you on about Tom?
Kaks
Roar Guru
Thanks for having that word with them Waz! See you Sunday ;)
Kasey
Roar Pro
Just heard from the club. Apparently they're willing to consider MVs request to change the date of their Semi Final to a time that better suits the time Besart Berisha is teeing off next Sunday;) . Winners are grinners and it looks like MV can go please themselves vigorously tonight. Tonight's lesson in getting ahead of yourself is brought to you by the letters E. A.D. COYR!!!
Jonny
Guest
Crushed, crushed! How does it feel to be crushed?
Cameron
Roar Guru
Jeez that's a bit harsh. Anyhow, glad Roar won.
Evan askew
Guest
Mayhaps you have spoke too soon
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
Waaaaagh, waaaaaaagh.. game over for MV and Berisha can't stop crying, waaaaaaagh, somebody give that guy a dummy for goodness sake!
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
Dang !!! 2 - 0 that's some prediction, but cant disagree with what The Fuss? said as who ever scores first thingy? That could be it right there. We live in hope.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
Anyway Horto......whats your prediction for the score tonight?
Waz
Guest
from what I read there's at least one space in there now H ;)
Waz
Guest
I can rarely call Roar games with accuracy; So ....... much as I admire what John Aloisi has done this season my fear is he can't "fire up" his team in the way some coaches can so tonight I worry we'll go out and play pedestrian Roar style, fall a goal behind, chase the game and concede a second. Most Roar fans would fear something similar I suspect. The upside is if Roar can score first and MV chase the game it could go the other way. Someone that said it earlier in the week (Fuss?) the game will be dictated by who scores first so that's key. Personally I'll take extra time if necessary but please, not penalties lol, so Roar 2-0, Maclaren and Donachie from a corner, he's due one (the irony being Donachie will then sign for victory next month)
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
"If Besart Berisha tried to kick someone, they wouldn’t walk away from the incident. He certainly wouldn’t miss hitting the object he’s attempting to kick". OK Fussball IUL, guess your conveniently forgetting the massive Air Swing Berisha took Four Weeks ago directly in front of Newcastle's goal, first half yeh? Ohh hang on! Now I get it, that's what it was against Durante ?? Berisha was just practising his Air Swings whilst laying on his back receiving treatment for his concussion. That guy Berisha, he's some player aint he, works tirelessly both on and off the ball...... just cant believe he didn't try to get some Ab Crunches in whilst he was down there.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
Oh i could listen to Geezer play the bass all night, madman!
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Would love to but sorry cabinets full.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Let's hope he plays the song N.I.B. for ya then haha (one of their best imo..if u can get past the 1min bass intro). https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TNKttMFgaf0
Lionheart
Guest
ha Horto, you're hanging around here. But you guys are trying to be us. Like, you buy all our good players, buy our coaches, what next? Steal our trophies.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Huh? Nah mate I'm not Lester. I do like his posts a lot of the time though.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
I agree, it was preventable (Durante) as I said in reply to a Post from you in another Article. Find it amusing tho that now your calling it a "melee". You don't live next door to Lester by any chance.......do you ?
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
We're hated and we love it. You hate us because you can't be us :D