Brisbane Roar Head Coach Ange Postecoglou will celebrate a significant milestone on Friday night when his side takes to the Suncorp Stadium surface for the crucial clash against Melbourne Heart.
Brisbane Roar Head Coach Ange Postecoglou will celebrate a significant milestone on Friday night when his side takes to the Suncorp Stadium surface for the crucial clash against Melbourne Heart.
A win against the resurgent Melbourne side would see Brisbane Roar climb to the summit of the Hyundai A-League for the first time since December 17.
However, Friday-s match will also carry some personal significance for Postecoglou as he takes control of his 200th national league fixture – 127 with South Melbourne in the National Soccer League and 73 with Brisbane Roar.
In typical style, Postecoglou had a light-hearted response to being asked about the significance of the achievement.
“Any time you keep coaching is an achievement,” Postecoglou quipped.
“I love coaching, I love the game.
“I guess, as a coach, maybe you do use how long you-ve been in the game as a badge of honour because you don-t survive unless you-re doing something right.
“I-ve been pretty privileged, I-ve worked at two fantastic clubs in South Melbourne and Brisbane and I-ve had a bit of success along the way.
“Long may it continue.”
While Postecoglou will have to do without the services of Brazilian winger Henrique as he serves the first of his two match ban, he will have German Thomas Broich to call on.
Broich sustained a shoulder injury against the other team from Victoria, Melbourne Victory, two weeks ago but has declared himself ready to take on the Heart.
Postecoglou indicated Broich would be thrust straight back into the starting XI for the match.
“He-s pretty keen to play, so he-ll strip up tomorrow night,” he said.
“He-s getting better every day, he-s a lot more comfortable today than he was last week.”
“There-s no point in trying to protect him or anything like that.
“It-s an important game for us and he-s put his hand up to play.
“If he-s ready to play and he-s trained okay, that-s all I need to know.”
Friday, 2 March 2012
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Heart
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Local kick-off: 7:00pm
Referee: Ryan Shepheard
Head-to-Head: All matches (played 5): Brisbane Roar wins 3, Melbourne Heart wins 1 (1 draw)
Brisbane Roar Squad: 1. Michael Theoklitos (GK), 2. Matt Smith (C), 3. Shane Stefanutto, 4. Matt Jurman, 5. Ivan Franjic, 6. Erik Paaratlu, 7. Besart Berisha, 8. Massimo Murdocca, 11. Issey Nakajima-Farran, 14. Rocky Visconte, 16. Mohamed Adnan, 17. Mitch Nichols, 19. Jack Hingert, 20. Andrew Redmayne (GK), 21. James Meyer, 22. Thomas Broich, 24. Nick Fitzgerald. *two to be omitted*
In: 4. Matt Jurman (returns from Qantas Australian U23 duty), 14. Rocky Visconte (returns from Qantas Australian U23 duty), 22. Thomas Broich (returns from injury)
Out: 10. Henrique (Suspended – two weeks)
Unavailable: Nil
Melbourne Heart squad: 1.Clint Bolton (gk), 2.Michael Marrone, 3.Brendan Hamill, 4.Simon Colosimo, 5.Fred ©, 6.Matt Thompson, 7.Rutger Worm, 10.Wayne Srhoj, 11.Alex Terra, 13.Jonatan Germano, 15.David Williams, 16.Aziz Behich, 17.Jason Hoffman, 18.Curtis Good, 19.Eli Babalj, 23.Mate Dugandzic, 30.Sebastian Mattei
*one to be omitted*
In: Wayne Srhoj, Jason Hoffman (promoted)
Out: Paul Reid (omitted)
Unavailable: Nil
