With a tough week of football and seven crucial points tucked under their belts, Brisbane Roar defender Luke DeVere says the squad is content with their recent results but is even more excited about the challenges the rest of the campaign will bring.
Set to make his 50th Hyundai A-League appearance on Saturday, the 20-year-old defender said the feeling in the changing room has remained upbeat and energetic ahead of their next test, another three games in eight days including a midweek fixture against Wellington Phoenix.
“It-s been good and all the player are happy – happy with where we-re at and happy with where we-re heading,” he said.
“We-ve got another three games next week so it-s just a matter of refreshing all the boys and making sure we-re ready for it.
“Obviously going across to Wellington will be a difficult challenge for us but we-ll get through it okay in the end.”
After leaking 42 goals last season, this time around the Roar have one of the stingiest defences in the Hyundai A-League with just seven goals conceded after eleven games played.
Much of that success comes down to the solid central defensive partnership between DeVere and Matt Smith, and despite their overwhelming achievements within the back four, it was DeVere-s charging run through the middle of the park that set up Brisbane-s winner against on Saturday night.
“I went through a gap and things just opened up for me, I kept going and going and found myself in front of goal,” he said.
“When players see a centre back running forward, sometimes they think it-s an easy tackle to be made and maybe take it a bit lighter than if they-ve got Thomas Broich running at them.”
With the scores locked at 1-1 against a tough Melbourne Victory outfit, DeVere almost had the third goal of his career before a well-timed tackle saw the ball fall to striker Jean Carlos Solorzano.
“I was weighing up my options and being the great striker I am, probably took too long,” he joked.
“Luckily Nico was there to slot it home.”
After playing 270 minutes of football over the course of eight days, the Brisbane players enjoyed a lighter training session this morning before they increase the tempo later in the week.
