Brisbane Roar coach Ange Postecoglou has noticed plenty of positives in the club’s new and improved pre-season as the squad heads into its final game before the start of the 2010/11 Hyundai A-League.
Brisbane winds up its pre-season program with a match against Newcastle Jets in Port Macquarie before turning its attention to the season opener against Gold Coast United at Skilled Park on August 8.
Returning to action in late April, the players have completed one of the most in-depth and technical season lead-ups in the club-s history.
“The players have worked really, really hard … I can-t fault their attitude or their effort,” Postecoglou said.
“But we had to because we wanted to work harder than anyone else as it-s a major part of our ethos this year.
“And the signs have been fairly positive, we-re in very good physical condition which is the number one priority in a good pre-season.
“And in terms of our movement and shape, throughout every game the signs have been good.
“We have one game to go and then two weeks to freshen up the players, so I think it-s been a good pre-season.”
Despite the squad-s positive indicators, Postecoglou is refusing to allow complacency to take a hold heading into the Jets match.
“We need to work on some little things still,” he said.
“It-s our last serious hit-out so it-s a good chance for us to work on some final things and get some game-time into a couple of players.
“Massimo Murdocca will be back and Milan Susak hasn-t played a lot either … and we really want as many of the boys in good condition leading into the first game.”
Brisbane has been pro-active in bringing high quality football to regional areas this pre-season, spreading the Roar gospel to major Queensland centres such as Toowoomba, Gympie and Ipswich.
And with the trip to Port Macquarie the club-s first foray into New South Wales for the season, Postecoglou is hoping the squad-s new football philosophy will convert the local sports into football fans.
“We have worked hard on and off the field this pre-season … we haven-t just stayed in Brisbane but gone to other areas
“And hopefully wherever we go we solidify the brand and we get people to take an interest in us.
“I-m sure (Port Macquarie locals) are looking forward to a Hyundai A-League game and Newcastle is a good side.
“Every opportunity is a chance to promote Brisbane and certainly we will be taking that opportunity.”
Brisbane Roar plays the Newcastle Jets at the Port Macquarie Regional Sports Stadium, Port Macquarie on July 25.
Gates open at 12pm and kick-off is scheduled at 2pm.
Brisbane Squad
1. Michael Theoklitos
2. Matt Smith
3. Luke DeVere
4. Shane Stefanutto
5. Ivan Franjic
6. Erik Paartalu
7. Kosta Barbarouses
8. Massimo Murdocca
10. Henrique
12. Matt Mundy
15. Matt McKay
17. Mitch Nichols
18. Luke Brattan
20. Andrew Redmayne
22. Thomas Broich
23. Milan Susak
