With new deals signed and sealed, the next test for Tom Aldred and Jay O’Shea is leading the Roar to a potential fourth-straight A-League win on Saturday afternoon against Melbourne Victory.
Both players penned new long-term deals this week ahead of Saturday’s home fixture against the Victory, securing their futures at the Club well beyond the 2020/21 season.
O’Shea is in superb form against the Victory’s visit, and it’s no surprise that the decision wasn’t a difficult one.
“It’s been a long time coming. I’m just absolute delighted to get it over the line – I think with how much I’ve enjoyed my football here, how much my family loves it here, it was an easy decision for me,” O’Shea said.
The Irishman netted his first goal from open play in Roar colours last week, sublimely finishing into the top-corner on the cusp of half-time.
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While both O’Shea and his fellow teammates will ride into Saturday’s contest on a high, they know a stern challenge awaits them following a tricky test in the reverse fixture in January in which the Roar prevailed 3-1.
“I think the score line might have flattered us in the end. I think we deserved the win in the end but the first half, they were really, really good,” O’Shea added.
“It’ll be a good challenge. Just because we beat them last time doesn’t mean we’ll go and roll them again – it’ll be a tough game, and they’re in a bit of form, but we are too and we’ll be confident that we can go and do the business.”
Aldred will pull on the captain’s armband yet again this weekend, but the skipper has praised the support around him during a strong start to the campaign.
“It was an honour to be named captain from the get-go. I know I wear the armband, but there are a lot of leaders in this dressing room and it helps when you have people like that,” Aldred said.
“There’s definitely grounds for success here and that was a key factor in remaining here.
“Now it’s done, we can focus on getting better week-by-week, moving up the table and achieving good things.”
The Victory could field a handful of faces familiar to Aldred, who has played against both Jacob Butterfield and Callum McManaman in the UK.
“They’ve got some really good, top footballers who I played against in the UK,” he added.
“They’re a side who have potential to go well so we know we’ll have to be at our best – we’re looking forward to it and the boys are ready to go.”
MATCH DETAILS
A-League 2020/21 Matchweek 7: Brisbane Roar vs Melbourne Victory
Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe
Saturday, 6 February
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Macklin FREKE (gk), 3.Corey BROWN, 5.Tom ALDRED (c), 6.Macaulay GILLESPHEY, 7.Jai INGHAM, 9.Masato KUDO, 10.Riku DANZAKI, 11.Joseph CHAMPNESS, 15.Jesse DALEY, 16.Joshua BRINDELL-SOUTH, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 25.Rahmat AKBARI, 26.Jay O’SHEA, 27.Kai TREWIN, 29.Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 33.Keegan JELACIC, 34.Alex PARSONS, 77.Scott MCDONALD **2-4 to be omitted**
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Ins: 16.Joshua BRINDELL-SOUTH (promoted), 21.Jamie YOUNG (returns from injury), 34.Alex PARSONS (promoted)
Outs: 12.Bon SCOTT (not selected)
Unavailable: Nil
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matt ACTON (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 3.Adama TRAORE, 5.Ryan SHOTTON, 6.Leigh BROXHAM (c), 7.Callum McMANAMAN, 8.Jacob BUTTERFIELD, 10.Robbie KRUSE, 13.Birkan KIRDAR, 14.Jay BARNETT, 15.Aaron ANDERSON, 16.Brandon LAUTON, 17.Elvis KAMSOBA, 19.Dylan RYAN, 20.Max CROCOMBE (gk), 22.Jacob BRIMMER, 23.Marco ROJAS, 25.Luis LAWRIE-LATTANZIO **0-2 to be omitted**
Ins: 7.Callum McMANAMAN (return from injury), 10.Robbie KRUSE (promoted)
Outs: 11.Ben FOLAMI (not selected), 35.Zaydan BELLO (not selected)
Unavailable: 4.Nick ANSELL (injured – hamstring), 9.Rudy GESTEDE (injured – hamstring), 32.So NISHIKAWA (injured – shoulder)
Referee: Daniel Elder
Assistant Referee 1: Ashley Beecham
Assistant Referee 2: David Walsh
Fourth Official: Adam Kersey
VAR: Casey Reibelt
