Milestone man Jack Hingert says the Roar’s clash with Sydney FC is the perfect preparation for their upcoming finals campaign.
The Roar round out its Hyundai A-League regular season on Monday night against the premiers ahead of its first finals campaign since the 2017/18 season.
Hingert says there’s few bigger tests than the Premiers.
“We know how good Sydney has been this season – we’re playing the best team in the league,” Hingert said.
“They’re a great team & and a tough team to play against, but at the same time, we’ve got plenty of belief within our squad of the players we have here & were going into the game full of confidence.
“We’re heading in looking to win & hopefully taking more momentum going in to our first finals game.”
The Sky Blues have taken all three points in both previous meetings this season – both played in Sydney – with the most recent being decided by just a single goal from the penalty spot.
The clash is set to bring about a significant personal milestone for Hingert as he makes his 200th Hyundai A-League appearance, 11 years & two days since his league debut.
That debut came in North Queensland Fury colours in an unfamiliar left-back role. Eleven years on, the experienced defender is proud of what he’s achieved.
“It crept up on me a bit, I knew I was getting close, but I wasn’t aware it was going to be this week,” Hingert added.
“It’s something that I think is a massive achievement for me & for anyone to play that many games in the [Hyundai] A-League – it’s such a great league & for a great Club, obviously with the majority of my games being at Brisbane Roar.”
“I’m really looking forward to it & I’m very proud of the achievement.”
With the Roar’s final two fixtures being played against fellow contenders in Wellington Phoenix & the Sky Blues, a big week has the Roar well placed for what may lay ahead of them in the business end of the season.
“Obviously playing the Phoenix last week & Sydney this week, there’s a good chance that we will be playing these guys again. It’s a good test for us & gives a taste of what we can expect if we meet again in the finals.”
Did you know?
- Sydney FC have won their last three meetings against Brisbane Roar. No team has ever won four in a row in the history of this fixture.
- Brisbane Roar have not conceded more than one goal in a Hyundai A-League game since Round 14 and have conceded only eight goals in 13 matches since that round.
- Sydney FC are winless from their last three Hyundai A-League matches. The last time they went longer without a win was a club-record 11-match span from January to April 2016.
- Brisbane Roar have won 50.6% of their duels in this campaign. Only the Central Coast Mariners (52.1%) have a highest duel success rate.
- 28 of Sydney FC’s goals have come from right-footed shots this season. Only Perth Glory (25) and Melbourne City (21) also have more than 20 goals in this category in 2019/20.
MATCH DETAILS
Hyundai A-League 2019/20: Brisbane Roar vs Sydney FC
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Monday, 10 August (7:30pm kick-off)
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Max CROCOMBE (gk), 2.Scott NEVILLE, 3.Corey BROWN, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 5.Tom ALDRED (c), 6.Macaulay GILLESPHEY, 7.Jai INGHAM, 8.Danny KIM, 10.Bradden INMAN, 12.Matthew RIDENTON, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Aaron AMADI-HOLLOWAY, 21.Jamie YOUNG, 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 25.Rahmat AKBARI, 26.Jay O’SHEA, 27.Kai TREWIN, 29.Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 30.Mirza MURATOVIC, 77.Scott MCDONALD **2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 25.Rahmat Akbari (promoted), 30.Mirza MURATOVIC (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 22.Jake MCGING (knee)
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 2.Patrick FLOTTMANN, 3.Ben WARLAND, 4.Alex WILKINSON (c), 5.Alex BAUMJOHANN, 6.Ryan McGOWAN, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Paulo RETRE, 9.Adam LE FONDRE, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 12.Trent BUHAGIAR, 16.Joel KING, 17.Anthony CACERES, 18.Luke IVANOVIC, 19.Chris ZUVELA, 20.Thomas HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 21.Harry VAN DER SAAG, 26.Luke BRATTAN, 28.Calem NIEUWENHOF **2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 3.Ben WARLAND (promoted), 26.Luke BRATTAN (returns from suspension)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 23.Rhyan GRANT (1 week – groin)
