Flight Centre Premier League Grand Final Preview
It never really hits home until you arrive at the ground on Grand Final day... If I had a dollar for every time someone said to me that the title is more important because it’s harder to achieve I would have enough to, I dunno, buy a new Brisbane Roar jersey. It’s an argument that is never going to be won but the casual follower of local football will be turning up in their droves this weekend. Most footballers NEVER play in a Grand Final, let alone win one or even score the winning goal in one…it’s as Australian as it gets and many an old warrior is boring their grandkids with tales of that one special game they remember. Summer looms and the last game of the Flight Centre Premier League year is upon us. Things will change next year so on the tenth anniversary of Football Brisbane, it’s fitting that we have two of the best teams of the decade on the final day, with both of them in red hot form. Once more with feeling… Peninsula Power oscillated wildly but they finally stopped turning in circles, won the Canale Cup, thrashed Rochedale 5-0 and have spent their week off preparing for a home celebration in front of their masses of vocal and dedicated supporters. Their impressive stable of talented players is, of course, the number one factor in their success but it’s much harder to convert that to success on the park The talk around the fortunes of Peninsula inevitably focuses on the excitement machines like Charles Mendy and Dean Briggs but the ability to find the back of the net and get the crowd on their feet is not the defining factor in the fulfilment of their potential. The defining factor is depth. Surely Dan Smith is one of the best players ever to play in the Brisbane top-flight and Tom Strickland is just about the most under-rated local junior as well… it’s possible, although not probable, that they could find themselves on the bench at 7pm which says it all really. Lions FC lost in the Westfield FFA Cup to Brisbane Knights and nothing was ever the same again. They were top of the table, only dropping points against eventual title-winners Rochedale Rovers, and appeared to be heading for another dominant season with a realistic target of three losses being enough to go back to back to back. They lost six, finished third, and took until the second last game of the year to fix the carburetor on their well-oiled machine. Tynan Diaz can’t stop scoring and the ridiculous possession statistics are back for Lions with some of last year’s stars, in particular Peter Gaffney, adapting and adjusting as the team around them develops. As the season wound down, it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if they had ultimately won the league but that inability to score when it really mattered let them down. Make no mistake, the punters believe this will be an upset if Lions don’t run out as winners. Often forgotten in match assessments, the men between the sticks will have a massive part to play. Jake Reesby and Luke Borean are right up there with the best. A fingertip save, a one on one stop or even (heaven forbid) an error could decide the contest. Prediction: 1-1 at full-time. It’s a lottery from then on but something tells me it could be Power who take the chocolates with a goal in extra time. They have a habit of winning grand finals when involved in one. FROM THE BENCH:
Ben Ryan (Peninsula Power): “Lions are a top side who made it to the Grand Final despite probably underachieving given their quality.
We expect a very tough game but will give it everything in front of the dedicated Redcliffe people.
We've had a great season with the Canale Cup and FFA Cup run but there'd be a tinge of disappointment if we didn't finish the season with a win.” Warren Moon (Lions FC): “It’s a pleasure to finish the season as it started - by travelling to Peninsula to play one of the most talented squads put together in my time around the game. It’s a huge ask to go up there and win the GF in front of their parochial home crowd but my boys will give their all and know I have faith in them to play with confidence. From a personal point of view, meeting Power has special significance considering the fabulous memories I have from my time at the club but right now I’m focussed on creating another great moment for Lions FC.”
A SEASON WRAP: It’s been a tradition to select my team of the year ever since the first season, ten years ago, I found myself closely involved with the beautiful game. So, with this being the last preview of the year, here it is again. ***Remember, this is NOT the official opinion of Football Brisbane*** But feel free to hurl insults through the comments on the Facebook page. GK: Declan Murphy (Ipswich Knights) Having been understudy to Zabaks at Lions, a new lease on life allowed Murphy to show his talent and become a vital part of the Ipswich squad. RB: Andy Thompson (Lions FC) An excellent transfer from Capalaba, Thompson was the stand out performer in a traditionally difficult role. Criminally under-rated. CB: Tommy Jarrard (Lions FC) Once again Mati Simic made the official team of the year but Jarrard was better despite not having the same reputation. CB: Uryu Nagata (Rochedale Rovers) It’s near impossible for a defender to win the Gold Medal which is a shame because Nagata is currently the best player in the league. LB: Richie Hurlin (Peninsula Power) Hurlin is obviously well known for his laser-like free kicks but it’s the ability to seemingly have more time on the ball than anyone else which matters. RM: Seiji Shizuno (Rochedale Rovers) A bagful of classic goals was the icing on the cake as Shizuno found his best form and tormented defences everywhere. CM: Chris Maher (Souths United) After a mixture of clubs and roles, Maher found his ideal outlet in the heart of the midfield at Wakerley Park. LM: Daniel Cunha (Peninsula Power) Another stalwart of the local game who produced peak performance in 2017, Cunha was consistently excellent even when his team weren’t. RF: Dean Briggs (Peninsula Power) Capable of the spectacular, Briggs quickly became the go-to man for Power when the chips were down. Second best player in the league. CF: Kado Aoci (Rochedale Rovers) It went un-noticed by most but when Rovers changed tactics and funnelled everything through Aoci, the title run officially kicked off. LF: Lewis Cameron (Rochedale Rovers) The third member of the Rovers attacking stars, Cameron always looked dangerous on the ball and was the best finisher in the game. SUBS: Jordan Farina (Eastern Suburbs), Thomas Strickland (Peninsula Power), Jason Tobin (Rochedale Rovers), Matt Boyd (Peninsula Power), Jacob Alexander (Souths United), Ryan Adamson (Grange Thistle), Jake Reesby (Peninsula Power). (Special mention also to Youeil Shol who didn’t get enough game time but was stunning when fit and available.) COACH: Scott MacNicol (Rochedale Rovers) - Everyone thought the title would go to Lions or Power. It didn’t, and coaching was an essential part of that success.
