Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au brings you all the biggest talking points from each round of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Read on for all the biggest talking points from Round 28, thanks to Mitre.
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What ‘people overlook’ at Melbourne Victory: ‘Tomorrow there’s a brighter day’
Melbourne Victory clinched their spot in the Finals Series but there more behind the achievement, according to head coach Arthur Diles.
MATCH REPORT: Victory qualify for Isuzu UTE A-League Finals as Socceroo stars in front of Popa
First-half goals from Socceroo Ryan Teague and Kasey Bos fuelled Victory in front of Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic and it highlighted something “overlooked” regarding the 2023-24 Grand Finalists.
Against the Bulls, there were 10 players aged 23 or under in Victory’s squad, including Teague and Bos, as well as Nishan Velupillay, Jordi Valadon, Josh Inserra, Fabian Monge, Alex Badolato, Josh Rawlins, Jing Reec and young goalkeeper Daniel Graskoski.
‘WE’RE WASTING MONEY’: Frustrated coach’s ‘question’ after Macarthur bow out of finals race
“I think the other thing people overlook at Melbourne Victory, we had 10 U23s in our squad,” Diles told reporters.
“For me that is very pleasing to know tomorrow there’s a brighter day for this club.
“To have that many young players in our squad is something we believe in and we’re looking forward to in the future as well.”
Roar boss responds to rumours
Ruben Zadkovich is not paying attention to mounting speculation over the Brisbane Roar head coaching role as an in-form recruit continues to transform the three-time champions.
Brisbane are riding a three-game unbeaten streak, having won two games in that process to avoid the wooden spoon following Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Wellington Phoenix, but rumours are swirling regarding who will be coaching second-bottom Roar in 2025-26.
MATCH REPORT: Resurgent Roar win again as Phoenix fail to escape Aus Cup playoff & bottom-four finish
According to Newscorp, former Ajax and Greece assistant Michael Valkanis is the frontrunner to lead Brisbane next season. The ex-Adelaide United and Melbourne City boss was most recently in charge of Turkish top-flight club Adana Demirspor before departing in September.
Zadkovich has been at the helm on a full-time basis since April last year, having initially stepped in for Ben Cahn in an interim capacity in 2023-24.
“It’s just noise,” he said post-match. “It’s part of the game. When you take these kind of positions, you shoulder the responsibility and the heat for the club. You’re at the coalface and that’s something I’m well aware of before I took over.
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“Like I said, I think I was the sixth coach in 12 months. If you look at the way some of the players left the club, they probably have similar frustrations and issues with not having the resources you probably need at this level to compete.
“But what I like to do is focus on the controllables…. how many young players can I attract to the club and develop and turn them into sellable assets? How can I bring money into the door? How can I create an environment where my senior ones feel respected, loved and cared for even when they’re in the wilderness at times and not sure what’s next?
“It’s to try and create stability, to try and grow the team… I think sometimes I say things and people think I say it for the sake of it but I knew it was going to take more than a few windows at this club.”
Against the Phoenix, Brisbane reigned supreme thanks to the exploits of January recruit Asumah Abubakar.
While Abubakar did not score, he provided the assist for Florin Berenguer’s game winner.
Since arriving, Abubakar has scored four goals and tallied two assists.
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“You’ll have to speak to Zac Anderson on that one,” Zadkovich replied when asked about the player’s future. “I remember 12 months ago watching an interview with Ross Aloisi sat in this chair. Zac is the head of recruitment and I’m sure he will make the decision.
“All I can do is try and recruit a player like that to the club with the funds I have.
“Fantastic player, fantastic person. Someone who’s really lifted the fortunes of the team. That’s what happens when you have a number nine who is above the level or at the level.
“We spent the first half of the season with a young Thomas Waddingham leading the line which in all seriousness we know is not enough. We tried to attract a few different players in that first window but we didn’t have the funds.
“We went through the process of developing Thomas. I think he’d only had one A-League goal before I came to the club. Then playing our model and this style of football, he’s gone and scored a lot of goals. He’s got the move he deserves and that gives the club some finances to spend.
“I was able to spend a portion of that on Abubakar and that’s what happens when you have the ability to sign players.”
‘Tip of the iceberg’ for Western Sydney
Finals football is back at high-flying Western Sydney Wanderers but head coach Alen Stajcic has a message: “It’s just the tip of the iceberg”.
MATCH REPORT: Wanderers eyeing 12-year record as finals football sealed amid incredible unbeaten run
Prior to 2024-25, the Wanderers had only made the Finals Series once in the past seven seasons, having reached three Grand Finals across their first four years of existence in the competition.
But new boss Stajcic has transformed Western Sydney and there is more to come from the team fourth in the standings.
‘IT’S IRRELEVANT’: Coach responds to transfer rumours as star striker linked with UK move
“It’s a great achievement. I’m proud of everyone,” Stajcic said post-game. “We probably have the best leaders I’ve ever worked with in football, in 25 years of coaching.
“The staff are unbelievable, united and aligned.
“We have all the ingredients to build a great culture. I think that underpins a lot of what we’re doing on the field, and the belief and confidence in the team.
“It’s just the tip of the iceberg. We’re setting a good foundation and now we have to just keep improving and working hard.”
City’s heart-in-mouth moment: ‘No, Beachy!’
There was a moment late in Melbourne City’s goalless draw with Adelaide United on Saturday night that had head coach Aurelio Vidmar scrambling.
With a minute of regulation time remaining at AAMI Park, City goalkeeper Patrick Beach came off his line to deny Adelaide’s Dylan Pierias.
MATCH REPORT: Adelaide’s finals hopes hang by a thread as City slip confirms Auckland’s Premiership title
There were mixed emotions on the sidelines as Vidmar hilariously recalled the moment in Melbourne.
“Yeah, I was yelling out ‘no ,Beachy!’ Then he came out and everyone on the bench said ‘yes, Beachy!’,” Vidmar smiled.
“Those moments, if you hesitate you’re gone. He we went no I’m committed and he made a great save.”
City’s stalemate has left the club “with a hell of a lot to play for” against Sydney FC in Round 29.
Vidmar’s City remain second in the table and in the box seat to qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite, however, they are just a point clear of Western United, two ahead of Western Sydney Wanderers and three better off than Melbourne Victory.
‘DISTRAUGHT’: Archie Goodwin injured in brutal Golden Boot race twist
“It’s all we have to do. Regroup again like normal, try to push forward. Big game. Tough opponent, very much like Adelaide,” Vidmar said.
Vidmar added: “They know what’s at stake. I will never ever be critical when the effort was at the level it was tonight.”
What’s fuelling Auckland after historic Premiership
Auckland FC claimed the Premiers Plate in their inaugural season but the Black Knights are not done there.
MATCH REPORT: Incredible scenes as Auckland FC lift Premiers Plate after epic first A-Leagues goal
“It’s been an amazing journey so far,” Corica told reporters.
“Obviously, we’re not done yet, (we’ve) still got another trophy that you know we want to try and achieve that as well.
He continued: “(To) make us the first team to do the double in our very first year. Wanderers obviously won the Premiership before in their first year so we want to try and top them if we can.
“That’s the motivation of the players to do that, you know, it would be something really special if we could get the double.”
Western United on cusp of club record after achieving something never done before
Western United have already created history in 2024-25 and the Green and Black are on the verge of another record as they take the race for second spot right down to the wire.
MATCH REPORT: Controversial winner sets up thrilling final round as Western United triumph over Sydney FC
Western have now won back-to-back matches against the Sky Blues for the first time in their history, while they have claimed four successive home victories in the league for the second time in their existence.
Should they conquer Auckland in Round 29, it would mean a club-record five in a row for the 2022 champions.
“Really pleased. I thought the boys did really well,” head coach Aloisi said in his post-match interview as Sydney ended the round a point outside the top six.
“After losing the last two games… not so much the performance against the Wanderers but the performance last week against Brisbane wasn’t at our level. The reaction and response was outstanding.
“We were very good tonight.”
