With three defeats in their last four outings and only one victory from their past eight matches, Brisbane Roar finds themselves in a precarious situation just when they needed to be at their best. Are they at risk of failing to qualify for the finals in the Ninja A-League? This is a subject that certainly ignited a spirited discussion among the panel on Dub Zone.
Brisbane’s recent 3-2 defeat against Newcastle Jets in Round 19 means they’ve now suffered back-to-back losses by the same margin, and while they currently hold fifth place in the table, they are now just one point above seventh.
What exactly has gone awry for Alex Smith’s squad?
The Roar started the season on a high note, claiming six victories from their first eight games. However, since the new year, their performance has noticeably dropped.
A significant factor in this downturn appears to be the absence of pivotal player Sharn Freier. The CommBank Matildas winger has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury.
“They have had so many interruptions in the team. Players are gradually returning, but it’s been difficult for them to reclaim the chemistry they had at the start of the season,” remarked two-time Ninja A-League champion Teresa Polias during this week’s episode of Dub Zone.
“The aggression isn’t there at the moment, and clearly, their confidence has taken a hit.”
A concerning issue for the Roar is that out of their five remaining fixtures, four will be against teams currently sitting in the top six.
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Despite this challenging schedule, A-Leagues commentator Teo Pellizzeri is optimistic that the Queenslanders will make the finals, provided they secure a win against the team sitting last on the ladder.
“I’m actually going to take a different stance. Brisbane just needs to beat Western Sydney Wanderers at Perry Park, and the other three matches can be seen as free hits,” he said.
“If they need to reach 30 points to qualify for the finals, two more wins would see them hit 28, or potentially even 31, which guarantees a spot.”
“But they need to win those, Teo,” replied Polias, pointing out their current struggles. “That’s the main issue.”
“Let’s take the pressure off when they visit Adelaide; that’s a freebie.” Pellizzeri suggested.
“Is it?” Polias countered. “I don’t believe they will approach it like that. No team will just give up that easily.”
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Pellizzeri continued: “They’re still occupying fifth place. I believe this team has chosen which matches to prioritise, and they need to focus all their efforts on the Western Sydney Wanderers.”
Polias, not entirely convinced by Pellizzeri’s viewpoint, expressed her concerns that the Roar might struggle to regain their form from earlier in the season.
“I don’t think it’s as simple as that, Teo. You can’t just flip a switch whenever it suits you.”
Pellizzeri countered: “Despite that, they’re still above nearly half the league.”
Polias responded: “True, but that’s down to their strong performances earlier in the season. It has since diminished, and that’s the crux of the problem.”
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Smith and his coaching staff will also be anxiously monitoring the fitness of their captain, Tameka Yallop.
Yallop appeared to sustain a right ankle injury while contesting for the ball and was substituted in the 77th minute of the loss to the Jets, limping heavily as she exited the pitch at Perry Park.
The Matildas star has been in outstanding scoring form this season, currently ranking third in the race for the Golden Boot with nine goals to her name.
Brisbane Roar’s next challenge is an away match against the formidable Adelaide United on Sunday.
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