Here’s what we learned from Orange Sunday 2 …

1. We All Dream Of A Postecoglou Coach
Only one man can claim to have coached teams to four domestic Australian Grand Final victories: Ange Postecoglou. When you’re in a class of one in football, it’s usually either very outstandingly good or outstandingly bad. In this case, a record breaking number of successes will fill a coach who was attracted plenty of criticism during his time in the system with plenty of pride. His win on Sunday makes it six in total as player and coach, and was richly deserved for his moves to substitute Paartalu, Henrique and Murdocca for the lesser, younger lights in Brattan, Fitzgerald and Meyer, who all – particularly Brattan, a 64th minute entrant – made a significant impact on the match. It was of little surprise that matchwinner Berisha ran straight for the arms of his coach at the match’s conclusion. Brisbane fans would have paid money to also embrace a man who has transformed their club from perennial underachievers and of weak mental fibre to back-to-back champions.

2. Penalty A Grand Advert For Video Technology
Human error is a terrific element of sport and football because it allows the player in question to redeem themself in often emotional fashion. However, Jarred Gillett’s human error – which, yes, was arguably a correct decision – left the punished Perth with no chance of correcting the mistake. Is that reasonable for the men in purple to simply swallow? Of course not – a more solid defence might have helped – though football is sometimes unfair. But video technology would have enabled the referee to make a decision informed on more than merely a split second summation of tangled events – a surely preferable outcome.

3. Stop The First = Cut The Controversy
It happened to Central Coast Mariners and now Perth Glory – an inability to stop a preventable first Brisbane goal in their respective Grand Finals, which gave Roar life in 2011 and an equaliser in 2012, cost the two away sides in the harshest way possible. Last year saw Brisbane unable to break down the Mariners for 116 minutes before a sweeping McKay pass found Solorzano broken away from the defence, and two passes later the miracle was a possibility. Mat Ryan, the Joe Marston medallist, could possibly have been stronger. A similarly simple move on the stroke of 83 minutes on Sunday saved Roar yet again. Receiving the ball lateral to the edge of Perth’s penalty area from Shane Stefanutto’s throw-in, Thomas Broich was given too much room – just as he was to feed Henrique last instalment – by Liam Miller to pivot and deliver a pinpoint, dipping, curling cross for Besart Berisha to leap above Steve Pantelidis and head Brisbane’s salvation. Miller and Pantelidis’ lapses punished Perth, setting the scene for the Albanian’s second.

4. Medal Mix-Up An A-League Trademark
One does wonder how an “administrative error” can be made in awarding somebody a medal assumedly only minutes after the winner was decided. The only explanation is that the powers that be felt a controversial refereeing decision wasn’t ‘A-League enough’ alone for the Grand Final, so felt obliged to orchestrate a typically humorous gaffe. We can only hope Broich, who was briefly in possession of both of the season’s greatest individual honours, has spent enough time in the A-League to know these kinds of things tend to happen from time to time. The German was a worthy winner for the time that he was the Joe Marston medallist, laying on two assists and weaving through Perth defenders for the entire 97 minutes. But Jacob Burns, ultimately the recipient a day after his 34th birthday, was deserving of the acknowledgement with his captain’s performance completing a sensational season renaissance, typified best by his tracking and tackle on Mitch Nichols seconds before the half-time whistle to deny the Brisbane midfielder a good chance.

5. There Was Plenty Of Good, Too
If you’ve continued reading this far you’re probably not a Perth Glory fan given the post-Grand Final blackout that is likely to be well underway, so we’ll tentatively add that there was plenty besides the penalty controversy which made the match memorable. In no particular order, remember these highlights: Besart Berisha’s post-match jubilation will have annoyed many – Perth fans, mostly – but seeing a man forgotten in Europe be so smitten with his A-League experience was sincere and likeable. Two Brisbane youngsters – Luke Brattan and Nick Fitzgerald – were immediately comfortable on the biggest stage and helped to unlock the staunch Perth defence. Glory fans, regardless of the result, travelled a long distance in great numbers and were typically boisterous, especially in goal celebration. Tony Sage’s tears were a wonderful sight for those of us questioning the passion of A-League owners. Shane Smeltz soldiering on with a battered face took great bravery and minimal vanity. Going minutes within their first piece of A-League silverware was an outstanding achievement for a Perth side which fought from second-bottom in December. The match was billed as a fiery encounter but was contested with a healthy respect between the two sets of players. And, finally, in the words of Roar captain Matt Smith as he gestured to the 50,000+ spectators who were mesmerised by another magical Grand Final: “those people saying the A-League is dead, just come and look at this.”