Here’s what we learned from a lamentable weekend …

1. Thommo’s Top Quality
We suggested last week that Melbourne Heart simply had no option but to endure their winless streak until Fred and Matt Thompson returned. Not a shocking revelation by any means, but one which was justified in the 79th minute of Heart’s relieving 1-0 win over the Gold Coast Under-21 side (Kristian Rees being the big kid who grew earlier than everyone else). Even against a United midfield sporting an average age of just over 17.5 years, Heart’s trio of Fred, Srhoj and Germano were unable to create enough clear-cut chances for their front three – that is, of course, until Matt Thompson entered proceedings on 70 minutes. The league’s best true box-to-box midfielder immediately injected vitality into an increasingly frustrating affair for the hosts, proving his star credentials by laying Fred’s clever back-post dink on a platter for Eli Babalj to tap home. It was a typically wholehearted effort, allied to a deft touch, from the former Jets hero who will need plenty more repeat moments of brilliance to drag the Red and White back into form.

2. Amini Or Bust? Just A Myth
“Who? Mufasa? Never heard of him; no, the talented kid who plays at the top of the diamond for Central Coast is Tom Rogic.” These are words which probably won’t be heard around Bluetongue Stadium – or any A-League venue for that matter – as Mustafa Amini is too well regarded in Australian football, though Rogic is certainly doing a fair Simba impression in ascending to Mustafa Amini’s throne. Way back in round three of this season, when Central Coast were mired in an early season funk, we proclaimed it would be “Amini Or Bust” for the  Mariners in their quest to adequately replace the departed Patricio Perez. Now, 17 rounds later, we are pleased to confirm that to be a dying truth, slain by Nike Chance finalist Rogic. The left-footed Canberran starred for the second week running on Saturday as his curler handed the home side a deserved lead over Wellington early in the second half of their crunch showdown, later consolidated by Patrick Zwaanswijk’s powerful header. In addition to John Sutton’s signature softening the blow of losing Matt Simon, CCM have now far more importantly unearthed competition, and a likely heir, for Dortmund-bound Amini.

3. Points Matter
For once, just once, on a warm Saturday evening, the scenario became points now, performance later for Brisbane Roar. With scores firstly levelled through one Harry Kewell strike and then breathing space whittled to a single goal through another, the reigning champions were forced to fight more than they might have expected. They succeeded, although it wasn’t without fright. Some moments of the home team’s eventual 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory were vintage Brisbane – Besart Berisha’s second, for instance, was a sublimely slick move – others, notably a set of approximately 20 minute periods following Kewell’s twin efforts – saw the match morph into the basketball type affair which Ange Postecoglou warned his players against, and which favoured the away outfit. Ultimately, Brisbane’s unrelenting fitness assisted in securing a result which sees second place put on lay-by and a winning mentality surely restored. It now appears as though we are set for yet another chapter in the burgeoning Roar-Mariners battle for pre-eminence. Prepare yourselves.

4. Perth Are Bouncing On
Bouncebackability: Iain Dowie phrase, underrated everyday terminology, useful football term, A-League wonder trait. And possibly a noun, too. Returned home following a tight loss away to Sydney, Perth’s Saturday night meeting with soaring Newcastle was expected to provide a thorough examination of their mettle. It didn’t. No, instead the sterner test came when key playmaker Liam Miller, who has been the premier midfielder in the competition over the last month or two, limped off with a leg injury in the 11th minute. Unremarkably considering their recent form, Glory – just as they were to exhibit in chalking a 2-0 final scoreline – demonstrated impressive bouncebackability with Adam Hughes opening the scoring barely three minutes after replacing Miller. Match by match, win by win, Perth are adding to a successful formula for which we have pined for so long. Now favourites to secure third and with a chance to heap pressure on second-placed Brisbane at nib Stadium next weekend, it has been quite the turnaround for a team which earlier this season went 11 matches without a win. Fergie in?

5. Opportunities Are Here
Finals hopes aside for just a moment, Vitezslav Lavicka can at the very least leave Sydney FC at season’s end knowing he left a parting gift for perennial understudy Ivan Necevski. Owing to Necevski’s generosity – and some might say more importantly, form – said gift may just extend to the rest of the Sky Blues squad and their supporters. Necevski was near invincible in goals for the visitors as they snatched another three points on the road to Adelaide, spectacularly holding the Reds to a solitary Fabian Barbiero goal. Classy finishes courtesy of the confident Mitchell Mallia and fellow young attacker Joel Chianese, “the pair who have “torn the Youth League apart,” were enough to see off an Adelaide side stung by a lethargic opening stanza and a second half sucker punch. Bittersweet ponderings of the impact Mallia and Chianese – and possibly several other youth teamers – could have made on Sydney’s season if blooded earlier will plague all Sky Blue-thinking minds until Lavicka’s farewell. For now, we can only hope chances will continue to abound for at least these impressive three.