1. ‘Resilient’ Adelaide? It’s Just The Beginning
Adelaide is home to a football squad capable of winning the A-League – that much is evident. They have possessed the level of talent required for the last couple of seasons. Carrusca and Jeronimo have settled quickly, Ferreira made his first real impression on Friday night, and Dario Vidosic is the new Aaron Mooy. The experience of Galekovic, Cassio and Fyfe glue together a defence which is screened by the talented Osama Malik. Too easy, right? To borrow a phrase from Dwight Schrute: false. Most uplifting for Reds supporters is the kind of resilience they proved against Sydney. Having conceded an equaliser and looking like they would wilt under the Sky Blues’ pressure, Nigel Boogaard surged forward and cracked the crossbar before Vidosic tidied up. If the words “Nigel Boogaard surged forward” portray anything, it’s supreme confidence. Next up is the perfect challenge for Adelaide as they meet Central Coast at Bluetongue. If they can overcome the Premiers away from home then John Kosmina will have navigated the key ‘gelling period’ most successfully and will be riding a crushing wave of momentum.

 

2. Heart: From the Fonz to Malph
We bet Melbourne Heart thought they were pretty cool scoring against the Jets with just 35 seconds on the clock of their Saturday afternoon encounter. Well, to be honest, they were, and they entered Fonz territory when they added another from the penalty spot less than five minutes later. But letting Newcastle, who scored three goals to one in the second-half, back into the match was a positively Ralph Malph thing to do … or maybe Pottsy Weber - we never could decide who ranked below Richie Cunningham. But Richard Garcia’s opener immediately reminded us of the 11-second A-League record of Adelaide’s Louis Brain back in 2005, and even further back, of Damien Mori’s four-second, kick-off effort against Sydney United from 1996. The pertinent point is only one of these three dreams starts led to Happy Day. The other two jumped the shark - with Brain’s Adelaide the only winners (his lone goal enough to down Melbourne Victory) while Sydney United cancelled out Mori’s goal to draw 2-2, as did the Jets to Heart’s 3-3. Heyyy!!!

 

3. More Postecoglou Miracles, Vol. II
So it’s come to this: we’re applauding a ten-man Melbourne Victory on their defence. Told you it was a weird week. Ange Postecoglou is the chief suspect. Who else could mastermind such a turnaround? Tony Popovic’s post-match comments exemplified his bemusement, although they don’t seem so silly when you consider Central Coast frustrated Victory just a week prior with ten men, and Western Sydney did the same to Perth – but won! For all the peculiarity of the situation, Victory’s performance and result in Parramatta can clearly be attributed to the burgeoning influence of Postecoglou. The clinically slick attacking combinations were hallmarks, but it was the stoic defensive display – albeit in the face of Wanderers’ meek attack – which was most encouraging. Interest now surrounds the best-suited position of Mark Milligan, with Gallagher suspended and Victory having produced their best defensive performance with the Australian international shuffled back alongside Adrian Leijer. Perhaps the question will be solved with whether the gaffer trusts Jonathan Bru enough to start as the defensive midfielder. Who knows, perhaps he’ll just opt for ten men each match. The method and the madness seem equally effective at the moment.

 

4. Perth Lacking Magic Potion, Not Magic Post
If missing the Socceroos squad less than two years after his professional debut was enough for Perth Glory fullback Josh Risdon to drastically shave his head and, we’re assuming, contemplate a switch to the military, we hate to think what his reaction was to being denied a winner on Saturday night. He shouldn’t be upset. Aside from being a talented footballer, he was always destined to be denied a winner by the woodwork in Perth’s 1-1 draw with Wellington. Perth have developed an alarming affinity for hitting that post. We’re quite sure Steve McGarry has already driven shots twice into the same upright and a third Glory player is soon to follow, just you watch. Perhaps the construction workers at nib Stadium have managed to magnetise it while on-site. NB - Common sense explains very little in the A-League. 

 

5. Selfishness and Hypocrisy in the A-League
The Central Coast Mariners/Brisbane Roar rivalry sure has served up some crackers over the past two seasons. and the baking Sunday afternoon timeslot merely added extra sizzle to the heated clash when two red-hot strikers fired up. As a man who bounds around the pitch for his side with limitless life, Besart Berisha must still frustrate his teammates with lapses into selfishness and truculence. His first-half blow-up was all too reminiscent of the same fixture last season, leaving him fortunate not to be dismissed for two yellow cards in under 30 seconds and with us sympathetic to his colleagues’ pleas for calm. Daniel McBreen then joined the fray by Usain Bolt-ing over to referee Chris Beath to articulate his displeasure, not 45 minutes after the Mariners striker had smacked his boot studs into the middle of Matt Smith’s shin. We can at least thank Beath for reserving only cautions for the two players, instead of turning this hot-tempered tempest into a tepid cup of stale tea. Oh and how about that Tom Rogic, eh?