GOALS were hard to come by this weekend, but standout performances weren't.
With the A-League's Socceroo contingent out of town, it was time for some lesser names to step up and make their mark on their teams - as well as some more established names keeping up their teams' momentum in their absence. Who made it? Find out...
GK: Vedran Janjetovic
Sydney fans across all forms of social media have for weeks been asking why the woefully out-of-form Ivan Necevski wasn't dropped for his backup earlier. After his debut for the club, so are the rest of us. Pulled off a stunning save in the second half from Fred to keep the stalemate and was generally confident and assured.
RB: Jack Hingert
In the absence of Ivan Franjic (and Matt Jurman), Hingert has gradually been forcing his way into the first team. With performances like the one against the Jets, where he not only defended stoutly but burst forward on a number of occasions - the result of one of which was the game-winning penalty - he will keep his spot.
In the absence of Ivan Franjic (and Matt Jurman), Hingert has gradually been forcing his way into the first team. With performances like the one against the Jets, where he not only defended stoutly but burst forward on a number of occasions - the result of one of which was the game-winning penalty - he will keep his spot.
LB: Joshua Rose
The Mariners left-back has not had the best of seasons so far - younger, quicker right-wingers have had him on the back foot. He was back approaching his best at Bluetongue on Saturday in sweltering conditions - bombing forward and scoring the equaliser, and shutting down attacks down his wing.
The Mariners left-back has not had the best of seasons so far - younger, quicker right-wingers have had him on the back foot. He was back approaching his best at Bluetongue on Saturday in sweltering conditions - bombing forward and scoring the equaliser, and shutting down attacks down his wing.
CB: James Donachie
Given the job of marking Emile Heskey on only his second ever senior start, he more than held his own against the big Englishman. He must have enormous pockets because Heskey was firmly tucked inside.
Given the job of marking Emile Heskey on only his second ever senior start, he more than held his own against the big Englishman. He must have enormous pockets because Heskey was firmly tucked inside.
CB: Ben Sigmund
Although the task of 'containing' a front three of Kresinger, Bridge and Minniecon doesn't sound like much on paper, Sigmund out-muscled Kresinger and outpaced and outplayed the other pair. A game which showed the big Kiwi centreback has more to his game than just brute strength.
Although the task of 'containing' a front three of Kresinger, Bridge and Minniecon doesn't sound like much on paper, Sigmund out-muscled Kresinger and outpaced and outplayed the other pair. A game which showed the big Kiwi centreback has more to his game than just brute strength.
CM: Guilherme Finkler
In a rich vein of form in a team high on confidence, Finkler was spraying pinpoint passes to all and sundry on Friday night - and the Glory midfield, known for their steel, were powerless to stop him. What's scary for the rest of the A-League? He's not quite up to the speed of the league yet. When he is, you can expect even better than this.
In a rich vein of form in a team high on confidence, Finkler was spraying pinpoint passes to all and sundry on Friday night - and the Glory midfield, known for their steel, were powerless to stop him. What's scary for the rest of the A-League? He's not quite up to the speed of the league yet. When he is, you can expect even better than this.
CM: Nick Montgomery
You'd expect a Sheffield lad to have melted away at Bluetongue on a 37 degree afternoon - not so. Put in perhaps his best performance in blue and yellow and capped it with a fine strike for the winner.
You'd expect a Sheffield lad to have melted away at Bluetongue on a 37 degree afternoon - not so. Put in perhaps his best performance in blue and yellow and capped it with a fine strike for the winner.
CM: Erik Paartalu
Has been woefully out of form for most of the season. Obviously responded well to the criticism provided by his coach, as he showed why, on form, he's a shoe-in for A-League-based Socceroos sides with inspired box-to-box play
Has been woefully out of form for most of the season. Obviously responded well to the criticism provided by his coach, as he showed why, on form, he's a shoe-in for A-League-based Socceroos sides with inspired box-to-box play
RW: Marco Rojas
Is there a better player in the A-League right now than the Kiwi Messi? Certainly putting his bigger name teammates to shame, let alone the marquees dotting the Australian football landscape. Only a matter of time before he is snapped up by a big, big club - Victory fans (and neutrals) will hope he continues scoring cracking goals like his winner against Glory until then.
Is there a better player in the A-League right now than the Kiwi Messi? Certainly putting his bigger name teammates to shame, let alone the marquees dotting the Australian football landscape. Only a matter of time before he is snapped up by a big, big club - Victory fans (and neutrals) will hope he continues scoring cracking goals like his winner against Glory until then.
LW: Jeremy Brockie
The third New Zealand international in the Team of the Week (how about that, Kiwis?), thoroughly deserves his place for the comedy value his goal from a cross provided. Certainly required a good helping of the wind and rain that usually accompany Phoenix.
The third New Zealand international in the Team of the Week (how about that, Kiwis?), thoroughly deserves his place for the comedy value his goal from a cross provided. Certainly required a good helping of the wind and rain that usually accompany Phoenix.
ST: Bruce Djite
A strong performance in a flat team effort, Djite provided his usual bustling energy up front and was rewarded with the opener.
A strong performance in a flat team effort, Djite provided his usual bustling energy up front and was rewarded with the opener.
Coach: Ange Postecoglou
Rewarded for his positive gameplan against Glory, he is also reaping the rewards of keeping faith with young stars like Rojas and new signings like Gui Finkler. Next week's match in Adelaide is looming as an early-season title-defining clash.
Rewarded for his positive gameplan against Glory, he is also reaping the rewards of keeping faith with young stars like Rojas and new signings like Gui Finkler. Next week's match in Adelaide is looming as an early-season title-defining clash.
Referee: Jared Gillett
Got all his major decisions correct in a week where the abysmal overall standard was exposed once again. Even the previously infallible Strebre Delovski had a shocker, failing to punish Fabio for a horrific challenge on Garuccio. But the big story of the week was "Red Card" Brenton Hayward's absolute shocker in Brisbane in sending off Broich for being pushed over (thankfully now rescinded). It's proving harder and harder to find games where the referee does his job well and doesn't affect the outcome. Perhaps marquee referees are something the FFA should look into?
Got all his major decisions correct in a week where the abysmal overall standard was exposed once again. Even the previously infallible Strebre Delovski had a shocker, failing to punish Fabio for a horrific challenge on Garuccio. But the big story of the week was "Red Card" Brenton Hayward's absolute shocker in Brisbane in sending off Broich for being pushed over (thankfully now rescinded). It's proving harder and harder to find games where the referee does his job well and doesn't affect the outcome. Perhaps marquee referees are something the FFA should look into?
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