The 25-year-old was part of the Victory furniture by the time the title-winning mentor arrived and started overhauling the under-performing squad.

It was a case of adapt or adieu for Broxham with some critics anticipating a quick exit under the new regime.

A spectacular header in Victory’s 1-1 draw against Brisbane Roar on the weekend proved once again the nuggetty midfielder has more in his bag of tricks than graft.

After starting life at Victory as a teenaged team assistant helping in “any crappy way possible”, Broxham has shown a remarkable ability to adapt and change.

Earlier this year he earned himself a three-year contract extension.

“I knew I wasn’t one of the players that Ange had brought in, and he brought in a lot of players, and they were the ones he had faith in and saw something in,” Broxham told au.fourfourtwo.com

“I had to gain his trust almost and prove a point in the year that I had for him to want to keep me on.

“Fortunately I must have done that because he rewarded me with a new contract. And I’m just trying to keep proving a point to him that he can rely on me while I keep bettering myself.

“(Ange) has come in with his ideas and it’s his way or the highway so basically I’ve just changed myself as a player and bought into what he was doing – which is how it is when new coaches come in.

"You just try to adapt.”

Broxham will have no better chance to repay Postecoglou’s faith in him than during the Big Blue away to Sydney on Saturday night.

Always a hotly contested affair, this weekend offers added spice with the Sky Blues’ season hanging in the balance and Victory missing key personnel in the way of Adama Traore (injured) and Adrian Leijer (suspended).

Victory have notched up two good wins over the harboursiders this season but since their last encounter – a 3-1 drubbing at AAMI Park – Sydney have turned Allianz Stadium into a fortress.

“It’s not easy going up there,” Broxham admits. “They’ve won their last six in a row up there and have got some good form at home so it will be a good test for us.

“For Sydney it’s massive – their season’s on the line in the next three games if they want to make the finals. If their players aren’t up for the game then nothing’s going to motivate them.

“So it’s going to be a big game, very competitive, but if we stick to our game plan I don’t think we’ll have any problems.”

Postecoglou’s men are sitting third on the ladder and Broxham has no doubt they’ll give the finals a good shake but he’s not about to talk up his own contribution to their on-field success.

“The year has worked out well for me but, you know, I’m not one to say I’ve had an amazing season – I’m always going to find things I’m not happy with and that I want to improve,” he added.

“I don’t think I’ve ever come out of any game where I’ve been happy with the whole game and I think most footballers would be like that.

“You might look back once you’ve retired and say, yeah I had a good year that year but in the moment you just want to really keep improving yourself.”

Still last weekend’s 11th minute goal was something special – only his second in the A-League – and if he’s looking for positive omens ahead of the Big Blue, his first was against Sydney FC in the opening round of the 2009/10 season.

“It’s always nice to score,” he said. “I watched the (header) on the replay and it turned out better than I thought. I probably didn’t realise I could get that high.”