Along with Perth Glory, the reigning Grand Final winners were the big losers of the AFC's decision to reduce Australia's allocation in the prestigious continental competition from three direct spots to just one with one play-off place.

Even though Brisbane took out the A-League championship, they will most likely be forced to earn their position in the tournament proper in the same way Adelaide United did in 2012.

Meanwhile, last season's table-toppers Central Coast are straight through to the group stage of the 2013 AFC Champions League.

The discrepancy raises the age-old debate of which prize in Australian football is greater - the premiership, or the grand final.

Vidosic said he understood the AFC now considers the biggest match in the A-League a mere cup competition - on par with the knockout Emperor's Cup in Japan, for example.

But that's not the way it feels.

"We feel like champions," Vidosic said. "We get a championship trophy, a championship medal and we feel like the champions.

"That's the way it is here in Australia and we are proud of our achievements. Everywhere else in the world you've only got the ladder.

"It's just unfortunate that elsewhere they are not having the same view as we do and they don't look at it the same way FFA and the rest of Australia is looking.

"Here in Australia, we're very proud of our grand finals and we are very proud to have won two grand finals.

"That's the biggest day in football on the calendar here. Somewhere else it's been looked at differently."

Veteran Shane Stefanutto also voiced his frustration at the AFC's decision - but resolved to get Brisbane into the group stage by any means necessary.

"Maybe it's just politics in Asia," he said. "I think it just shows how important the competition is to everyone in the region. Everyone wants spots in it.

"I'm still confident we're a big country in this region and we deserve a certain amount of (clubs in the AFC Champions League).

"The Asian Champions League is an important competition and we were honoured to be part of it last year.

"I'm sure in the end common sense will prevail and we'll have no problem in getting two teams into that comp anyway."

Vidosic added: "Whatever we have to do, we will do it. We're still waiting for confirmation of who we're playing against and when and where, so it's pointless to talk about it."

In the meantime, the Roar still have the small matter of mitigating the damage of what has been a horror A-League title defence so far.

"We have a game style and a bunch of players that are fantastic footballers. We just have to find that within ourselves now," Stefanutto said.

"We had five losses in a row (last season) after a really good start and we went on to do well after that.

"Those experiences can only help us and maybe we do need to feed off those, and know we can get through these tough times so that when we come out on the other side we're better for it."