In the lead up to a tricky away game against Wellington Phoenix on Sunday, Theo said the club had evolved since racking up back-to-back championships under former coach Ange Postecoglou.

And the shot stopper admitted his lofted pass to set up the third goal in a 5-0 drubbing of Postecoglou’s Melbourne Victory on the weekend would not have occurred under their former mentor.

“In terms of the past few years, we’ve always looked to play out using a short passing game,” Theo said.

“On that occasion it just happened to be that the ball came back to me and everyone was pushed up and I just didn’t have that many options to play short.

“The option was to make a longer pass and fortunately for me it was well weighted and it was a nice through ball for Mitchie to run on to.”

Clubs that thought they had cracked the formula for containing the champions might be forced back to the drawing board.

“Obviously in the past we were predictable but we were very good at it,” said Theo. “We’ve had success in playing that way.

“Now I think it’s a mixture - if it’s on to play short we’ll play short but if there’s an opportunity to play a longer pass it’s up to the individual.

“At the end of the day we’re the players out there and we’ve got to make the right choices at the right time. We have that licence to express ourselves and if it with a longer pass then so be it.”

The Melbourne-born glovesman recently signed a four year extension with the Queensland outfit saying he was impressed with the direction the club was taking under new head coach Rado Vidosic.

Last weekend’s performance was easily among team’s best, he said, but Phoenix at home would provide a stern test. Both teams have a stable player group with the Kiwi outfit including a core of All White internationals.

Theo, who began his professional career in New Zealand with Auckland-based Football Kingz (later the New Zealand Knights), conceded Wellington was always a difficult place to get a result.

“They’re a very good team and they’ve had a similar squad for some time so they know each other’s game,” he said. “We know it’s going to be a very tough game but it’s one that we’re looking forward to.”

The 31-year-old also predicted better days ahead for Melbourne Victory, saying they would eventually come good under Postecoglou.

“Ange has got a certain philosophy and what I do know about Ange is that he won’t waver from that,” he said.

“He wants to play a certain way and they are starting to obviously replicate what he did here in Brisbane and it’s going to take time.

“We were in the same boat as they were a few years ago. It’s just a matter of time before the players adapt to the way he wants them to play and they will get better over time.

“Fortunately for us we were there two years ago and now we’ve moved on and we’re adding to our game which is great.

“I suppose from our point of view great that the core of the group has remained at Brisbane and hopefully we go from strength to strength.”