The game was deadlocked at the interval with Brisbane looking the likely side towards the end of the first half.

Merrick, though, brought on Tom Pondeljak and Billy Celeski, with the former scoring the opening goal before further strikes from Ricardinho and Grant Brebner sealed an emphatic win.

"When Billy (Celeski) and Tommy (Pondeljak) came on strategically we just took over in the second-half," Merrick said.

"I thought we needed players like Tommy who could break forward from the wing-back position better and we needed Billy in the middle rather than a winger."

Merrick added: "I thought we started off really in the first 20 minutes, we hit the crossbar, had a couple of chances and dominated possession in their half.

"But for the next 20-25 that's when the Roar kept the ball really well.

"They played fairly high-risk football, playing out the back and pushing numbers right forward and we didn't cope with the interchanging midfield it very well but we sorted it out at half-time.

Merrick was also keen to praise under-fire goalkeeper Michael Petkovic who kept a clean sheet.

"The real pleasing thing was a clean sheet. We defended really well.

"Petka was outstanding in goals when he was called upon, especially at the end, took his crosses really well and in the front third we finished really well with three goals."

The Victory next play host to Wellington Phoenix on Wednesday.