2012 Hyundai A-League Grand Final - Brisbane Roar vs Perth Glory (Sun 22nd April)

[meh]

Kick-off 4pm AEST

Barely any tickets left, should be a sell out come game time, so the atmosphere will be electric. Brisbane have belted Perth twice this season, but Perth are in the form of their life, it's going to be a cracker.

Date: Sunday 22 April, 2012
Kick-off: 4.00pm AEST, 4.00pm local
Venue: Suncorp Stadium

Head-to-head
Played: 21 Wins: Brisbane 13, Perth 3, Draw: 5

Previous encounter
Brisbane 3, Perth 0, 21 February 2012

History:
The men in orange hold a commanding lead in the head-to-head stakes between these two sides.

Perth have only beaten the Roar on three occasions since the inception of the A-League, and none of those wins have come this season. In their first meeting in 2011/12, Brisbane completely destroyed the Western Australian side by 4-0, claiming the longest unbeaten streak in Australian sporting history in the process.

Then the two sides fought out a furious 3-3 draw a few days into the new year at nib Stadium, before the Roar returned to that ground two months later to claim a 3-0 win.

It's also worth noting Brisbane have not lost a finals match since February 2009, and Perth have won just once before at Suncorp Stadium. Clearly, history favours the Roar.

Form:
Past five matches:
Brisbane: WWDWL
Perth: LWWWW

Summary of form:
The Roar's eight-match undefeated run across all competitions was broken when they were outclassed 2-1 by K-League side Ulsan Hyundai at home.

However - and more importantly - the Queensland side have not lost to an A-League team since Newcastle pulled off a 1-0 win back in late January.

Indeed, Brisbane have won eight and drawn two of their last 10 games against Australian (or New Zealand) clubs, a record which should fill them with confidence.

Perth themselves are on a terrific four-match winning streak, having well and truly left that surprise 3-0 loss to Gold Coast United behind them.

Following that result the Glory promptly dismantled Melbourne Victory in Jim Magilton's last match in charge, knocked Melbourne Heart and Wellington Phoenix out of the finals - and then last weekend, they beat premiers Central Coast on penalties to seal their passage to the big dance.

To say they've come from the clouds would be a little unfair, but it's true that Ian Ferguson's men are peaking at the right time.

Match Committee:
Ange Postecoglou fielded his best XI against Ulsan Hyundai earlier in the week and there were no injury problems to come out of that match - so Brisbane will once again be at full-strength. Perth, on the other hand, have a few fitness concerns.

The biggest one surrounds livewire winger Andrezinho, who suffered a minor tear in his groin in the second half of his side's win over the Mariners.

The Brazilian will need to train successfully later this week in order to prove his fitness - but you can put a line through Evan Berger (hamstring), Chris Coyne (Achilles) and Viktor Sikora (hip).

Danger men:
Thomas Broich - By his standards, Broich has been very quiet of late. That should mean alarm bells for Perth, because a player of his calibre does not stay quiet for long.

The German playmaker needs a decisive 90-minute (or, if it comes to it, 120-minute) performance in order to really ensure the Brisbane engine ticks along the right way.

Shane Smeltz - Perth's marquee striker has revelled in the spotlight of the finals series so far this season. The Kiwi has scored eight goals in his last four games, with his tally in post-season fixtures now at six, the second-most of any player in the history of the competition.

Smeltz earns his money because he is consistently capable of putting the finishing touches on Glory moves, and that role will be of immense importance in the Grand Final.

At the end of the day…
Never mind the protests of Graham Arnold and the Central Coast Mariners - the Grand Final is the biggest stage in Australian football, and the prize on offer is what all clubs have been working towards for the past 12 months.

On paper, this has all the makings of a classic - an established powerhouse in Brisbane, having once again proved they're the best team in the land by cruising through the finals series, will welcome Perth Glory, a sleeping giant in domestic football terms that appears to have finally woken up.

There are intriguing battles all over the pitch. Which defensive pairing will hold tight - the Roar's captain courageous, Matt Smith, and Bahrani international Mohamed Adnan, or former Gold Coast United teammates Bas van den Brink and Steve Pantelidis?

Will Thomas Broich and Erik Paartalu control the tempo of the game, or will the Glory's Liam Miller and Jacob Burns confirm their rise as one of the A-League's best midfield combinations?

Which striker will be on song, Besart Berisha or Shane Smeltz? And if it comes down to it, who will hold their nerve between the posts - proven performer Michael Theoklitos or starlet Danny Vukovic?

On a larger scale, everything - history, form, home-ground advantage, experience, cohesion - points to a Brisbane victory. But then again, it would take a brave man to dismiss the combination of class and grit Perth have mastered in their run to the decider.

If the wrong Roar turns up, they might not be able to handle it. If Ange Postecoglou's men are switched on though, not many teams in the A-League have the ability to stop them - Perth included. Brisbane should win.

Hyundai A-League Grand Final Preview @ Football Australia 2011

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Postecoglou's future, and the mid-week ACL match, I can't see Brisbane losing, Perth will give them 1 hell of a fright though.

Brisbane 2 - 1 Perth

[Embers]

Confirmed as a sell out which is kind of a surprise IMO

I think it will be alot closer then everyone thinks mainly because I can see Pantelidis handling Berisha movement better then most CBs who probably dont have the pace to go with him. Perth should be playing counter attack football.

IMO Travis Dodd is the most important player for Glory in this. He will have the most space to work with along with Howarth who should be getting the start over Andrezinho. I would start McGarry over Mehmet. Think Adnan would have no problem dealing with his aerial strength and they will need to pack the midfield more. Ill tip 1-1 after full time with Brisbane winning 3-1 i n ET with Glory getting overrun over the 120 minute period

[meh]

Andrezinho is in some doubt after pulling up at training during the week, I agree Perth may run out of legs, back to back 120 minute performances does take it out of you.

The midfield battle is going to be intense, Burns vs Paartalu, the best 2 DM's in the league.

[Dogbloke V2]

Will be at supafest

Recording the game and staying off social media until I watch it that night.

[Heppell]

This is going to be a cracker.

Brisbane in extra time after it ends 1-1 with Smeltz and Henrique the scorers

[Ariel_Jewburg]

Playing in a golf day, probably wont be back

[TSYW]

Haven't been to a Roar game all season, but I'm going to this.

[James Pattinson]

Haven't been to a Roar game all season, but I'm going to this.

Bandwagoner.

[TSYW]

Bandwagoner.

Followed then hard out a while back, but lost interest in the A-League as they became good.

[azm]

lets go glory!

[Butchered]

Should be a good game, hopefully be back from Loxton in time to watch it, don't mind who wins really

[that_dood]

Andrezinho is in some doubt after pulling up at training during the week,

That was Miller, but he is all good to go. Andrezinho went off injured in the match last week and probably won't start. Howarth to start instead and he is in good nick currently.

Massive day tomorrow, starting to get nervous. I know we are underdogs but I will be shattered if we lose.

Heart says Glory, head says Brisbane...just. But with Smeltz & Miller anything can happen.

[Heppell]

2000 Glory fans hae travelled over.

Going to be a cracker today.

[Heppell]

Glory XI: Vukovic, Risdon, Pantelidis, van den Brink, Heffernan, Burns, Miller, Dodd, Mehmet, Smeltz, Howarth.

Roar XI: Theoklitos, Franjic, Adnan, Smith, Stefanutto, Paartalu, Murdocca, Nichols, Henrique, Berisha, Broich.

No change for the Roar, the Glory promote Howarth to the starting team and Andrezinho is on the pine.

[meh]

Andre vs a tiring Franjic late in the game could be a massive win for the Glory.

Really pumped for this one.