Jake Brimmer is feeling right at home at number 10 for Melbourne Victory – and from his preferred position, the reigning Johnny Warren Medallist is beginning to show the form which earned him that prestigious honour last season.
A signature free-kick bent into the top corner was the outstanding moment of an influential display from Brimmer in his side’s drought-breaking 3-1 win over Wellington Phoenix on Friday night.
Playing in behind striker Bruno Fornaroli, Brimmer put his fingerprints all over Victory’s comeback win – his side’s first in seven games.
MATCH REPORT: Brimmer magic as Victory snap winless run against Nix
A once-stacked Victory attack is now without two of its key members, following Nick D’Agostino’s European departure and Luis Nani’s season-ending knee injury.
But if the reshuffle leads to Brimmer’s return to his best form, playing at the tip of a midfield three, then Victory will have found their silver lining.
After the 3-1 win, Brimmer was asked by Paramount+ pitch-side reporter Tim Morgan if he felt there was a “changing of the tide” at the club, as Victory moved to within just four points of sixth-placed Macarthur FC with the much-needed three-point display.
“Oh yes!” Replied an ecstatic Brimmer.
He continued: “I said before the game I’d score tonight. I always ask my kids how many. (My daughter) said four, but one will have to do tonight. As soon as I hit it I knew it was going in, so it was good to score again.
“I’m feeling good. I’m scoring in training as well, making it in the box to score – and hopefully I score more goals again next week.”
Throughout the first half of the campaign Brimmer, like so many of Victory’s key attacking assets, produced form far below his best as last season’s semi-finalists plummeted toward the foot of the table.
Head coach Tony Popovic has tinkered with his formation, opting at times for a back three and wingbacks or a traditional back four, and has used a number of personnel combinations in the final third in an attempt to find solutions to the drop-off.
From what was displayed at AAMI Park on Friday night, Popovic should now have one answer amongst the many conundrums he must solve to guide his side up the table: play Brimmer where he’s most comfortable, and watch him shine.
“I’m back playing where I used to play last year, and I’m just growing each game,” Brimmer added.
In the Paramount+ studio, analysts Grace Gill and Daniel McBreen approved of the positional shift.
“I think the key moment in that interview was when he said ‘Im back playing where I was playing last year’,” Gill said. “That is so important to this Victory team, and we see the impact he had alone tonight, playing in the position that suited him best.”
McBreen added: “This guy is starting to find his form and confidence again… you can see he feels more comfortable.
“He could have had another goal, he could have had another assist tonight.
I think he’s the man who could lead them on the charge.
