Some eye-catching individual displays from the best in the league. Here’s the Team of the Week. What do you think?
Keeper
Jamie Young (Roar)
What a season the English-born Brisbane keeper is having. Kept Roar in it in the first half with three massive saves and continued his regal form after the break. Couldn’t do anything to stop Victory’s two goals but without him, it would’ve been much worse in Sunday’s 2-1 loss.
Defence
Shane Lowry (Glory)
A big reason why Glory kept a clean sheet. Like Williams (his former Glory teammate), the one-time fringe Caltex Socceroo was immense for Kenny Lowe’s side in their 1-0 home win over Phoenix.
Michael Marrone (Reds)
A thoroughly impressive outlet, providing attacking impetus and solid defensive cover in the 2-1 loss to Jets in Newcastle. It was his excellent low cross for Blackwood that got the Reds back in it at 1-1 before the late penalty drama.
Rhys Williams (Victory)
Makes it look so easy with his timing of tackles and ability to move the ball out. Kept Maccarone and Co relatively quiet while opening the scoring against Roar with a bullet header. All class from one of the best defensive signings of the season.
Midfield
Josh Brillante (Sydney FC)
Consistently impressive, the former Serie A player is building a very strong case for a return to the Australian national team after another classy showing in central midfield for the Sky Blues in their 3-1 win over City.
Luke Brattan (City)
Like City, Brattan caught the eye against Sydney FC. He was everywhere, and showed off his passing and distribution with some clever promptings, while also scoring a neat opener courtesy of a first-time shot on the turn.
Keanu Baccus (WSW)
The younger Baccus brother was the shining light in a complete 90 minutes from the Wanderers over Mariners. He worked hard with 99 touches, including 88 passes at an accuracy of 89.8% on Saturday night in the 2-0 win.
Forwards
Brendon Santalab (WSW)
A neat first half goal and an assist for the second: what a 73 minutes from the legendary Wanderer in their 2-0 win in Gosford. He never lets the club down. Wanderers look so much more dangerous when he starts.
Leroy George (Victory)
From the start of this clash, the Dutchman looked dangerous. Two assists for both Victory goals and a constant threat down the right side of Roar’s defence.
Diego Castro (Glory)
King Castro returns, Glory win. Coincidence? No. The Spanish star – in Fox Sports’ Spanish Round – was the difference, lasting the entire game and the decisive goal.
Andrew Nabbout (Jets)
Without Roy O’Donovan, the Jets need their other strikers to step up. And that’s exactly what Nabbout is doing. Curled a neat opener and was full of running up top for the Jets.
Manager of the Round
Josep Gombau (WSW)
The Spaniard was under immense pressure leading in to this round, but he refocussed and reorganised his Wanderers, and it showed with a classy display in their 2-0 win over Central Coast in Gosford.
