In the latest of our series of columns from the Hyundai A-League Finals Series club captains, Melbourne City skipper Scott Jamieson looks forward in his own words to this weekend’s Elimination Final at Adelaide United.
Read on for Jamieson’s view on a roller-coaster campaign, some memorable highlights and a huge clash with Adelaide United on Sunday.
PREVIEW: Adelaide United v Melbourne City Elimination Final
FOUR THINGS: What Melbourne City need to do to beat Adelaide United
VOTE: For your NAB Young Footballer of the Year, featuring McGree and Wales
Still in the race
“After what has been a roller-coaster season, we find ourselves still in the hunt for silverware with all eyes on what will be a massive game in Adelaide this Sunday evening.
“As a player, these are the games you want to play in, and as a fan they’re the games you want to watch and be a part of.
“I know a few of our fans are making the trip over on fan buses and I can’t wait to see them there at Hindmarsh. I’ve got no doubt it will be a sell out and, with both sets of fans doing their best to spur on their team, it will be rocking. Where else would you rather be?
“As an entire club at City, we are focused on getting a result.
We have three games to make our mark and achieve something the club and its fans have been craving for so long. Three games to establish a long-term winning mentality that will set this club up for years to come. Three games to savour, enjoy and most importantly, pull together as one; players, club staff and fans.”
The journey to here
“It seems an age ago that we played our first match of the season – against Victory at Marvel Stadium. I was devastated to sit that one out through injury but so proud of the boys in getting the win.
“We saw new players in Ritchie de Laet and Riley McGree each mark their time at City with important goals. Both have proved to be important players for us this year.
“Ritchie has played in almost every position on the pitch and contributed more than his fair share of goals. Riley has continued to develop his game – it’s easy to forget sometimes that he is only 19 years old.
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“I’ve seen development through the whole squad all year. We’ve had some challenging times where we’ve needed to play in different formations, with players playing different roles week to week.
“A new formation takes a bit of time to get used to but now we’re here, heading into finals, we have three or four different ways we can play, and I think that flexibility is something that will serve us well in knockout football.”
Moments to remember
“While it has been a challenging season, we’ve shown we can mix it up with the best and produced a few memorable highlights.
I’ll never forget goals like Bart’s header against Western Sydney or Brattsy’s long range drive and golf swing celebration at Adelaide. As an aside, I reckon I’ve got him covered on the golf course, but we’ll keep that between us for now.
“It’s in moments like Bart’s goal, when you score in front of your active support, that you feel most at one with the fans. They willed the ball in on those occasions and I’m sure they’ll be up for the road trip to help do the same on Sunday night.
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We need our fans to be with us. They are the reason the club exists and who we play for each week.
“I’ve spent a lot of time out in the community and at fan events this year and know how much us winning means to them.
“Their passion motivates us to go further and push harder in each game. I think our home record this year only reinforces their impact. We all have the same goal, and that energy from our fans in the stands is vital to the boys on the pitch. It gives us that extra 10%.
“This club, this team, these fans, they’re about showing heart and courage. We stand up and be counted when it’s easier to stay down. Now, we must all pull together, as one.
“Sunday night is massive for us but it’s only the start – we want to be playing football deep into the month of May.”
