Hyundai A-League Team of the Week: Round 15

Round 15 came to a came close with three important matches on Wednesday night that left the Hyundai A-League ladder in an intriguing state.

The big results began with Melbourne Victory’s crushing defeat of Brisbane Roar last week and several standouts from that match have been included in our latest Team of the Weekend.

There is space also for Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC to be well represented in an attacking XI assembled into a 4-3-3.

Did we get the selection right?

BLOG: Relive the massive midweek triple-header as it unfolded
ANALYSIS: Resilient Sydney withstand Phoenix hurricane
WATCH FOR FREE: How to watch the Hyundai A-League LIVE and FREE

Goalkeeper

Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC)

Redmayne stood tall when it mattered most for the Sky Blues.

The Sydney FC shotstopper did not have a great deal to do at Westpac Stadium but, when called upon, made the save from Roy Krishna’s penalty to protect his team’s 1-0 advantage.

It could be remembered as a pivotal moment in the Premiers’ campaign.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5992722084001

Defenders

Storm Roux (Melbourne Victory)

The New Zealand international put in one of the best attacking performances from a full-back we’ve seen this season in Victory’s 5-0 thrashing of Brisbane back on January 15.

Roux amassed a match-high incredible 104 touches of the ball, contested a match-high 14 duels, won three out of his four tackles and added Victory’s third with a neat header at the near post.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5989556018001

Lachlan Jackson (Newcastle Jets)

Newcastle would surely have been forced to settle for an F3 Derby draw had young defender Jackson not been at his best in a key period.

The 23-year-old was recalled as part of a three-man defence and had the awareness to twice deny the Mariners an equaliser in the closing stages.

His block on Connor Pain was exceptional and came before a goal-line denial of Jordan Murray at the death that safeguarded the slim winning margin.

Dino Djulbic (Perth Glory)

There are few more lionhearted defenders around than the ever-determined Djulbic.

Even at 35, the experienced centre-back still throws himself into unenviable positions like the desperate block he made to deny Craig Goodwin in the second half of Perth Glory’s draw with Adelaide United.

The moment embodied Djulbic’s value to Tony Popovic’s team and, in a game light on chances, he was one of few Perth players to threaten at the other end.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5992816634001

Ben Warland (Sydney FC)

Westpac Stadium was the scene of Warland’s first Hyundai A-League start since April 2018 and the 22-year-old handled the responsibility like a well-prepared regular.

He approached the task of marking an in-form Krishna with a minimum of fuss, making three clearances and three interceptions in a nerveless 90 minutes.

The centre-back spot alongside Alex Wilkinson is now Warland’s to lose.

Midfielders

James Troisi (Melbourne Victory)

Troisi pulled the strings in Victory’s big win at Suncorp Stadium, where Brisbane simply had no answer to the playmaker’s masterful display.

He created three chances on the night, registering two assists for Roux and Kosta Barbarouses.

Troisi is near untouchable when allowed that kind of space and he punished Darren Davies’ side.

Roly Bonevacia (Western Sydney Wanderers)

The midfielder didn’t deserve to be on the losing side at AAMI Park and was probably the best player on the pitch in Western Sydney Wanderers’ 4-3 defeat against Melbourne City.

Bonevacia continued his rich vein of form, scoring from the penalty spot while also providing an assist with a brilliant pass for Jaushua Sotirio’s goal.

In a Wanderers side that has lost six games in a row, Bonevacia has been a shining light and has scored in each of his last three games.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5992257530001

Dimitri Petratos (Newcastle Jets)

While some argue Petratos could be offering more to the Jets, the Opta data paints the picture of a player producing regular chances and it was a similar tale on Wednesday night.

The two-time Caltex Socceroo tallied a game-high seven key passes while attempting five shots and delivering nine crosses at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Most pertinently, Petratos supplied the initial pass which led to Newcastle’s winner.

Forwards

Ritchie De Laet (Melbourne City)

The ex-Belgium international continues to make a great fist of his unexpected shift into attack.

De Laet took just 31 seconds to show some predatory instincts against the Wanderers before his classy finish set the platform for City’s last-gasp win.

The natural defender’s handy performances and form in front of goal might just convince the City hierarchy they don’t need to dip into the transfer market to boost their striking stocks before the January transfer window closes.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5992294040001

Kosta Barbarouses (Melbourne Victory)

Barbarouses is relishing the more central role afforded to him by Kevin Muscat and prime evidence was seen in Victory’s five-star performance against Brisbane.

The Kiwi hit his first ever Hyundai A-League hat-trick against his former employers – a cool effort from the spot, a lovely angled shot from outside the box, and a poacher’s finish from inside the area.

It was a memorable night for Barbarouses, who also brought up half a century of goals in Australia’s top tier – no mean feat for a player who has largely occupied the wing throughout his time in the competition.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5989567046001

Kaine Sheppard (Newcastle Jets)

Jets striker Sheppard celebrated his recent contract extension with the decisive strike in the F3 Derby triumph over Central Coast.

The former National Premier Leagues hotshot positioned himself well to tuck away a deserved third Hyundai A-League goal, having only been denied by a last-ditch clearance in the first half.

There’s no better way to endear yourself to the Squadron than by delivering the winner against the Mariners and he did it all while sporting a bandage on his head.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5992767447001