Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey says Luke Brattan “delivered” at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night after the midfielder’s stoppage-time goal earned his side a 1-0 win…
Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey says Luke Brattan “delivered” at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night after the midfielder’s stoppage-time goal earned his side a 1-0 win over the Melbourne Victory, and the Premier’s Plate for the Roar.
A modest Brattan maintained he was simply carrying out his duties when he collected a pass from Broich 25 metres from goal and banged his shot into the bottom corner, but said a season spent as a first-choice starter for the Roar had given him great satisfaction.
The deep-lying playmaker has been a crucial component in the Brisbane machine since Mulvey took over as manager in December, 2012, and its a machine that has been running smoothly throughout this campaign.
The defeat of second-placed Victory ensures the Roar, who have sat comfortably atop the table for the majority of the season, are now mathematically beyond the reach of the chasing pack with three games remaining.
It looked as though the Suncorp Stadium crowd would be forced to wait another week to see their side presented with the Plate, as the Victory effectively resisted Brisbane’s fluid attacking play for the 90 minutes of regulation time.
Brattan sent the home fans into celebration mode, however, when he received the ball deep into injury time and sent a searing effort into the Victory net.
“To be honest it just came to me from Thomas and I was always going to shoot,” said the Roar midfielder.
“I just kept my head down and tried not to hit it too hard.
“That’s sort of my job to sweep around the edge of the box, and if anything comes out, to either play it to someone who’s in a better position or have a strike.”
Though Brattan was part of the Brisbane squad that won the 2011 and 2012 Grand Finals, he said helping them to the Premier’s Plate as an integral member of the starting 11 was a bigger achievement on a personal level.
“Even though I did win two championships back then I feel as though, because I didn’t play as much, I wasn’t a part of it.
“And now that I’ve come in this season and am playing regularly, and Mike’s given me the chance to start, and be a part of this brilliant team we’ve got going, it definitely means a lot more to me.”
Mulvey was less restrained when talking up Brattan’s impact.
“This is what I love about this kid, he’s so humble,” said the Brisbane gaffer.
“I mean, he’s just scored the winning goal that’s brought the Premiership to the club in the 90th minute.
“He’s going to go a long way.
“I challenged him at the beginning of the year to score more goals, and he’s delivered.”
As for securing the Plate with three games to spare, Mulvey said his side deserved to be recognised for their outstanding efforts over the campaign.
“It-s a remarkable achievement,” he said.
“You don-t judge different seasons and you don-t judge us against the team that won it a few years ago at Brisbane Roar.
“Champions need to be not compared. They need to be recognised.
“It-s an absolutely brilliant achievement to win the league with three games to go.”