Jason Derulo won’t be the only voice booming out at Suncorp for the Hyundai A-League Grand Final, with over 10,000 noisy Wanderers set to descend on Brisbane.
Jason Derulo won-t be the only voice booming out at Suncorp for the Hyundai A-League Grand Final, with over 10,000 noisy Wanderers set to descend on the Queensland capital.
Wanderers defender Shannon Cole believes the vociferous support of the red and black hordes fans will ensure his side feel right at home at Suncorp when they converge on Brisbane in what-s shaping up as a blockbuster State of Origin finale to the season.
“I’m sure we’ll have a lot of fans behind us, quite often our fans make away games fell like home ones anyway,” the 29-year-old said.
“We’ve quite enjoyed playing away from home this year so I don’t think it’s a factor.
“It’s going to be a big crowd and we’re used to that.”
Wanderers will need their fans if history is any gauge.
Only once since the inception of the A-League has a side managed to win the title from outside their home state.
That happened back in 2010 when Sydney FC prevailed in a penalty shootout against Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium.
A member of that Sydney FC team was Cole. And skipper of the Sky Blues that day was Terry McFlynn.
The Irishman can see a lot of similarities between his side and that of Tony Popovic’s Wanderers.
Reflecting on the Sky Blues win on enemy territory, McFlynn said fans were key.
“We travelled with about five or 6000 fans that day which was a massive travelling support.
“But when you’re taking on 48,000 people they were drowned out most of the game, although The Cove make a hell of a lot of noise whether they are at home or away.
“The Wanderers fans will be travelling up there in their masses and have been wonderful for their team and been the 12th man on occasions.
“To go interstate into your opposition’s home territory and win the grand final is not an easy thing to do and is something that will stay with me forever,” the recently retired Sky Blue hero said.
“Brisbane at home will have all the advantage but Wanderers with the pain of last year’s defeat fresh in the memory will be looking to rectify that.”
McFlynn expects the Roar to try and blow the Wanderers away early using their attacking stars in Thomas Broich, Besart Berisha and Liam Miller.
“Brisbane are at home so the onus is on them to dictate the play,” the Northern Irishman said.
“The style they play it’s something they try and do week in, week out, impose themselves on the opposition and set the tempo of the game.
“Tony Popovic’s teams are well-hardened, the travel schedules that they’ve had with the ACL and the mentality they have across the board there.
“The Wanderers defensively are very, very sound right across the board, they’ll be happy to soak up a lot of the pressure and play quickly on the counter.
“Wanderers are a very fit team, they’ve shown that this season with their exploits in Asia, they won’t be too alarmed with the early pressure Brisbane will throw at them, and they’ll soak it up and look to hit Brisbane on the counter attack.”
The pre match entertainment will feature US singer-songwriter Jason Derulo.
Grand Final Saturday features stars from both sides and lots of fun for the fans. For more information Click Here
Follow all the action of the Grand Final on social media using the hash-tag #ALeagueGF
