Who stood head and shoulders above their teammates in Hyundai A-League Round 24?
We have crunched the numbers to identify your club’s strongest performer from a wide pool of contenders as the season enters its final stages.
Here’s the best from the weekend that was, according to Opta data.
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Adelaide United – Apostolos Stamatelopoulos
The Reds youngster might have received a first-half red card against Wellington Phoenix, but Apostolos Stamatelopoulos still made a crucial difference in Sunday’s 3-1 win.
The Western United-bound striker found the net with both of his efforts, doubling his goal tally for the season in the opening half and making it two wins on the trot for Marco Kurz’s men.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6023513693001
Brisbane Roar – Henrique
Friday’s 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Melbourne City was not a happy evening for Brisbane Roar.
However, despite the heavy loss, wily Roar striker Henrique still managed to show his craft.
The Brazilian only played for 33 minutes but was one of just two Brisbane players to create a goal-scoring chance from open play.
Central Coast Mariners – Andrew Hoole
Andrew Hoole only needed a short cameo off the substitutes’ bench to remind fans of his ability to provide lethal ammunition from out wide.
The Mariners star featured for just 23 minutes of his side’s 3-0 defeat to Perth Glory on Sunday but registered three successful crosses.
Only Melbourne City’s French midfielder Florin Berenguer (four) managed more in Round 24.
Melbourne City – Luke Brattan
Stunning goals from Ritchie de Laet and Riley McGree stole the headlines, but Luke Brattan was the beating heart of Melbourne City’s 4-1 win against Brisbane Roar on Friday.
Brattan completed a huge seven tackles – more than any other player this round – and also tallied a round-high two assists as Warren Joyce’s side demonstrated their cutting edge.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6022833030001
Melbourne Victory – Kosta Barbarouses
Melbourne Victory may have lost Saturday’s Big Blue but the continuing excellence of Kosta Barbarouses provided a huge positive for the club’s fans to take back to Victoria.
The Kiwi striker, on 14 goals for the campaign after Saturday’s first-half finish, attempted three shots on the evening and recorded more touches in the opposition box (10) than any other player.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6023242386001
Newcastle Jets – Angus Thurgate
The Port Macquarie local picked a great time to net his maiden Hyundai A-League strike.
Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers were heading for a 2-2 stalemate on Saturday before Thurgate neatly dispatched the winner late in the day.
It was a finish which keeps the faint top-six hopes of the Jets flickering… just.
Perth Glory – Joel Chianese
Despite playing second fiddle to Andy Keogh for most of the season, Joel Chianese has still managed his best ever Hyundai A-League return.
Tony Popovic deployed Chianese ahead of the Irishman for Sunday’s 3-0 win over Central Coast Mariners and was rewarded with a performance brimming with energy and conviction.
Chianese opened the scoring with a lovely left-footed finish – his fifth goal of the campaign – and made a game-high four tackles.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6023524890001
Sydney FC – Brandon O’Neill
He has been an often unsung midfield warrior for Sydney FC over the years but Brandon O’Neill received all the plaudits in Saturday’s Big Blue triumph over Melbourne Victory.
O’Neill got the ball rolling with a fantastic strike outside the box in the sixth minute, while only Melbourne City marksman Jamie Maclaren (four) hit the target more often than the Sydney FC lynchpin (three) across Round 24.
Wellington Phoenix – Cillian Sheridan
The Irishman’s first goal in the Hyundai A-League was a sole ray of sunshine in Phoenix’s 3-1 loss to Adelaide United on Sunday.
A fully fit and firing Sheridan alongside Roy Krishna and David Williams will only enhance Wellington’s goal-scoring threat come the Finals Series.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6023517652001
Western Sydney Wanderers – Keanu Baccus
He is not famed for his shooting from range, but Keanu Baccus mustered one of the bullets of the season in Western Sydney Wanderers’ 3-2 loss to Newcastle Jets on Saturday.
Baccus also created multiple chances for his teammates in another seasoned performance from the tough-tackling 20-year-old midfielder.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6023225800001
