Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic says that their recruiting hasn’t all worked and that the club need to review “everything” after their miserable season ended in a 1-0 defeat to Brisbane Roar.
Played into Victory’s penalty area by a clever backheel from roommate Henry Hore in the 54th minute, Jordan Courtney-Perkins condemned Victory to an 11th-placed finish on Saturday evening, the second time in four years they have finished second bottom.
The fallen ALM giants also finished with a wooden spoon in 2020–21.
Ending 2021-22 in second, making a semi-final and winning an Australia Cup, Victory had been tipped for big things this season.
But they never recovered from a horror start to the campaign, the low point of which came when a violent pitch invasion forced the postponement of a derby with Melbourne City.
“We have to do a review on everything,” said Popovic.
“I think the first half of the year, we had 11 points from 13 games, so it’s a terrible start.
“Many things went wrong at the start on and off the field and long-term injuries.
“We have to reflect on the season, which we will, have a break and we’ve got to come back bigger and better and get this club back to the top.”
Both sides’ finals hopes already extinguished, another incentive to perform at AAMI Park was lost before kickoff when Macarthur lost to Wellington, guaranteeing neither could finish with an unwanted wooden spoon.
Instead, the lone prize on offer was avoiding a playoff for a spot in the Australia Cup’s national stages. Roar avoided that fate but Victory are now set to compete in one of those games in July.
“Recruiting hasn’t all worked out for us,” said Popovic.
“Our squad players or players that have been brought in to be squad players and put pressure on the starting players didn’t work out.”
Appointed as an interim coach at Roar following the mid-season sacking of Warren Moon, Saturday’s result provided a winning end to what was likely Nick Green’s final game in charge.
Reports have linked former Roar assistant Ross Aloisi and ex-Adelaide boss to the permanent post.
“I don’t think I’ll be at the Roar to be honest,” Green said on the future.
“I don’t really know what’s next to be honest. I just wanted to get this game out of the way today, enjoy this weekend, and let’s see what comes next.”
