Brisbane Roar defender Corey Brown says he expects nothing but a tough contest as he and the Roar prepare to face tenth-placed Melbourne Victory at Bankwest Stadium on Wednesday night.
The experienced full-back will don Roar colours for the 100th time in the Hyundai A-League when they take on Grant Brebner’s Victory outfit, who are staring down the barrel of a fourth-straight loss should the fourth-placed Roar take all three points from Brown’s milestone match.
As he prepares to take on his former club, Brown says Brisbane will need to produce their best if they are to beat a Victory side desperate for an uplift in form.
“[Tonight] is a massive game for us in terms of us cementing our spot in the top six,” Brown said.
“We’re only looking one game at a time, but a lot of the teams below us are coming into a bit of form so it’s vitally important we put a good performance on and get the points.
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“It’s been a weird season for [Victory], they’re obviously a massive club… it’s not where they want to be,” Brown continued.
“They’re not going out there just to make the numbers up, it will be a tough game.
“I know a lot of the players personally, they’re not happy with where they’re at.
“A lot of them are playing for contracts as well, so it’s going to be a very tough game.
“We expect nothing less from the Victory – [Brebner] will have them organised, he’s a good coach in his own right, and we expect a very tough game.”
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Brown’s 100th Hyundai A-League appearance for Brisbane comes in his second stint at the club he debuted for in the 2012/13 Hyundai A-League campaign, winning two Championships and the Gary Wilkins Medal as Roar’s player of the year in 2016/17.
“I’m buzzing to be back, I’m enjoying my time back with the club,” Brown said.
“To play 100 games for the club, my childhood club, I grew up in Brisbane and came through the youth system there and had some great times, won two Championships and 1 Gary Wilkins Medal.
“I’m extremely proud to be playing my 100th game [tonight], and against Victory as well.. it should be good.”
Securing all three points against the tenth-placed Victory may seem of paramount importance to Brisbane considering their remaining two fixtures are against Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC, who sit in second and first place respectively on the Hyundai A-League table.
But newly appointed Head Coach and foundation player Warren Moon says his side’s clash with Victory is of equal importance to the top-six clashes they are to face in the future, as the Roar plan to build a good run of form heading into the Finals Series.
“If we’re serious about what we want to do we want to win every game we play,” Moon said.
“Because when we get into the six those good sides in our run home are going to be there.
“If we want to achieve anything we’ve got to knock them off at some stage, so what a great way to start with Wednesday, get the three points and build some confidence going into it – that’s what we’re thinking.”
Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Wednesday, 29 July 2020
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Bankwest Stadium
Broadcast: FOX Sports 507
Stream: MyFootball Live App, Kayo Sports
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Team news
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matt ACTON (gk), 2.Storm ROUX, 4.James DONACHIE, 6.Leigh BROXHAM (c), 7.Kenny ATHIU, 9.Andrew NABBOUT, 13.Birkan KIRDAR, 15.Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO, 16.Josh HOPE, 17.Elvis KAMSOBA, 18.Migjen BASHA, 21.Adama TRAORE, 23.Marco ROJAS, 24.Anthony LESIOTIS, 25.Brandon LAUTON, 26.Jay BARNETT, 30.Matthew SUTTON (gk), 31.Aaron ANDERSON, 32.So Nishikawa, 43.Luis LAWRIE-LATTANZIO
**2-4 to be omitted**
In: 7.Kenny ATHIU (promoted), 30. Matthew SUTTON (gk)(promoted), 32. So NISHIKAWA (promoted)
Out: 20.Lawrence Thomas (released)
Unavailable: 5.Tim HOOGLAND (released), 8.Jakob POULSEN (released), 10.Robbie KRUSE (knee – season), 11.Ola TOIVONEN (released),
Brisbane Roar squad: 1.Max CROCOMBE (gk), 2.Scott NEVILLE, 3.Corey BROWN, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 5.Tom ALDRED (c), 6.Macaulay GILLESPHEY, 7.Jai INGHAM, 8.Danny KIM, 10.Bradden INMAN, 12.Matthew RIDENTON, 14.George MELLS, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Aaron AMADI-HOLLOWAY, 21.Jamie YOUNG, 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 26.Jay O’SHEA, 27.Kai TREWIN, 29.Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 30.Mirza MURATOVIC, 77.Scott MCDONALD
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 1.Max CROCOMBE (promoted), 14.George MELLS (promoted), 27.Kai TREWIN (promoted)
Outs: 31.Macklin FREKE (not selected)
Unavailable: 22.Jake McGING (knee)
