Strikers News 2005

The Brisbane Strikers take a break from the Premier League this weekend to concentrate on their first assignment in the Premier Cup - a Round 1 fixture against Division One outfit Peninsula Power this Saturday at Taringa. But as far as the Strikers are concerned, the cup tie could not have come at a worse time.

That is because the injury crisis that began to take shape in the senior squad as early as the pre-season and which grew to awkward proportions ahead of last Saturday's fixture against Souths United, has lengthened still further this week. And adding to the problems, the club has now lost the services of forward Russell Woodruffe to the Central Coast Mariners, midfielder Damien Waugh remains suspended for another fortnight, and fellow midfielders Dimitri Theochari and Brad Hicks are in dispute with the club after declining to play in the reserves or train in recent weeks.

Even some of those players who are nominally fit enough to cross the white line on Saturday are nursing injuries. Greg Di Losa has a groin strain and might miss the Power fixture, winger Michael Butters and stopper Matthew Bell are nursing niggling ankle injuries, and defender Daniel Leach is struggling with ankle and calf problems.

When contacted about his team's dire situation today, coach Bobby Hamilton showed he can at least retain a sense of humour about it.

"I feel that somebody's smashed a mirror, or something!", he said. "I've been in the game a long time, but I've never experienced this level of injuries".

The situation has become so concerning for Hamilton that he has taken it upon himself to go against the inclination of most coaches when it comes to training, for fear of making things even worse. "I've been talking to the players, telling them to take things easy on themselves at training", he said.

The way things are going for Hamilton, he will not have to worry about which fourteen players to select in his squad for the encounter against Peninsula Power. They will select themselves by virtue of being able to stand upright on two legs. Hamilton's only problem will be deciding which positions to put them in.

The only ray of sunshine penetrating the gloom for Hamilton this week emanates from midfielder Stewart Drinkeld, who is available for selection again after having two weeks off for his nuptials.

The following is the Brisbane Strikers injury list, together with anticipated rehabilitation periods:

Jamie Lowndes (knee): 3-5 weeks
Nathan Carloss (knee): 5-7 weeks
David Thomas (knee): 5 weeks
Steve Melville (ankle): 3-4 weeks
Michael McEvoy (ankle): 1-2 weeks
Greg Di Losa (groin): possibly 1 week
Michael Butters (ankle): possibly 1 week

It's a case of 'all hands to the pumps' as the Brisbane Strikers take a young and threadbare squad to Wakerley Park to play unbeaten Souths United on Saturday night.

Coach Bobby Hamilton is struggling to put eleven fit players on the park as a sudden and severe injury crisis threatens to spin out of control and put a severe dent into his team's finals aspirations.

The Strikers' midfield stocks have been hardest hit, with Hamilton having to call up two youngsters who have been playing in the reserves - Carl Giannangelo and Michael Zullo - to fill the holes created by injuries to Jamie Lowndes and David Thomas. The unavailability of Stewart Drinkeld for family reasons and the suspension of Damien Waugh adds to the problems in the middle of the park.

Giannangelo has not previously seen action in the senior team this season, while the diminutive Zullo got his first few minutes of senior game time (but still managed to catch the eye) when used as a late substitute last weekend against Easts.

Cruelly, it seems that Hamilton does not even have the luxury of being sure the players he has named in his squad will make it to the Wakerley Park dressing sheds - with both Nathan Carloss and Daniel Leach sustaining injuries last night at training.

Eli Gilfedder, who returned from injury last week to get his first start with the senior team and did well in the first half before apparently tiring in the second, has retained his place.

No doubt Strikers coach Bobby Hamilton will be looking to the experience of Matthew Bell, Adam Webber, Greg Di Losa and Antony Hall to both settle and inspire his young side to produce a huge effort in what shapes as a very difficult assignment indeed.

Meanwhile, there might be a light at the end of the tunnel as far as the Strikers are concerned, with the knee injury to Lowndes perhaps being less severe than initially imagined.

Lowndes said today that his surgeon was "75% sure" that the damage to Lowndes' knee was limited to a grade two medial tear, for which the total recovery period is between six and eight weeks. Given that the injury was sustained two weeks ago, Lowndes could be back in action in as little as four weeks.

While Lowndes is still awaiting the results of a MRI scan to confirm the diagnosis, he said that he had already been doing weight training and that his knee felt "heaps better already".

Brisbane Strikers squad to play Souths United:

Antony Hall (gk)
Adam Webber
Matthew Bell
Daniel Leach
Matthew Hornby
Nathan Carloss
Eli Gilfedder
Greg Di Losa
Michael Butters
Brad Stevens
Michael Zullo
Carl Giannangelo
Ross Duncan
Russell Woodruffe 

If the need to get back in the good books of football coaches is a good motivator of players, this Saturday night's Premier League fixture between Souths United and the Brisbane Strikers at Wakerley Park should be a rip-roaring contest.

Both teams blotted their copybooks last weekend - the Strikers by losing for the first time this season to Eastern Suburbs, and Souths United by dropping their first points in a draw against Brisbane City - and they will naturally be looking to make amends. And supporters of both sides can be reasonably sure that each team's players will take the field with stern words from their respective coaches ringing in their ears.

When we caught up with the Brisbane Strikers' Bobby Hamilton and Souths United's Peter Tokesi on Wednesday they were both still cranky about the way their teams performed last weekend. It was obvious that for Hamilton, in particular, the passing of 72 hours since his team's 1-0 loss had done little to dampen his frustration.

"They (Eastern Suburbs) had more hunger than us - it's a simple as that", he said.

"Sometimes, when you have a result like that, you go away and ask yourself questions like 'what could I have done better?'. But the answer was...'not much'. I felt that training had been enthusiastic during the week, but in the game we didn't appear to be hungry.

"Last night (at training), we spent some time talking about that. The first priority is to put in a level of performance week in, week out. But when you've had two games games like we've had in a row, and you know the ability of the players is there, I'm starting to question the players' motivation and hunger. Prior to training, I pointed out that everyone gets judged on what they do. At the end of the day we are in entertainment, and if people are prepared to put aside their time and their money to watch you play, and you play like that....I told the players they had let the club and themselves down".

When asked if he saw any positives emerge from the match for his side, Hamilton didn't budge. "Not really", he said. "I couldn't see too many positives". He said his team had made fundamental blunders, amongst which was "dumb marking" of Eastern Suburbs forward (and goal scorer on the night), Paul Brownlie. "We've also started to huff and puff, have plenty of possession, but not do much with it", he said, pointing out that Jason Parks in the Eastern Suburbs goal did not have a save to make in the second half.

With Hamilton having emphasised at training the value of hunger and commitment, it seems the message getting embedded into the minds of players at Wakerley Park this week must be very similar.

When asked how he felt about his team's efforts last weekend against Brisbane City, Tokesi echoed pretty much the sentiments of Hamilton, but in different words.

"I don't believe we came to prepared to play", he said. "We had the wrong attitude - not that I had it - but the players thought it would be an easy game. Then they (City) scored first and stacked their defence and their keeper played well. And their field was crap - very bumpy - and the balls were too, but they are excuses. It (our performance) was disappointing".

Despite the Strikers' ordinary form over their last two games, Tokesi said he was expecting nothing less than a tough game from them.

"I expect it will be a good game for people to watch", he said. "They play football, and so do we. Greg Di Losa will be a handful and they are pretty solid at the back, but they'll miss Jamie Lowndes. Bobby is getting a couple of injuries and that can affect the whole shape of the team, and its balance. But I think the earlier in the year I play Bobby the better - because he'll get them sorted out eventually. And I'd like to think we'll be the same".

Tokesi was not reading too much into the Strikers' loss to Eastern Suburbs. "I saw that game and you had your chances to finish it off", he said. "Then they (Eastern Suburbs) have half a chance, and they score from it", he said, with a trace of 'that's the way it goes' in his voice.

Tokesi was inclined to underplay his side's flying start to the season. Although he was prepared to single out midfielder Craig Collins and goalkeeper Shaun Falkenhagen as players who had excelled, he preferred to credit the team's togetherness and a little good fortune for its unbeaten status.

"We have worked hard, played good football and had a little bit of luck - and you need that", he said. "We got out of jail (for 3-2 wins) against Rochedale and Pine Rivers. Although we dominated in parts of those games, Rochedale and Pine Rivers missed chances. Even against Brisbane Wolves (who Souths beat 3-1) - that was a quite a hard game. But we have gelled well as a unit, and it is hard to single out anyone who is not playing well".

Like Tokesi, Hamilton has spent some time recently checking out this weekend's opposition, having attended South's game away to Pine Rivers a fortnight ago. "They were quite impressive", he said of Souths. "They knocked the ball around well. They are a good side and it will be a difficult game for us", he said.

That was an understatement by Hamilton, considering not only the quality of the opposition but the lengthening list of players who are unavailable to pull on a Strikers shirt for one reason or another. That list includes Lowndes, Damien Waugh, Stewart Drinkeld and, most probably, Russell Woodruffe. Hamilton admitted that his current player shortage would force him to reconsider his team's formation and tactics.

"I've always said you should play a system based on player availability and what they can do", he said. "So I'll be changing (from a 3-5-2) to a 4-4-2 to bring stability at the back and the defensive third for a while, and try to make sure that we don't concede. It will be a bit of a makeshift side, but you have to prepare as best you can and try to be positive about it.

"The intention will be to go and make sure we don't concede early but, having said that, if teams come at us it might help us. We might be able to get at them on the break, and it might give us a bit of space and allow us to play a bit".

The stage is set, then, for two teams on the rebound looking to salvage their self-respect at the expense of the other. What is more, the contest should be played out in front of a decent crowd. Souths United officials have been delighted so far this season with the size of their home following, having erected a temporary grandstand which has been filled to overflowing. With the Brisbane Strikers' travelling support also holding up well, there should be a good contest on the sidelines as well as on the pitch. Good vocal support for both teams might just add that little bit of extra spice to what should be a full-blooded contest.

Bring it on!

Teenage left-sided midfielder Eli Gilfedder is a surprise inclusion in the Brisbane Strikers' starting eleven for this Saturday night's clash with Eastern Suburbs at Perry Park.

Gilfedder, who was regarded by the North Star club as one if its standout players last season, has been on the comeback trail from a broken arm and is one of two changes made by coach Bobby Hamilton to his starting eleven from those who started in last weekend's 1-0 victory over the University of Queensland.

The other is Nathan Carloss, who comes into the side in place of Jamie Lowndes, who picked up a potentially serious knee injury early in the University of Queensland game. Lowndes has been told his injury will keep him out of football for at least six weeks and that further tests might even reveal damage that could rule him out for the rest of the season.

While the season is only six weeks old, the Strikers squad is already experiencing the first tentative tests of its depth. Hamilton's selections this week reflect partly an attempt to deal with the absences of Lowndes and Stewart Drinkeld (the latter is expected to miss two games for family reasons), but also a continuing search for his ideal midfield line-up. Gilfedder's inclusion is the latest effort to find the kind of potency and fluency down the left channel that Hamilton has been able to rely on from the right.

Elsewhere, the defensive unit of goalkeeper Antony Hall and the back three of new captain Matt Bell (who took over from Hall last week), Adam Webber and Daniel Leach is unchanged, as is the forward pairing of Greg Di Losa and Russell Woodruffe.

Meanwhile, Hamilton is trialling a number of players to add to his squad, while the Strikers mull over the requests of a few others who want out. The club has agreed to terms with former Pine Rivers forward Barry Browett, who is another on the recovery trail from a serious knee injury. Browett's signature is subject to a clearance from his medical specialist. The Strikers have also given trials to a 21-year-old Japanese defender and two Brazilians. The Japanese player, as yet unnamed by the club, has signed subject to a visa clearance.

Brisbane Strikers starting eleven Vs Eastern Suburbs
7pm Saturday 16/04/05

Antony Hall (gk)
Daniel Leach
Adam Webber
Matthew Bell (c)
Nathan Carloss
Damien Waugh
Michael Butters
Matthew Hornby
Eli Gilfedder
Greg Di Losa
Russell Woodruffe

Four games into the season, it is a case of "so far, so good" for the Brisbane Strikers in their Premier League campaign.

After opening up by taking full points from the Brisbane Wolves and Brisbane City, both of whom are struggling a little, the Strikers faced two games against teams widely regarded as genuine title contenders - Rochedale Rovers and Pine Rivers United. Against the Rovers they arguably got more than they deserved when they took all three points, and against Pine Rivers they arguably got less than they deserved when they were held to a draw. So, ten points from twelve probably represents a fair reward for the way the team has played.

After the elevated pressure levels of rounds three and four, this week the Strikers are faced with opponents who, on form, should be easier prey - the University of Queensland. The University boys, who are amateurs in the true sense of the word, gained promotion to the Premier League last season and are finding the going tough. They are currently pointless, having scored just once and conceded twelve times in their four matches.

But as any football supporter who did not fall to earth in the last shower will know, there are potential pitfalls for fancied teams who travel to face underdog opponents. University's players will no doubt be looking forward this week to the prospect of springing a giant upset over the "name" club that is heading their way on Sunday.

Brisbane Strikers skipper, goalkeeper Antony Hall, is well aware of the potential for this mindset to take hold, having played for UQ himself some years ago. He says that, although UQ have lost a number of players from the squad which won promotion last year, they still possess some quality players "and a few lads who've got a bit of pace". Not only that, they tend to play "for the right reasons", with plenty of heart.

"They will be a surprise packet for sure (this season) - they will knock a few teams off", Hall said on Thursday night. "If we don't get on top early, they could surprise us. We can't take anyone lightly - if we don't get control of the midfield anything could happen. It could be an interesting game".

But if Strikers coach Bobby Hamilton harbours any concerns about the outcome of the key midfield battle, he has not allowed them to prevent him from using the game as an opportunity to 'blood' a few players that might be needed in his club's campaign later in the season. For the squad he has named for the match will no doubt raise a few eyebrows out at St. Lucia.

Regular midfielders Nathan Carloss, Michael Butters and Stewart Drinkeld, all of whom have been in strong form for the Strikers since the season began, have been named on the bench for Sunday's encounter as Hamilton gives starting opportunities to Ross Duncan, Matt Hornby and David Thomas.

Hall, though, has confidence that his experimental midfield will rise to the challenge - particularly given the influence that can be exerted by Jamie Lowndes and Damien Waugh, who have both been retained in the starting eleven.

"Bobby wants to give a few players an opportunity", Hall said, "and the way we've been training, everyone is looking really sharp. Our only problem (with the new players) might be in communication - if that's not up to scratch we might have a few problems. But Jamie Lowndes and Damien Waugh have enough experience between them to pull them along. Damien was actually a bit disappointed last week with his form and he is looking to do well. He is a pivotal player for us, and Jamie is absolute quality".

Elsewhere in his lineup, Hamilton has left things unchanged. With Hall keeping goal behind an increasingly cohesive back three of Matt Bell, Adam Webber and Daniel Leach there should be no easy path to redemption for the goal-shy University forwards. And up front, Greg Di Losa (who has scored all four of his goals this season away from home) will again partner Russell Woodruffe. If Di Losa and Woodruffe can get the service they need, they are certain to pose plenty of problems for the University defence.

The stage is set, then, for an intriguing clash on Sunday as Hornby, Thomas and Duncan press their claims to be in Hamilton's thinking on a regular basis, and the University players go in search of their first points and a prized scalp. There is plenty for players of both sides to prove.

Brisbane Strikers squad to play University of Queensland, Oval 3, University Campus, St Lucia at 3.00 pm on Sunday, 10 April:

Antony Hall (gk) (c)
Adam Webber
Daniel Leach
Matthew Bell
Matthew Hornby
David Thomas
Ross Duncan
Greg Di Losa
Russell Woodruffe
Damien Waugh
Jamie Lowndes

Reserves (probable): Nathan Carloss, Michael Butters, Stewart Drinkeld

Brisbane Strikers midfielder Damien Waugh has been brought straight back into Bobby Hamilton's starting eleven for Saturday night's local derby with Pine Rivers at Perry Park.

Waugh, who started the season in sparkling form but missed his side's gripping Round 3 clash with the Rochedale Rovers to attend a family wedding, is the only change to the starting eleven of the squad which beat the Rovers 3-2.

Waugh comes into the side at the expense of young left-winger David Thomas, who will go to the bench, as Hamilton elects to go bolster his side with experience in what shapes an entertaining encounter between two teams who have both won all of their opening three fixtures.

However, it is not certain that Waugh and Thomas will do a straight positional swap. Waugh tends to get used in a more central midfield position and it remains to be seen who Hamilton will use on the left side of midfield.

A close look at Hamilton's full starting eleven suggests the intriguing possibility that he has reserved the flexibility to change from the 3-5-2 formation he has employed for the first three rounds of the Premier League season to a 4-4-2, either at the start of the game or at some stage during it.

The three obvious defenders are once again Adam Webber, Matt Bell and Daniel Leach. But while Nathan Carloss, Waugh, Jamie Lowndes, Stewart Drinkeld and Micheal Butters might form a five-man midfield, both Carloss and Lowndes could be used in a back four if needed to nullify a potent Rivers attack which includes Josh Rose, Tim Smits and Dean Peltohaka.

While there appears to be no obvious left-sided player in the Strikers' midfield, Hamilton will have two such options on the bench in Thomas and another North Star product, Eli Gilfedder. Gilfedder, who is very highly rated by some of the coaching staff, has gained his first call-up to the squad this season after completing his recovery from a broken arm.

The in-form Greg Di Losa and Russell Woodruffe will again partner each other up front.

Gilfedder and Thomas will be joined on the bench by utility player Dimitri Theochari and striker Ross Duncan.

Brisbane Strikers squad to play Pine Rivers at Perry Park, Saturday 2 April, 7.00 pm:

Antony Hall (goalkeeper)
Daniel Leach
Adam Webber
Matthew Bell
Stewart Drinkeld
Jamie Lowndes
Michael Butters
Nathan Carloss
Damien Waugh
Russell Woodruffe
Greg Di Losa

Reserves: Dimitri Theochari, David Thomas, Ross Duncan, Eli Gilfedder

The Brisbane Strikers will be without the services of Daniel Dreger for the rest of this Premier League season, having released the young utility player from his contract last Thursday night.

Director of Senior Football, Tony Georkas, last week informed the Brisbane Strikers Supporters' Association of the move, which was requested by Dreger, prior to the Round 3 fixture against Rochedale Rovers.

Dreger himself also took the trouble to contact the BSSA, outlining his reasons for leaving and describing the decision as "by far the most difficult decision I have ever had to make".

Dreger made it clear that as far as he was concerned he was not leaving the club on bad terms. "For the last five years the Strikers Club and its surroundings have pretty much been like a family to me", he said. "Being originally from North Queensland, but moving to further my career, I had no family here. When Kossie (John Kosmina) gave me an opportunity the club became my family, and I have loved being a part of that environment.

"I have been through some good times, and some bad times at the club, but I can honestly say I would never in a million years ever want to change one single second of that time. Dr Jones, the board and the club have been loyal to me and I think I have been loyal in return. However, I feel my career is not moving forward as quickly as I would like".

After playing most of the Brisbane Strikers' pre-season games for the top side, Dreger had found himself playing in the reserves and, having been restless about being on the fringes for several seasons, Dreger felt that the time had come to leave the club to pursue the opportunity to gain ninety minutes of game time for another club at the senior level.

"My main aim in going to North Star was first and foremost to be loyal to the Strikers, and secondly to see solid game time, week in week out as that is all I need to get my game in order. In the past two years I have not seen much time at all, mainly because last season the formation changed, and I had a terrific player and skipper (Peter Grierson) in the middle of the park with whom I had to compete.

"Game time is what’s needed for me to achieve my goals in football. I have made this decision based on football dealings, and what I feel is needed to kick-start my career again".

Dreger also made it abundantly clear how he felt about the supporters that he has played before during his time with the Brisbane Strikers.

"For the past five and a half years I believe I have been involved with the best club in the country, and been involved with the most inspiring, passionate, sometimes loony, and most unconditionally committed supporters in Australia. I have played at grounds around the country and there is no ground that I looked forward to playing at more than at home at Suncorp, Ballymore and Perry Park in front of you guys. I even remember a certain Parramatta game when the handful of Strikers supporters out did the Parramatta faithful.

"You guys have been fantastic to me over the years. I'm certainly going to miss playing at Perry Park in blue and yellow, in front of you. I really agonised over the decision and I want it to be known that the decision was based on what I feel is best for me to get back to playing at the highest level I can".

The Brisbane Strikers have pulled a selection surprise ahead of their match with the Rochedale Rovers tonight, with the inclusion of young forward Russell Woodruffe.

Woodruffe left Brisbane for trials with A-League club the Central Coast Mariners earlier this week and was initially expected to be unavailable for the trip to Underwood Park. But he returned to Brisbane on Wednesday night after picking up a slight ankle injury in the trial and has recovered sufficiently to take his place in Bobby Hamilton’s starting eleven.

And he will do so with his confidence at sky-high levels. Despite his early return to Brisbane, it seems Woodruffe did enough to convince the Mariners that he was worth calling back to the club in June. When we spoke to him yesterday, Woodruffe was bubbling with enthusiasm.

"It went well", he said of his trial. "The coaching staff - Lawrie McKinna and Ian Ferguson - said I had done really well. At this point in time they are in no hurry to sign their twentieth player and, because I injured my ankle and had to leave early, they told me to come back again in June.

"Basically, they said ‘We want you, we’re happy with what we’ve seen and we want you back in June to join up with the squad. I have been over the moon - it’s a huge step for me".

Woodruffe said he had also been "really pleased" to have opened his scoring account for the Premier League season with a double against Brisbane City last week, particularly after failing to put away a couple of good chances against the Brisbane Wolves the week before. He also said he was enjoying playing alongside seasoned striker Greg Di Losa.

"Greg is excellent to play with, with his experience", Woodruffe said. "He’s always talking to me and I wouldn’t have done so well without Greg. He’s a strong target man and I’ve just been running alongside him and collecting his flick-ons".

Woodruffe will be hoping to keep his season on the boil against the Rovers as he chases a personal milestone or two. "I always set myself targets in football, and my target is to reach ten-to-fifteen goals this season", he said. "Last week kicked me off in the right way. Basically I wanted to score a goal a game". With the youngster having bagged two goals from two games, it seems to be a case of ‘so far, so good’.

While Woodruffe will again partner Di Losa at the sharp end of the Brisbane Strikers line up, the classy Matt Bell will gain his first starting role for the team this season at the other end, hoping to blunt a dangerous Rovers forward line to be led by Alex Panic. Bell’s availability will enable Bobby Hamilton to push Jamie Lowndes out of the back line and into the midfield spot vacated by Damien Waugh, who has been given time off to attend a family wedding.

Elsewhere, the starting eleven is likely to be exactly what it was last week, while Dimitri Theochari and Brad Stevens will provide defensive and midfield cover from the bench. Young goalkeeper Aaron Saunders is also on the bench as Hamilton opts for a reserve goalkeeper for the first time this season.

Brisbane Strikers squad
to play Rochedale Rovers, Underwood Park, Rochedale, 7.00 pm.

Antony Hall (gk)
Matthew Bell
Adam Webber
Daniel Leach
David Thomas
Micheal Butters
Nathan Carloss
Steward Drinkeld
Jamie Lowndes
Greg Di Losa
Russell Woodruffe
Dimitri Theochari
Brad Stevens
Aaron Saunders 

Football supporters who make the effort to get out to Underwood Park at Rochedale this Saturday evening to watch the Brisbane Strikers take on Rochedale Rovers could be in for a treat if the opinions of the respective coaches are any guide.

Both the Strikers’ Bobby Hamilton and the Rovers’ Kieran Cooper were in no doubt yesterday that this Round Three Premier League match should produce a free-flowing encounter and a real test of the credentials of both teams.

Hamilton’s team has won its first two matches this season, over the Brisbane Wolves and Brisbane City, in a style which has pleased him but he readily admits that the Rovers will present a much stiffer challenge.

"They are definitely one of the teams to beat - they’ll be right up there", he said of an outfit that finished in the top four last season, narrowly missing out on a grand final berth, and which was responsible for knocking the Queensland Lions out of the Premier Cup.

"Kieran Cooper’s teams always knock the ball around", he added, "but that always gives you a chance to play football too - it’s not like it’s ‘route one’ stuff, or scrappy".

If the Rovers do play ‘in character’ and look to produce a fluent attacking game, Hamilton made it clear that his team would try to reciprocate. He fully intends that they should take the game to the Rovers.

"I’ve always believed it’s not worthwhile doing anything but playing to your natural style", he said. "We have a lot of players who are good at going forward, so our strength is in going forward and we will try to play to that".

Hamilton said he has been happy with the progress made by his team since he took on the coaching job only three weeks ago, but he had one major proviso.

"I’m satisfied (with progress) in the sense that I always feel it’s important to have the right environment by making the training interesting and relevant to the game at hand - and I think (assistant coach) Gordon Livingstone and myself have achieved that, and the players have responded well.

"But there is an air of caution. Saturday night might well be our first true test. With all due respect to the Wolves and City, we’ve not really been tested yet. Having said that, we can only deal with what we come up against and, overall, I’ve thought our performances have been excellent - but I’m not getting carried away".

Hamilton sees his team’s first big test as part of a broader picture and an indicator of how he might need to plan beyond it. While having respect for Rochedale, he is also looking ahead to the next fixture against Pine Rivers, which could be just as testing.

"Saturday night will let us know exactly where we are at", he said. "One way or another it will be good for us. If we don’t get a result, it will show us where our deficiencies are. And if we do get a result, it will mean our confidence will be high for the next game against Rivers".

Hamilton said he did not expect to make many adjustments to the line-up or tactical approach he used when his team beat Brisbane City last Saturday in a performance that Hamilton said he was "very happy" with - except for his players’ failure to execute all the chances they made and thereby add to their four goal tally.

"I seldom do (make many changes), he said. "If we’re getting ourselves organised and our understanding is good, I tend to stick with that. But certainly, if something (of a tactical nature) came up during the game that I needed to change, I would try to deal with it".

Over at Rochedale, the philosophy that you should stick with what is working for you is one that Cooper also seems to subscribe to. While other clubs, the Strikers included, went out of their way in pre-season to recruit numerous new players to their squads, Cooper bucked the trend and put his faith in having his players mature as a group.

"I’ve got a good bunch of guys with good camaraderie", he told us. "I thought I already had a decent squad. I did try to sign a couple of (ex) Lions players, but they went elsewhere. Obviously, you need to balance quality with a settled squad, but I don’t want short term solutions here - I want long term solutions. It’s about getting the right players at the club, and our reserves are strong. So I am happy with what I’ve got".

One thing Cooper would not have been happy with, though, was his team’s surprise first-up 2-3 loss to local rivals Souths United. "We didn’t capitalise on our opportunities, we got punished for our mistakes and we didn’t start playing until we were 3-0 down and by then it was too late", was how he summed up the game.

With that shock to their collective system, Cooper and his players got down to business the following weekend when they faced a potentially tricky encounter with Mitchelton, who also made last season’s top four. The Rovers emerged 3-1 victors after a performance that was, apparently, chalk to the previous week’s cheese.

"We played well and created many chances", Cooper explained, "and we dug in after going 1-0 down early in the game when, after a couple of (our) chances were cleared off the line, it looked like it was going to be one of those nights". Perhaps that ability to ‘dig in’ is one of the benefits that can be derived from having a close-knit squad

The loss of that first game, however, has the Rovers currently sitting three points behind the Strikers and with a little extra incentive to get out on their home turf and beat the Strikers on Saturday. It was easy to gain the impression that Cooper is looking ahead to the game with a heightened level of excitement and anticipation, and it was obvious that he agreed with Hamilton about the size of the task that his players can set the Strikers.

"I would rate them (the Strikers) as one of the serious contenders", he said. "I haven’t had a chance to see them play yet, but I know the players and the personnel, and they have gelled okay and had two good wins. (But) it’s important that you can beat the serious contenders around you and then pick up what you can from the other teams. The Brisbane Strikers will get their first big test from us - we’ll give them a good game. If both teams are at their best it should be a cracker - definitely the game of the round.

"We will try to play good, attractive football, try to score goals and try to win the game - the three things I always look to do. And the three points that are up for grabs are very important, even though it’s only Round Three".

Cooper said he was happy with the form of all of his players but, when asked if he could single out anyone who had ‘hit the ground running’ this season he plumped for a player at either end of the team’s formation.

"Darren Gray, at the back (who has been with the club since the age of five), is a tremendous young player who, before the pre-season would have been our number twelve or thirteen. He has been exceptional so far. And then there is (forward) Alex Panic - his touch and control have been outstanding and he scored a goal last week that was top class".

With both teams having players in form, coaches committed to attacking football, and the competition warming up, the ingredients are all there to cook up entertainment aplenty at Rochedale on Saturday night. It might well be worth your time being there to watch it unfold.

The Brisbane Strikers will face a challenging visit to the Rochedale Rovers this Saturday without two of the players whose talents made telling contributions to the 4-0 win over Brisbane City last weekend.

Nineteen year old striker Russell Woodruffe, who scored two goals against Brisbane City last Saturday, has been given time off to trial with A-League club Central Coast Mariners while experienced midfielder Damien Waugh, who scored one goal and set up another, will be missing for family reasons.

While the absences of those players is not ideal, Bobby Hamilton has several options from which to choose to cover their absences. And, in a squad which has a healthy level of competition for places, opportunity will come knocking for two players to force their way into the starting line-up for this week’s game and beyond.

The absence of Woodruffe will most likely present Ross Duncan with his first chance to impress Hamilton with a starting role although Matt Hornby, who impressed with 20 lively and productive minutes when he replaced Nathan Carloss on Saturday, is another who might be exercising Hamilton’s thoughts.

The absence of Waugh is most likely to covered by moving Jamie Lowndes out of the defensive line and into his favoured role in the middle of the park. Matt Bell, who came through both a reserves game and part of the senior game on the weekend with flying colours after overcoming a leg injury, looks a good bet to fill the centre back spot if Lowndes moves forward. 

The Brisbane Strikers are preparing to hit Brisbane City with a dose of youthful pace and aggression from both flanks this Saturday night, with Michael Butters and David Thomas likely to start the match in a squad with two new faces from those who downed the Brisbane Wolves last weekend.

Director of Senior Football, Tony Georkas, provided the BSSA with the squad chosen to face City by coach Bobby Hamilton at training tonight.

Georkas said that while Thomas - who has shown pace and considerable ‘hunger’ in pre-season games, and came off the bench on Sunday - is not certain to start the match he is nonetheless likely to be the only change to the starting eleven from last week.

The player to make way is probably Brad Stevens, who will remain an option for Hamilton from the bench.

Meanwhile forward Ross Duncan, who was in the Strikers’ fourteen last weekend, has been given the weekend off for family reasons. His place will be taken by Matt Hornby, who scored two goals for the Strikers Reserves last week in their 3-0 win over the Wolves and impressed Hamilton in doing so.

The squad has also been boosted this week by the addition of North Star product Daniel Leach, who was signed after returning from trials in England. Georkas said that Leach, a defender, was highly regarded within the club. Leach comes into the squad at the expense of Brad Hicks, who gained a run from the bench last week but appears to have been sacrificed in order to have a defender ready to cover for the undermanned back line of Adam Webber, Dimitri Theochari and Jamie Lowndes.



Brisbane Strikers squad to play Brisbane City:

Antony Hall (gk)
Adam Webber
Dimitri Theochari
Jamie Lowndes
Nathan Carloss
Greg Di Losa
Stuart Drinkeld
Russell Woodruffe
Michael Butters
Damien Waugh
David Thomas
Brad Stevens
Daniel Leach
Matt Hornby

The Brisbane Strikers are delighted with the level of interest they are receiving from supporters as the club continues its build-up to its first home game of the Premier League season at Perry Park this Saturday night.

While coach Bobby Hamilton and his team prepare to take on another former NSL club, Brisbane City, after gaining a three points lift-off from their visit to the Brisbane Wolves last Sunday, matters off the field are giving the club cause for optimism about the level of support they will receive.

The response to the club’s season ticket offer has been good. Strikers CEO, Steve Wilson, said today that application forms for season tickets are continuing to arrive this week, but that the club had already issued upwards of fifty.

"For this league, that is an exceptionally promising start and is beyond our expectations", he said, adding that he thought the price of the tickets ($40, or $25 for those who qualify for concessional rates), the assurance of undercover seating and the role the BSSA has played in getting information out to supporters about the club, had all been factors driving the sales.

Wilson also said the club had been extremely happy with the number of Strikers fans who had attended the season opener against the Wolves at Wynnum. For that matter, so had the Wolves!

He said that a senior Wolves official had "commented very strongly" to him after the game that, barring finals football, she could not remember so many people turning out for a Premier League game at Wynnum and that, commercially speaking, the Wolves had enjoyed a bumper day.

Aside from season ticket sales and the experience of last weekend, Wilson said that the volume and nature of recent enquiries to the Strikers’ office had been very encouraging.

"The number of general enquiries, and from kids - and kids are important as the future base of the club - and people who don’t even know what league the Strikers are in, but want to be part of where the club goes in the future - has been exceptional", he said. "The local newspapers have been very positive, and the snippets appearing in the Courier-Mail have been useful".

Meanwhile, the Strikers are working to promote their season from various angles. Promotional brochures are being designed by the club’s sponsors which, Wilson said, "will hit the airwaves soon". And, in line with the Strikers’ policy towards all other Premier League clubs this season, the officials and sponsors of the Brisbane City club have been invited to attend this Saturday night’s game in Perry Park’s corporate seating area.

Coach Bobby Hamilton has chosen a squad bristling with attacking potential for the Brisbane Strikers’ historic first foray into the Premier League away to the Brisbane Wolves this Sunday.

Dimitri Theochari, Adam Webber, Jamie Lowndes and Nathan Carloss are the only recognised defenders in a squad of fourteen to be skippered by goalkeeper Anthony Hall.

Hamilton has also picked four front men, with Greg Di Losa to be partnered up front by one from the trio of Stuart Woodruffe, Michael Butters and Ross Duncan.

Damien Waugh, Brad Hicks, Brad Stevens, David Thomas and Stuart Drinkeld look likely to provide the midfield options.

The squad is also notable for the immediate inclusion of Lowndes and Carloss, who were both incorrectly reported in the Brisbane northside press this week as having signed for Brisbane City.

The Brisbane Strikers squad is:

Anthony Hall (goalkeeper and captain)
Dimitri Theochari
Adam Webber
Brad Hicks
Jamie Lowndes
Ross Duncan
Nathan Carloss
Damien Waugh
Greg Di Losa
Michael Butters
David Thomas
Stuart Woodruffe
Brad Stevens
Stuart Drinkeld

New Brisbane Strikers coach, Bobby Hamilton, has been in the job for only a week but already he is quietly confident that he will soon have his team playing an attractive brand of football.

Hamilton told the BSSA tonight of his first impressions about the squad he has inherited from Ken Swan and left no doubt that he felt the team would be competitive in the Premier League this season.

Having taken the players through two training sessions and a pre-season fixture against Brisbane Force, Hamilton is encouraged by what he has seen.

"My initial sentiments are that definitely there is something to work with", he said. "The players are good enough to be competitive and to do well, but there is a lot of work to do".

Hamilton said that, although coming into the job with such little time to prepare before the season kicks off was not ideal, he did not believe it would take long before his players produce the brand of football that he wants them to play.

"I’ve always worked to the ethic that, to break teams down, while you obviously need good players, you need to work a lot on ball movement and player movement, and for that you need fit players. You also have to look at how the midfield backs up the forwards, look for early angles and force teams to defend across the park as well as up and down".

Hamilton said that some of the more experienced players will take very little time to adapt to his requirements and methods, but some of the others would need a little longer. "I can tell already from comments I’ve heard and questions I’ve been asked that some of the things I’m asking are new to them and it may take a few weeks, but I am confident it won’t take too long".

While broadly happy with the players he has been given to work with, Hamilton said he nevertheless had noticed a few areas he needed to work on.

"Initially, I felt there were a lot of left-sided players", he said. "The balance was a bit lopsided on the right hand side. But the players we moved to sign last night (Jamie Lowndes and Nathan Carloss) have addressed that problem and will go a long way towards correcting that balance.

"There are a couple of other areas that, if I had my own way, I would like to strengthen. I think we are shy by perhaps one striker and we have a couple of injury problems, with ‘Macca’ (Micheal McEvoy) being out for four-to-six weeks, Matthew Bell coming back from an injury and Steve Melville recuperating from ankle surgery - so we are a bit thin at the back. But Jamie Lowndes is the type you can utilise in different positions. He is a good utility player (who will help cover the problems at the back)".

It would be understandable, given the fraught and tense circumstances in which he came into the job after the sudden sacking of Swan, if Hamilton felt he was under pressure to get results. He insisted, though, that he did not feel any pressure.

"Not at all", he said. "I will stick to what I have done in the past, and had success with. I am confident I can get the team to play a good brand of football. To be honest, when I first got involved with Brisbane City they had high expectations, and there were some people involved with running the club there who were hard people to work with. They were very demanding. So I’m used to it".

Not only is Hamilton used to working under pressure, it seems he is also used to succeeding under it. Hamilton’s coaching stint at Brisbane City (which began shortly after they dropped out of the national league) was very successful, but even Hamilton himself was unable to confirm that he won seven Premierships with them in his stint there between 1991 and 1999. He said he simply didn’t count all the Premierships, but described it merely as "a productive time".

After leaving Brisbane City, Hamilton had two seasons in charge of North Star and then a season at Palm Beach (who he coached to the runners-up position in the Premier League), before taking a year off. "I’d been involved at every level of the game for a number of years, and felt like I needed a break", he said.

After his break, Hamilton got involved in helping to coach the Sunshine Coast side in the recently-concluded State League competition. "That got me back into it, in a sense", he said, "but after that I thought there was nothing on offer that really excited me, so I was resigned to being out for another season".

That all ended rather suddenly a little over a week ago when Hamilton was approached by a member of the North Star committee to take over the coaching of the team that is now the product of their alliance with the Brisbane Strikers. Hamilton said that his answer at the time was merely to contact him again "after getting their house in order". That they duly did a few days later, after informing Swan virtually on the eve of the season’s kick-off that his services were no longer required.

Hamilton then took the reigns in an emotional climate that might have been expected to be extremely difficult for him. Hamilton, though, said he did not feel daunted.

"It wasn’t really difficult for me. I’ve always been the type of person who likes people to treat me as they see me. I’m confident I can make training interesting and the team competitive and I already knew some of the players - mostly as a result of them playing against my teams - and they knew me. Certainly, there was an air of disappointment, mostly over the timing of it, but I had no control over that".

Hamilton said that he was inclined to view the job of coaching the Brisbane Strikers as ‘something different’ and not as just another coaching appointment.

"To be honest, I didn’t have much idea of who was running the show, but I was pleased to see a strong involvement on the Brisbane Strikers side" he said. "Even something like this (being interviewed for a supporters association’s website) - it was pleasing to find out there was a solid core of people who have stuck with the club. There is nothing that motivates players more than the feeling of having some core support".

Looking ahead to the first game of the season, away to Wynnum Wolves on Sunday, Hamilton said that he felt that if his players perform to their ability they would get a result, although he admitted to not knowing what to expect from the Wolves.

"I don’t know much about who they have recruited, and they have a new coach", he said. "I’m going in pretty much in the dark. (But) I have a fair idea of what my starting line-up is going to be, except for maybe one or two players. We had a good session last night, and that gave me a better insight into things".

The Brisbane Strikers have moved to bolster their senior Premier League squad by agreeing terms with three former Queensland Lions players.

Director of Senior Football, Tony Georkas, informed the Brisbane Strikers Supporters’ Association tonight that Jamie Lowdes, Nathan Carloss and Ross Duncan had all signed registration forms after an exacting three-hour training session at Perry Park.

Lowndes, a utility back, and Carloss, a right back or right midfielder, were both key members of the Lions squad that took out the last three Premier League titles while Duncan, a striker, played with the Lions last season. The three will unquestionably add quality and depth to a squad that, while it looks impressive on paper, has probably not shown in pre-season games the form that it is capable of.

Lowndes, in particular, appeals as the ideal solution to the problems posed for the Strikers in the opening rounds of the season by the unavailability through injury of central defender Michael McEvoy and the lack of match fitness of Matthew Bell. Georkas said that Bell had trained tonight night for the first time in some weeks and, while he appeared to have come through the session unscathed, he looked "a bit ginger".

Georkas said that new coach, Bobby Hamilton, had concentrated heavily on ballwork in his lengthy training session as he shifted the emphasis of the squad’s training away from fitness work and on to skills. 

With the Premier League season less than a week away, the Brisbane Strikers’ defensive stocks have suffered a blow with the news that tough-tackling defender Michael McEvoy has sustained ankle ligament damage.

McEvoy had the misfortune to roll his ankle in an intra-club game on Saturday and faces a rehabilitation period of between six and eight weeks.

The absence of McEvoy, together with the fact that fellow defender Matthew Bell is still returning to fitness after a leg injury, could mean that the Strikers are short of fit defensive options when they kick off their Premier League campaign away to the Brisbane Wolves on Sunday.

Whether this proves to be so depends to some extent on the outcome of negotiations with an experienced (but as yet unnamed) centre back tomorrow night. Director of Senior Football, Tony Georkas, said today that the defender was one of three players the Strikers want to offer terms to on Tuesday in order to bring the number of players in the senior squad to 22. 

The new Premier League season has not yet started but it has already suffered its first coaching casualty - and that casualty is Ken Swan who, until last night, was the coach of the Brisbane Strikers.

Director of Senior Football, Tony Georkas, told the Brisbane Strikers Supporters' Association today that Swan had been relieved of his duties and that the club had already drafted in Bobby Hamilton to replace him.

When asked the reasons for what many might consider a radical move, coming as it does on the eve of the new season, Georkas was brief and to the point. And what he said made it clear that the Strikers were approaching the season with ambition and a thirst for results.

"When you look at the coaching record of Bobby Hamilton you’ll find he is one of the most successful coaches around", he said. "We required a higher profile coach to better reflect the new arrangement between the two clubs (Brisbane Strikers and North Star)".

"I want to wish Ken all the best with whatever he decides to do".

Georkas said that Swan’s axing had been discussed with his players, who had been told that if they wanted to leave because of it they would be released from their contracts. No player had said they wanted to do so, and Georkas expects them all to be available for Thursday night’s pre-season game against Brisbane Force, when Hamilton will take the coaching reigns.

It appears Hamilton will have a busy night. Not only will he be coaching his new charges, but he will also have discussions with two players - a midfielder and a defender - who are looking to join the Strikers after missing out on A-League contracts with the Queensland Roar. 

The Logan City Kings have hit back at suggestions they were formally consulted by the Brisbane Strikers last November over the proposal to field a team called the Logan City Strikers in the Premier Youth League.

Following Thursday night’s story on this website in which Strikers CEO, Steve Wilson, expressed his frustration over the rejection by Brisbane Men’s Soccer of the Logan City Strikers submission, Kings Secretary Robert Wilkinson was anxious today to set the record straight and said that as far as the Kings are concerned the matter could yet be resolved to the satisfaction of both clubs.

Wilson had expressed surprise last week that the reason given by the BMS for their rejection of the Strikers’ submission was because of the objections of the Kings who, he said, had indicated when the Strikers met with them in November that they had no intention of fielding a team in the Youth league.

Wilkinson, however, denied that any formal meeting ever took place. "We had a casual conversation about a proposed, maybe situation - that was all", he said. "There was never any formal meeting". Wilkinson said the only person within the Kings who had been spoken to by the Strikers was himself, and that the Strikers had not formally consulted with the Kings’ management committee.

He also said that at the time the Strikers spoke with him about their plans, the Kings had not decided whether to field a youth team, and that this was because the BMS Annual General Meeting had not been held and there was no certainty the BMS would sanction a youth league. However, after the decision by the BMS to proceed with a Youth League, the Kings decided they wanted to be in it.

Wilkinson said that after the Strikers submitted their Logan City Strikers proposal to the BMS, the BMS had contacted the Kings to ask them if they had any objections to the proposal. The Kings then wrote an "impact letter" expressing concerns that the two clubs would be drawing players from the same area.

"If we have multiple clubs in a small area, and increasingly an older area, it’s hard drawing from the same pool" Wilkinson said. "It’s making it hard for clubs to survive"

When reminded that the Strikers had said they were not looking to draw players from the same area as the Kings, Wilkinson said "Well, I wouldn’t know about that - but our letter also did say that if we could sit down and have meetings about it, that maybe a compromise could be worked out.

"We said we are open to further discussion".

The Brisbane Strikers' plans to develop young football talent on Brisbane's southside have been rocked this week by Brisbane Mens' Soccer's refusal to allow the club to enter its proposed Logan city Strikers team in the Premier Youth competition.

The Strikers had prepared an exhaustive submission to the BMS board to run a team from their Meakin Park facility in Slacks Creek, but not for the first time in recent history, the Strikers have had a crucial submission rejected by football officialdom.  And rejection it seems, is starting to wear a little thin on Strikers' administrators.

"To say we are very disappointed with this decision would be an understatement", said Strikers' CEO, Steve Wilson today.

Our submission would have been about five times the thickness of any other application to join the competition", Wilson continued.  "It went into great detail about how we are building links with the community (around Logan).  This is a decision that is not based on the advantages to the game."

Wilson said that BMS had told the Strikers their reason for rejecting the club's submission had to do with geographical criteria and more specifically an objection by the Logan City Kings to the participation of the Logan City Strikers in the league.

Wilson disputed the basis for the decision.  He said the Strikers had met with the Kings in November 2004, to discuss the club's intended application to field the Logan City Strikers and , at that stage, the Kings said they had no plans to field a team in the Premier Youth League.  The Kings have entered a team in Division 2, but Wilson claimed that if the Kings' objections were based on fears that the Strikers would compete with them for players, those fears were unfounded.

"We were not looking to use their players", Wilson said, " We were getting players from other clubs.  In fact, fourteen of them were to have come from the Queensland Lions".

Wilson said the Strikers were particularly aggrieved that the BMS board had not given the club the opportunity to address them to clear up any misconceptions prior to the Board's decision being made.  He said the Strikers had earlier received written assurances from the BMS board that they would be given such an opportunity, but those assurances had not been honoured.

When asked if the Strikers, who will be involved in the Premier League Senior and Reserves and Youth competition only through their alliance with the North Star Club, now had any way of appealing the decision, Wilson expressed frustration.  "We have no avenue of appeal because we are not affiliated (with the BMS)", he said. "And you can't be an affiliated member if you don't have a team  -  so it's a Catch-22 situation."

While the BMS decision and the lack of opportunity to appeal might appear to present the Strikers with a fait accompli, Wilson said that the Strikers do have options and would be considering them.  He said that, at this stage, he did not want to go into detail about those options, except to say that the Strikers would prefer not to exercise some of them "because it would make us look like the bad guys"

The Brisbane Strikers have scheduled games at Perry Park against The Gap this Saturday and against Brisbane Force next Thursday night as they continue their pre-season build-up to the Premier League competition.

Director of Senior Football, Tony Georkas, told the BSSA of the upcoming games tonight, while adding that the club was still looking to sign a striker, a midfielder and a defender to round out its squad.

While Georkas was keeping his powder dry by preferring not to name the players the club has in mind, he confirmed the players are currently vying for positions in the Queensland Roar’s A-League squad which will not be finalised until this weekend at the very earliest. This means that the Strikers cannot sign the players, should they be available, until next week.

Georkas said that, as far as the striking spot was concerned, the club had several players in mind - all of whom have played for the Brisbane Strikers in the past.

Saturday’s pre-season games against The Gap will be played at 2.00, 4.00 and 6.00 pm, while next Thursday’s games against Brisbane Force will be at 6.30 and 8.30 pm. 

The Brisbane Strikers have added North Star products Paul Knight, Brad Lacey, Michael Butters and David Thomas to their squad for the Silver Boot pre-season campaign, which begins with a crunch match against Mitchelton at Luxury Paints Stadium, Richlands on Friday night.

The four youngsters joined the rest of their team mates to be presented with their official team polo shirts at a function attended by Strikers and North Star officials and supporters at Perry Park tonight.

The assembled players will become the first to represent the new alliance formed by the Brisbane Strikers and North Star. It is therefore, perhaps, fitting that they contain an almost equal blend of North Star and Brisbane Strikers products, with a sprinkling from Brisbane City and the Queensland Lions to round things out.

The squad is:

Antony Hall, Michael McEvoy, Dimitri Theochari, Matthew Bell, Adam Webber, Daniel Dreger, Russell Woodruffe, Damien Waugh, Stuart Drinkeld, Brad Stevens, Brad Hicks, Greg Di Losa, Carl Giannangelo, Ross Cunneen, Paul Knight, Brad Lacey, Michael Butters, David Thomas