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THE OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME FOR THE NRMA INSURANCE WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS FC FIFTEENTH EDITION | SEASON 2012/13 FRIDAY, 12 APRIL 2013 | SEMI-FINAL VS BRISBANE ROAR FC SOUVENIR SEMI-FINAL BUMPER EDITION FUTURE IN OUR HANDS OFFICIAL WESTERN SYDNEY FINALS THOUGHTS FROM WANDERERS FC PARTNERS COACH AND CAPTAIN WHO CAN WIN IT? KEY MATCH-UPS SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST: PREMIERS 2012/13 CONTENTS CONTENTS MAKE IT COUNT 03 One game to go with the ultimate prize of being crowned Hyundai A-League Champions. FINAL THOUGHTS 05 The coach is proud of what has been achieved and 07 excited for what is to come. KEY MATCH-UPS 07 Some positions on the pitch where the game may be won. AN IDEA WAS BORN 09 Western Sydney finally gets their team. 11 THE CAPTAIN'S CALL 11 The message remains the same for Beauchamp heading into the finals. TYSON TALKS 12 Jerrad reflects on his community engagement 03 23 activities over the season. TODAY’S MATCH MANCHESTER UNITED | JERRAD'S GOT SPIRIT 16 Brisbane's recent form 25 PREMIER CUP 13 The Wanderers goalkeeper will test the Wanderers at PACIFIC FINALS has been nominated for Parramatta Stadium. Find out more about the an award showcasing competition we're hosting his fair play. SINCE YOU WERE at the end of the month. 18 LAST HERE HOW WE DID IT! How we wrapped up Bryson ANDERSON 14 We left it to the final match of our inaugural season. 27 MEMORIAL GALA DAY the season but in epic fashion. A gala day was held last month SPOT THE DIFFERENCE in honour of the late Detective 20 Can you pick the five differences Inspector Bryson Anderson. in the photo of Jason Trifiro? KICKING BACK OUR OPPONENTS 29 AFTER SCHOOL Advertising ENQUIRIES 21 RUN Read about the first For all advertising enquiries Adelaide unable to match instalment of our Active please contact Corey Mouttou on 02 8602 6417, 0404 042 328, email the Roar's intensity at After-School Program. [email protected] or Hindmarsh Stadium. Kelly Russell on 02 8602 6413, WESTERN SYDNEY 0431 404 521, email SHOW 'EM SERVET 30 WANDERERS FC [email protected] PArtners PHOTOGRAPHY 23 The W-League defender on Front cover photograph courtesy of her latest stint in South Korea. Thanking our 2012/13 partners. Getty Images. All photography courtesy of Getty Images, Eric Berry, Quarrie CAPTION THIS PHOTO ROD ALLEN | Sports Photography and Peter Muhlbock/ 24 What is Tarek Elrich 31 1967-2013 Special Olympics. saying to Mark Bridge? Farewell Rocket. 02 WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS FC VS BRISBANE ROAR FC MAKE IT COUNT THE OLD ADAGE GOES: FORM IS TEMPORAry, CLASS IS PERMANENT. THERE IS NO DOUBTING BRISBANE HAVE MAKE IT HIT THEIR STRIDE IN RECENT WEEKS AND HAVE FINALLY RECLAIMED THE CREATIVITY THAT EARNED THEM BACK-TO- COUNT BACK TITLES. BUT STANDING IN THE WAY OF THE ROAR REACHING THEIR THIRD CONSECUTIVE DECIDER IS THE MOST CONSISTENT SIDE IN THE A-LEAGUE. Now 12 matches unbeaten, it seems Tony Popovic’s men are unwilling to let up. The nature of this finals series rewards dashes of brilliance and greatly exposes moments of weakness. Fragility is a word that hasn’t been floated about Wanderland this season and, despite admissions that the record winning streak was not without its flaws, passages of inspiring attack and a number of momentous goals have far outweighed the few mistakes made in the latter half of the season. The Wanderers need no reminding that they claimed a clean sweep of the defending champions in the regular season, including the historic first goal and first win in Brisbane last October. Subsequent 1-0 and 2-1 wins will leave Western Sydney with no doubt that they have a strong advantage over Brisbane. But Popovic’s pre-match address will make no allusions to the hat-trick of wins or league positions. All of that can now be put to the side. There are 90 minutes to keep the fairytale cliché going. Brisbane will head into the match brimming with confidence after a convincing display in Adelaide last week, with Popovic witnessing first hand the attacking threats the Roar possess. Containing the likes of Besart Berisha, Thomas Broich and Ben Halloran will give the Wanderers the upper hand and there are no more capable hands to place that task in than one of the league’s most formidable partnerships – Nikolai Topor- Stanley and Michael Beauchamp. The pair – and the safe hands of Ante Covic – has helped Western Sydney concede the fewest goals in the A-League this season. The Wanderers have stepped into the spotlight of Australian football and seem very comfortable at the top. Courtesy of Getty Images Continued on page 4 WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS FC VS BRISBANE ROAR FC 03 MAKE IT COUNT has been key and goalkeeper Covic has said the aura of confidence is not to be mistaken for arrogance. “He’s given us inspiration, belief from day one,” Covic said. “He hasn’t given us any sense to doubt ourselves during Courtesy of Getty Images this season so having someone like that who understands what a player needs to do at a professional level is so important to all of us. He has that knack that not many coaches have out there to get the players playing at 100 per cent each week as it comes, rather than getting carried away or getting ahead of themselves.” Whatever the outcome of the match, this season will be earmarked as a success. But true champions never rest on their laurels and the drive by Popa and his charges to ensure the success story continues is encouraging. Wanderers have momentum, although a final demands more than that. Regardless, the message will be simple as we continue to write Continued from page 3 with no qualms about their ability, history – more of the same, please. no fear of defeat and no trepidation It is a positive thing to hear Wanderers about Popovic’s tactics. The faith in Thanks to Mitchell Grima for players insist they run onto the field their team-mates and coaching staff contributing this article. Founded: 2012 Premiers: 2013 Football has come home. IAG 5077-3 148x210 Wanderers Minor Premiers.indd 1 8/04/13 4:39 PM FINAL THOUGHTS FINAL THOUGHTS ." NT A " WE’RE IN A POSITION AS A CLUB W THAT WE’RE very PLEASED TO BE IN – YOU T A WE’RE ONE GAME AWAY WH S ’ IT – FROM THE GRAND FINAL." UB L C ND A CH " Everyone FROM THE A CO , CHAIRMAN DOWN YER IS very PROUD LA P A AS A CLUB OF WHAT S A IN WE’VE ACHIEVED BE SO FAR BUT WE TO WANT MORE." TION A SITU T A GRE " A S ’ T I " CertAINLY THERE’S A FEELING AMONGST THE CLUB AND PLAYERS THAT THEY WILL DO ANYTHING Founded: 2012 THEY CAN TO ACHIEVE MORE." Premiers: 2013 " WE ARE certAINLY Football has come home. CONFIDENT IN OUR OWN ABILITIES THAT WE CAN WIN." Courtesy of Getty Images WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS FC VS BRISBANE ROAR FC 05 IAG 5077-3 148x210 Wanderers Minor Premiers.indd 1 8/04/13 4:39 PM Share the moment. Share your favourite football moments with Hyundai for the chance to win $10,000 to share with your grassroots club. Upload to sharethemoment.net.au The Promoter is Hyundai Motor Company Australia Pty Ltd ACN 008 995 588. Competition closes at 11:59pm AEST on 16/9/13. Maximum prize value is $10,000, to be divided $5,000 to the winner and $5,000 to be donated by the Promoter to the winner’s nominated football club. Terms and conditions apply, see www.sharethemoment.net.au for details. HMCA5761 KEY MATCH-UPS KEY MATCH-UPS ANTE COVIC V MICHAEL THEO They have the qualities every attacker fears and every defence yearns for – authority, versatility and downright brilliance. They are the same reasons Ante Covic and Michael Theo have played every minute of the A-League season and conceded the best and third best goalkeeping records, conceding 21 and 30 goals this season respectively. Both players are commanding between the goalposts and should ensure a low scoring game. Wanderers will be confident should the match require a penalty shoot-out with Covic unbeaten from the spot this season. MARK BRIDGE V BESArt BERISHA Mark Bridge has started twice as many games this season as he did at Sydney last term and the striker has taken full advantage of the opportunity presented to him at Western Sydney. With 11 goals to his name, Bridge finished the regular season atop the Wanderers scoring charts and seems to have found his home. With a number of landmark goals, including the club’s first ever and a brace to seal the Premiership, he is a pivotal part of Tony Popovic’s attack. Although his record at the apex of the NIKOLAI TOPOR-STANLEY V IVAN FRANJIC Wanderers formation is formidable, Bridge has proved most Two players with very different approaches but a similarly effective when dropping in behind the front line and carrying apt work ethic, Topor-Stanley and Franjic have proved their the ball out wide, making him a significant threat for Brisbane. stubbornness in defence this season. But while the Wanderers Love him or loathe him, there is no doubting Besart defender has succeeded with a more direct playing style and Berisha’s talent. Although quiet on the goalscoring front this remaining solid at the back, his Roar opponent has entered season by his own high standards, the Albanian has a knack the era of the box-to-box full-back.

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