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The Hyundai A-League 2011 Grand Final is ready for action.
While the main event starts at 4pm, there’s loads happening on Grand Final day from 2pm including Regurgitator performing live before kick-off. Get to Suncorp Stadium early and be part of the football festival outside and inside the stadium before seeing Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners battle it out for the Championship title.
Iconic Brisbane band Regurgitator will open the Hyundai A-League 2011 Grand Final with a 15-minute, four song set prior to the kick-off.
"We’re absolutely thrilled to be playing in front of a Brisbane crowd supporting our home team playing in the Grand Final,” said Regurgitator’s Quan Yeomans.
“My mum will be there covered in Roar face paint screaming her guts out so it will definitely be an unforgettable moment in Regurgitator's gigging history!"
Series five Australian Idol winner Natalie Gauci will sing the National Anthem minutes before kick-off backed by the National Girls Choir of Australia.
Brisbane Roar, who have accumulated an aggregate crowd of 989,043 in their 74 home matches to date, will reach the milestone of One Million in aggregate crowds in the Grand Final. The 10,957th person who comes through the gates at Suncorp Stadium this Sunday will officially be the Roar’s 1,000,000th patron.
The Central Coast Mariners will be farewelled from Gosford on Saturday morning before they fly out for the game, but on Wednesday afternoon several hundred young fans and some slightly older turned out to witness an open training session and to get their club shirts and other yellow items signed. Some photos below:
(Mariners coach Graham Arnold pulls Mustafa Amini over at training this week for some advice and plans for Sunday)
(Asst Coach Phil Moss, Keeper Coach John Crawley, and Coach Graham Arnold plotting the Roar's downfall)
(A small section of the fans who came along at short notice on a weekday)
Brisbane Roar FC vs Central Coast Mariners FC
Tip - I am afraid that despite all the evidence for a Brisbane celebration; despite being a football writer this fan's heart is always Yellow - Mariners to win!
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane - Local kick-off: 4.00pm (5.00pm AEDT)
Referee: Matthew Breeze; Assistant referees: Ben Wilson and Brad Hobson; Fourth official: Srebre Delovski
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 3, FS3 HD and Sky Sports 3 (NZ). Hyundai A-League partner is 4BC 1116, ABC Brisbane and 96.3 Coast FM (Gosford). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au
Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matt SMITH, 4. Shane STEFANUTTO, 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 9. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 10. HENRIQUE, 12. Matt MUNDY, 14. Rocky VISCONTE, 15. Matt McKAY (c), 16. Daniel BOWLES, 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 18. Luke BRATTAN, 19. Chris BUSH, 20. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 21. James MEYER, 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Milan SUSAK
*four to be omitted*
In: Daniel BOWLES (promoted), Luke BRATTAN (promoted), Chris BUSH (promoted), James MEYER (returns from injury); Out: Nil; Unavailable: Nil
Central Coast Mariners: 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 2. Daniel McBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 13. Michael BAIRD, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 18. Alex WILKINSON, 19. Matt SIMON, 22. Mustafa AMINI, 23. Adam KWASNIK, 24. Bernie IBINI ISEI, 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk)
*three to be omitted*
In: Matthew LEWIS (promoted), Pedj BOJIC (returns from suspension), Michael BAIRD (returns from injury) Out: Nil; Unavailable: Brad PORTER (knee - 4 weeks), Nik MRDJA (knee - season), Jess VANSTRATTAN (knee - season)
Head-to-Head: All matches (played 22): Brisbane Roar wins 11, Central Coast Mariners wins 3 (8 draws)Hyundai A-League 2011 Grand Final
CROWD RECORDS SET FOR BREAKING?
With Brisbane having its first Hyundai A-League Grand Final, the Roar is set to host the highest-attended Hyundai A-League match in the city’s history this Sunday, surpassing the current record crowd of 36,221 for the 2008 Major Semi Final 2nd leg (v Sydney FC).
Sunday’s match is on track to surpassing Brisbane’s highest crowd for any national league football match (40,446, 1997 NSL Grand Final), and may be amongst the highest in Hyundai A-League history for any city (current record 55,436 - 2007 Grand Final in Melbourne).
Largest crowds in domestic league football matches, major cities:
55,436 – Melbourne (2007 Hyundai A-League Grand Final, Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United)
43,242 – Perth (2000 National Soccer League Grand Final, Perth Glory v Wollongong Wolves)
41,689 – Sydney (2006 Hyundai A-League Grand Final, Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners)
40,446 – Brisbane (1997 National Soccer League Grand Final, Brisbane Strikers v Sydney United)
25,039 – Adelaide (2007/08 Hyundai A-League round 18, Adelaide United v Sydney FC)
Largest crowds, Hyundai A-League:
55,436 – 2007 Grand Final (Melbourne Victory 6 v Adelaide United 0) Etihad Stadium
53,273 – 2009 Grand Final (Melbourne Victory 1 v Adelaide United 0) Etihad Stadium
50,333 – 2006/07 Round 16 (Melbourne Victory 0 v Sydney FC 0) Etihad Stadium
47,413 – 2007 Major Semi 2nd leg (Melbourne Victory 2 v Adelaide United 1) Etihad Stadium
44,560 – 2010 Grand Final (Melbourne Victory 1 v Sydney FC 1 Sydney won 4-2 on penalties) Etihad Stadium
ONE MILLION FOR THE ROAR… Brisbane Roar, who have accumulated an aggregate crowd of 989,043 in their 74 home matches to date, will reach the milestone of ONE MILLION aggregate crowd in the Grand Final. The 10,957th person who comes through the gates at Suncorp Stadium this Sunday will be the Roar’s 1,000,000th patron.
ROAR’S RECORD STREAK… The Roar are aiming for their 28th undefeated match in a row, maintaining Australian football’s longest undefeated streak at national league level. The Roar have surpassed the record in Australian Rules AFL/VFL history (26 games, Geelong, 1952-1953), and are approaching the long-standing rugby league NRL/NSWRL undefeated streak record (35, Eastern Suburbs, 1935-1938)
MOST SUCCESSFUL COACHES HEAD-TO-HEAD… in terms of ratio of games won to games lost, Central Coast’s GRAHAM ARNOLD is the Hyundai A-League’s most successful coach-to-date, with a win/loss ratio of 2.83 (17 wins / 6 losses) in his 33 matches coached to date. Brisbane’s Ange Postecoglou has the league’s second-highest win/loss ratio, 2.67 (24 wins / 9 losses) in his 48 matches coached so far.
Hyundai A-League Grand Final flashbacks
Hyundai A-League 2006 Grand Final:
Sydney FC 1 (S.Corica 62') - Central Coast Mariners 0
at Sydney Football Stadium. Crowd: 41,689
Hyundai A-League 2007 Grand Final:
Melbourne Victory 6 (A.Thompson 20'/29'/39'/ 56'/72', K.Sarkies 90’+3) Adelaide United 0
at Telstra Dome. Crowd: 55,436.
Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Final:
Central Coast Mariners 0 - Newcastle Jets 1 (M.Bridge 64')
at Sydney Football Stadium. Crowd: 36,354
Hyundai A-League 2009 Grand Final:
Melbourne Victory 1 (T.Pondeljak 60') Adelaide United 0
at Etihad Stadium. Crowd: 53,273
Hyundai A-League 2010 Grand Final:
Melbourne Victory 1 (A.Leijer 82’) - Sydney FC 1 (M.Bridge 63’)
Sydney FC win 4-2 on penalties
at Etihad Stadium. Crowd: 44,560
ROAR HOME RECORD
Having remained undefeated in all 16 matches at home so far this season, the Brisbane Roar will be aiming to finish the season undefeated in all home matches (including finals series matches) for just the fifth time in Australian national league history:
Undefeated at home, Australian national league:
1981 Sydney City (15 out of 15 home matches undefeated)
1983 Sydney City (15 out of 15 home matches undefeated)
1992/93 Marconi (18 out of 18 home matches undefeated, including 3 finals series matches)
1998/99 South Melbourne (17 out of 17 home matches undefeated, including 3 finals series matches)
YOUNG MARINERS
An appearance by 17-year-old Mustafa Amini in the Hyundai A-League 2011 Grand Final would make the Mariners player the youngest Grand Final player in Hyundai A-League history, and the fourth youngest Grand Final player in all Australian national league Grand Finals.
Youngest players in Australian national league Grand Finals:
16y 293d - Jason Culina, for Sydney United, 1997 Grand Final (NSL)
17y 051d - Ufuk Talay, for Marconi, 1993 Grand Final (NSL)
17y 089d - Chris Kalantzis, for Sydney Olympic, 1984 Grand Final (NSL)
18y 007d - Joe Gibbs, for Sydney FC, 2009 Grand Final (Hyundai A-League)
18y 045d - Paul Okon, for Marconi, 1990 Grand Final (NSL)
Amini will be 17 years 327 days old on Grand Final day.
An appearance by 18-year-old Matt Ryan in the Hyundai A-League 2011 Grand Final would make the Mariners goalkeeper the youngest Grand Final goalkeeper in Australian national league history.
Youngest goalkeepers in Australian national league Grand Finals:
20y 220d - Vilson Knezevic, for Melbourne Knights, 1996 Grand Final (NSL)
20y 222d - Mark Schwarzer, for Marconi, 1993 Grand Final (NSL)
20y 343d - Danny Vukovic, for Central Coast Mariners, 2006 Grand Final (Hyundai A-League)
21y 191d - Frank Juric, for Melbourne Knights, 1995 Grand Final (NSL)
21y 210d - Mitchell Langerak, for Melbourne Victory, 2010 Grand Final (Hyundai A-League)
Ryan will be 18 years 339 days old on Grand Final day.
Chris Dunkerley for BOTN with information supplied by FFA - 10 March, 2011
Two Grand Final preview reports:
Tony Tannous - Roar.com
David Betros-Matthews - Football Sack
By fans for fans! Crafted lovingly by hand © Magic Llama 2000 - 2011
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