‘I want them to come on this journey with us’: Something special is building in Brisbane

The Brisbane Roar have been flying under the radar this A-League Men pre-season.

After being out of the Australia Cup after losing to Wellington back in May in a qualifier forced on them by last season’s league position, the Queensland side has been resigned to playing friendly games over the last two months as they slowly build towards their new campaign.

Yet there have been positive signs for the club over the winter months, with a significant number of new signings rejuvenating the playing squad on the pitch and a renewed focus on engaging the local community off it. 

Could something be building in Brisbane?

Early success breeding optimism

A new sense of optimism was particularly evident back in late August, where the new look Roar met A-League rivals Central Coast Mariners on a winter’s afternoon that looked like a postcard’s picture, on the Sunshine Coast, an hour’s drive from central Brisbane.

While a hard-fought two-nil victory with goals from new signings Justin Vidic and James McGarry may not necessarily be anything to write home about, the result took the Roar’s pre-season unbeaten run of games to seven.

And despite a 1-0 reversal against Sydney FC a week later (played behind closed doors at the Sydney club’s request), it’s been an impressive start to new coach Michael Valkanis’ reign.

Valkanis’ tenure in Brisbane started with that Australia Cup qualifier defeat back in May but the momentum has been steadily since.  

And it appears that drive to win every game, even in pre-season, comes from the top.

“From the first day we walked through the door, we’ve said [to the players] don’t bother turning up if you don’t have a winning mentality for every game,” Valkanis said after the Mariners game.

The true test of these words is yet to come, but it was off the pitch at the Sunshine Coast Stadium that perhaps the most significant statistic of the afternoon was recorded, with over 6,800 spectators revelling in the relaxed atmosphere.

To put this into context, the Roar had an average attendance of just 6,215 last season – and that was for competitive games in central Brisbane, where the majority of their fans are based.

It seems that nine new signings for the Roar men this off-season and a run of successful pre-season games have the Queensland public engaged in their football team again.

But is there more to it than that?

Community focus

One of the features of the Roar men’s pre-season to date has been their community focus.

Shorn of meaningful competition due to their early Cup exit, the club have embarked on a series of friendly games with local NPL sides in recent months. This has not only given Valkanis the opportunity to hone his new squad but also embark on a charm offensive to engage the Brisbane public.

And that was at the forefront of his mind when speaking after the recent game with the Mariners.

“It’s so important what we’ve done so far, going out to different teams in the community, different regions, because I want that connection between the players and our supporters. I want them to come on this journey with us,” he explained.

The most recent of these friendlies came last week against local NPL side Olympic FC on the south-side of Brisbane, where new Liverpool-born striker Chris Long notched his first goals for the club as part of an 8-0 victory.

Several young guns on the fringe of the first XI also made telling contributions, yet it was the conscious effort to engage the public that stood out more, with Roar players involved in pre-game junior clinics to show their young fans the relatable face of the club. 

This concept has been replicated across South-east Queensland during a pre-season campaign that has included five games against local NPL clubs.

And the response on the Sunshine Coast seems to show it’s working.

While handsomely beating lower-level opposition isn’t going to strike fear into their A-League rivals come October, it is worth noting that the Roar’s pre-season has also included a win over Newcastle Jets and a draw with last season’s Premiers Auckland FC.

Perhaps more importantly, for a club that has been struggling financially in recent times, the sense of goodwill the club has generated in the meantime may well lead to increased attendances at Suncorp when the season begins.

What’s next?

With the A-League fixtures for season 2025-26 revealed last week, all eyes in Brisbane are now on the opening fixture, at home to Macarthur FC on Friday, October 17.

Yet with over 4 weeks to go until the big kick off, the Roar still need a few games to bed in their new arrivals – the latest being Costan Rican right back Youstin Salas, who arrived on deadline day this week – and two more fixture have been lined up as we go to press.

This Saturday will see the first leg of a double header against an NPL Queensland All Stars side at Perry Park – which until recently was the home for the Roar women’s team, and the permanent home of Brisbane Strikers. A return fixture up at AJ Kelly Park in the northern suburb of Redcliffe is scheduled for the following Tuesday.

It’s more opportunity to tinker with the starting XI before the date with the Bulls in mid-October, and more chance to engage with the Brisbane football community in smaller, intimate settings.

Given their innovative approach to this pre-season, it’s perhaps not surprising that even their social media team are getting in on the rebuilding theme – calling their fly on the wall YouTube series “Roar Reborn” in an attempt to capture the mood.

Whether Queensland’s only A-Leagues club really will be reborn this coming season – after four long years finishing outside the Men’s finals series – is yet to be seen.

But all the signs from Suncorp are that something is building. Watch this space.