Brisbane Roar striker Roy O’Donovan says he’s just misunderstood
Brisbane Roar signing Roy O’Donovan makes not apologies for his approach for the game but insists he just wants to score goals.
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Roy O’Donovan makes no apologies for his aggressive on-field nature despite the view that he’s a dirty player.
Controversy has followed the Irish striker since his move to the A-League and the Central Coast Mariners four years ago from Indonesia.
O’Donovan was suspended for eight matches for head-butting then Wellington player Manny Muscat in December 2015 in retaliation to an off-the-ball elbow he copped from the Phoenix defender.
He moved from the Mariners to the Jets in 2017, but his time in Newcastle was marred by the 10-game ban he received for a high boot to the head of Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas in the 2018 grand final.
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“Perceptions are formed early and they’re very hard to shake,” said the 34-year-old marksman, who on Sunday plays his first A-League game for Brisbane Roar after his off-season move from Newcastle.
“I’m not a serial killer. People will have you believe otherwise, but … I’m a little bit misunderstood, and I use it to my advantage and disadvantage sometimes.
“But misunderstood or not, all I want to do is score goals and win football games and that won’t change now that I’m with Brisbane.
“I can be very straight-talking, I can be very aggressive in the way I play … that’s just me.”
O’Donovan rates his debut campaign with the Roar as arguably his most important since arriving in Australia.
“The past couple of years with injuries and suspensions, I haven’t been on the park as much as I would have liked,” said the former Sunderland marksman, who has netted 39 goals in 80 A-League appearances.
“I want to have more minutes on the pitch this season, and I want to score more goals than I ever have. Like any striker, I want to score in every game.
“I’ve got a lot riding on this season. I’m fit, I’m raring to go and I feel like I’ve got the supply line behind me so I can get some service.”
O’Donovan said meeting last season’s Premier’s Plate winners Perth Glory was a good way for Robbie Fowler’s revamped Brisbane squad to start their 2019-20 campaign.
“We’ll know where we need to get to. It’s a good game for us to have early,” said Brisbane’s new vice-captain, who is confident that Fowler has pulled the right rein in recruiting a host of players from the lower leagues of British football.
“I’m not saying this for lip service, I’m excited by what we’ve brought in. They’re not the biggest names in the world for outsiders, but I’m certain in three or four games, they’ll understand why the gaffer (Fowler) has brought them in.
“We haven’t signed any Spanish, or real Latin names to get the people going, but we’ve signed quality.”
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