A-League: What is the real reason behind Brisbane Roar switching benches?

IT was one of the great mysteries at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night – why did Brisbane Roar switch from their usual home bench to what has in the past been the away dugout?

Roar coach Robbie Fowler wasn’t saying why he swapped benchs on Friday night. Picture: Getty Images

IT was one of the great mysteries at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night – why did Brisbane Roar switch from their usual home bench to what has in the past been the away dugout?

While it didn’t help the Roar in terms of the result, a 1-0 loss to Melbourne Victory, there must have been a good reason for the bench switch.

Not that Roar coach Robbie Fowler was saying.

“I’m not telling you,” Fowler said post-match.

“There is a reason why we do everything.”

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Brisbane Roar coach Robbie Fowler (left) shakes hands with his Melbourne Victory counterpart Marco Kurz at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

After much consideration, The Sunday Mail has come up with a theory as to why Fowler wanted to swap benches.

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In football, assistant referees, or linesmen in old terminology, are on the opposites sides of the field covering one half each.

The assistant referee on the bench side of the Suncorp Stadium pitch spends the whole match running past only the dugout usually occupied by the away team.

But with now that being the Roar bench, Fowler and his coaching staff will be able to get in the ear of the assistant referee, which will perhaps, subconsciously, lead to some close calls going Brisbane’s way.