The Tackle: All the talking points from Round 3 of the A-League

Jake Brimmer is proving an inspired signing by Auckland FC while the Wanderers’ home form is driving away fans. Catch all the talking points from Round 3 in THE TACKLE.

Jake Brimmer of Auckland FC celebrates a goal.

Jake Brimmer’s matchwinning brace for Auckland FC in Saturday’s New Zealand derby looms as a catalyst in rejuvenating a talented career that stalled last season at Melbourne Victory.

The winner of the 2022 Johnny Warren Medal, awarded to the A-League’s best player, Brimmer was on the bench too much for his own liking during the Victory’s 2023-24 campaign.

Recognising Brimmer’s prodigious talent was perhaps going to waste in Melbourne, Auckland coach Steve Corica made him a priority signing for the A-League newcomers.

With Auckland’s billionaire owner Bill Foley keen for as much New Zealand talent as possible to be in the Black Knights squad, Corica deliberately hasn’t gone overboard in signing Australian players.

However, Corica made sure he got former Australian under-20 representative midfielder Brimmer, and also recognised his leadership qualities by appointing him as one of the squad’s two vice-captains.

Having started in Auckland’s first-up 2-0 win over Brisbane Roar, Brimmer was struck by illness in the build-up to the Black Knights’ second game, a 1-0 victory over Sydney FC, and was restricted to a cameo off the bench.

He was again among the substitutes on Saturday against Wellington, and while he didn’t enter the contest until the 71st minute, Brimmer proved to be the difference in the game with his two late goals.

Jake Brimmer was the hero for Auckland FC. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

“It was unbelievable scoring two goals,” Brimmer told Sky Sport NZ after the win.

“It’s been a difficult year, two years, for me with football and everything outside of football so it was a very special moment for myself and my family.

“You can’t beat that, a derby win and two goals for myself. It’s unbelievable.”

Brimmer said the New Zealand derby was “going to end up as one of the biggest derbies in the competition”.

More than 26,000 were in the stands at Sky Stadium to watch the match, and a similar size crowd is expected when the teams meet again next month in Auckland.

“Give it a couple of years and this will be the biggest derby in the league,” Brimmer said.

WANDERERS MUST LIFT

Six successive home defeats isn’t good enough for any team, let alone a club the size of Western Sydney Wanderers.

Saturday night’s 4-3 loss to Adelaide United was the latest in a string of disappointing results for the Wanderers at CommBank Stadium.

Including last season, the Wanderers have picked up only one point from their past eight home games.

You can’t blame Western Sydney fans for growing impatient with their team.

Saturday night’s attendance of just 7244 was proof that Wanderers need to be doing a lot better, particularly at home.

Joshua Brillante and Wanderers teammates thank fans after their loss to Adelaide. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

While a crowd of more than 27,000 was in attendance at last month’s derby at CommBank Stadium, to then have that figure drop by 20,000 for the club’s next home game is alarming.

Starts similar to Saturday night when the Wanderers trailed the Reds 2-0 after 21 minutes and 3-1 after 27 minutes won’t help lift crowds.

“It was just not good enough and we knew they’d come out like they did,” Western Sydney coach Alen Stajcic said.

“We didn’t deal with it, compounded with some elementary errors that gave them the leg-up in the game.”

Spanish star Juan Mata is yet to play a full match for the Wanderers, with Stajcic making no apologies for dragging the former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder after just 45 minutes.

“It’s not about Juan. We know what we get with each individual. Every player brings different qualities to the game,” the Western Sydney boss said.

ROAR FANS REMAIN FAITHFUL

While their team is sitting at the bottom of the A-League ladder, Brisbane Roar fans remain committed to the cause by leading the way in buying the most tickets (29 per cent) of any club outside NSW for the upcoming “Unite Round” in Sydney.

Of the non-NSW clubs, the Roar are in front of Melbourne Victory (22 per cent), with Adelaide United third (21 per cent).

All of A-League’s men’s matches will be played at Allianz Stadium across the November 22-24 round, including a F3 derby between the Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets.

Mariners supporters have bought 46 per cent of the tickets, considerably outshining Jets fans, who have purchased only 14 per cent.

CITY WELCOME MAT

Socceroos stalwart Mathew Leckie’s return from a quad injury can’t come quick enough for a Melbourne City side desperate for redemption after last weekend’s poor derby performance.

Having been close to selection for City’s 3-1 loss to Melbourne Victory, Leckie seems finally set to make his first appearance of the A-League season in his team’s clash with Western United at AAMI Park.

Apart from his class, Leckie’s experience will be crucial in a City side that has two players suspended – skipper Aziz Behich and midfielder Jimmy Jeggo.

Mathew Leckie missed Melbourne City’s derby loss to United with a quad injury. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

There is no doubt that United will lift for the latest Victorian derby.

John Aloisi’s men love nothing more than getting the better of the two big Melbourne clubs in City and the Victory.

After successive draws, United will be keen for a win that would move them two points clear of City.

With Tuesday being a public holiday in Melbourne’s, let’s hope there’s a crowd of at least 10,000 for the clash that’s being dubbed “west v east”.

What we don’t want is a repeat of Friday night’s game at Suncorp Stadium, where all you could see from watching the Brisbane-Sydney game from home was empty seats because that part of the venue wasn’t open for fans.

It looked awful, so either put the TV cameras on that side of the ground or move the fans from one side to the other. It’s not a hard problem to solve.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

(4-1-2-3) Alex Paulsen (Auckland FC); Dylan Pierias (Adelaide United), Dan Hall (Auckland FC), Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC), Lucas Mauragis (Central Coast Mariners); Leo Sena (Sydney FC); Jake Brimmer (Auckland FC), Zach Clough (Adelaide United); Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney Wanderers), Patryk Klimala (Sydney FC), Reno Piscopo (Melbourne Victory). Coach: Steve Corica (Auckland FC).

Player of the week: Dylan Pierias (Adelaide United)