Trevor Gillmeister fires up Brisbane Roar to axe Sydney FC

Queensland rugby league great Trevor Gillmeister has fired up Brisbane Roar ahead of tonight’s match with Sydney FC.

State of Origin legend Trevor Gillmeister with the Brisbane Roar players and their maroon jersey yesterday. Picture: Liam Kidston.

SOCCER: State of Origin great Trevor Gillmeister has fired up Brisbane Roar ahead of tonight’s A-League blockbuster against undefeated leaders Sydney FC.

The former skipper of the Maroons addressed the Roar squad after training yesterday, claiming Sydney FC would fold if put under pressure.

“I do know one thing about the NSW blokes — if you put them under pressure they turn into individuals, they become selfish ... and they fold — that’s across all footy codes,” Gillmeister said.

Third-placed Roar have adopted a “state against state” Origin mentality in an effort to back up from Tuesday night’s AFC Champions League playoff win and will wear Origin-like maroon jerseys for the A-League clash.

“Someone like Gilly knows what it takes to win important games,” Roar coach John Aloisi said. “It would be great if they did fold like he said. But if we do what we do well we are confident of the win. They (Sydney FC) don’t like coming up here. We’re looking forward to that ­rivalry.”

Aloisi will rotate players as Brisbane juggle a demanding schedule. First they have to back up from Tuesday night’s 6-0 thumping of Philippines side Global FC in their AFC Champions League qualifier at Suncorp Stadium. Then, after tonight’s blockbuster, the Roar will fly out to China for a must-win AFC Champions League playoff with Carlos Tevez’s cashed-up Shanghai Shenhua on Tuesday.

Gillmeister’s words would be amusing for proud New South Welshman Graham Arnold, whose players, he claims, are the fittest in the A-League.

It’s hard to argue with Arnold after Sydney’s run of 17 games undefeated, their 11-point lead and their striking capacity to pick off rivals deep into the second half.

One of the key men fuelling the seemingly bottomless tank, strength and conditioning coach Andrew Clark, believes his subjects are on track to hit their physical peak just in time for grand final day.

Sydney’s approach to fitness might not be too different from that of their challengers, given the highest level of sports science is the norm in Australian professional sport. What perhaps sets the Sky Blues apart is the detail, Clark’s borderline telepathic relationship with Arnold and the players’ yearning to succeed.

It’s a recipe for the type of pace and power driving Sydney’s technically slick, organised game for a full 90 minutes each week.

“A lot of it comes down to the way your programs are accepted and the chemistry of the players to carry that out,” Clark said. “When you’ve got a mix of players who inspire each other, the job becomes a lot easier.

“My philosophy is that I don’t bash people over the head with a stick; I like them to think what they’re doing will make them a better footballer. Then it’s an easy sell, and you get to a stage where they’re thirsty for more.”

Areas of conditioning change each week depending on various factors including the length of turnaround between games. Within that, programs are individually customised and the load adapted to suit a range of ages and experience.

“I’ve got a young player in (19-year-old striker) Charles Lokolingoy — he has virtually no training age,” Clark said. “He’s new in the squad and we have to be very careful about how much load we throw at him to make sure he stays healthy as he builds up.”

Players in their mid-20s such as Josh Brillante and Rhyan Grant can handle the most, while veterans Alex Brosque and David Carney have a high-level base on the back of long careers but require more recovery.

Injuries play a part, although not only in terms of treatment. Club physios, led by Elias Boukarim, watch the players meticulously in training, memorising unique mechanics so they can spot small changes and correct them before they turn into injuries.

This is all carried out on the fringes, a support act to Arnold’s show. But integration is crucial, and the result of Arnold and Clark’s seven-year working relationship is that their philosophies overlap seamlessly. “Because of how long I’ve worked with Arnie, we have this innate ability to understand each other,” he said.

AAP