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He took his place in A-League history when he clinched that memorable extra time goal in the 2010/11 Grand Final, but Erik Paartalu still has plenty more he wants to achieve with Brisbane Roar.
Continuing their fine form since being crowned champions last season and reviving domestic football in Australia, Brisbane Roar currently sit comfortably on top of the Hyundai A-League ladder.
One man who has been instrumental to their success since arriving at the club from Scotland last year is Erik Paartalu.
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| Credit: Brisbane Roar |
A Sydney boy, before his stint in the Scottish First Division with Greenock Morton FC Paartalu played for the Parramatta Eagles in the NSWPL. Since calling Brisbane home, Paartalu has embraced life north of the border in sunny Queensland.
“Being around your mates, family and all that, you get pulled in a lot of directions and that can affect your focus. But in Brisbane I’ve made a life for myself here, and all I focus on is my football and my private life is whatever I want it to be,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say I support Queensland in the State of Origin just yet, but I definitely enjoy being in Queensland.”
Under Roar Coach Ange Postecoglou, Paartalu has established himself as a leader in the playing group.
Off the pitch he’s first to greet fans young and old, and on the pitch he’s in the thick of the action. From defence and midfield he’s made more passes than anyone else in the Hyundai A-League. It’s an area of his game which has blossomed under Postecoglou’s disciplined possession football.
“I really enjoy my role in the middle of the attack and defence,” Paartalu said.
“I’d say my awareness and my accuracy have definitely improved because I’ve got the ball all the time.”
Last month, the 25-year-old’s impressive form drew the attention of Socceroos coach Holger Osieck who named Paartalu in the A-League training camp held in Sydney. He might not have gotten the call up to the national team just yet, but Paartalu is content knowing his name is being thrown around.
“I can understand the situation with the Socceroos at the moment. When they’re trying to qualify for a World Cup it makes it a difficult time to experiment,” he said.
“I know my time will come, but it’s about being patient. I do feel as though my game has gone to another level and I do feel that I’m not far away.”
Paartalu wasn’t always a Socceroos shoe-in. At 18 he was asked to play for Estonia, his grandfather’s birthplace. He may be proud of his heritage, and gladly used his Estonian passport to play overseas, but Paartalu confirms that there is only one country he intends to play for, and it’s not in Scandinavia.
“I feel 100% Australian,” he said.
“It is the wrong thing to say I might go and play for another country if the Socceroos don’t pick me. I’m not like that.
“I’ve grown up in Australia and it’s almost disrespectful to go and play for a team that you don’t really have a lot to do with.”
On the back of last season’s glorious victory in the Hyundai A-League Grand Final, Paartalu attracted interest from clubs in Asia. Unswayed by the big dollars, he says he still has goals he wants to achieve with Brisbane.
“I’ve still got two years on my contract here and I really want to keep building a solid foundation and reputation in the A-League,” he said.
But Paartalu’s plans are not limited to a lifetime in the domestic competition.
“I definitely have aspirations to get back to Europe,” he said.
“You can’t pick and choose, but I think a German, or a Dutch, or a Belgium style of football would probably suit me best.”
For the time being that can all wait says Paartalu, who feels there’s a lot more glory on the horizon for the orange and black.
“I think it was very difficult for guys like Matty McKay and Kosta Barbarouses because although they were given excellent opportunities I know for a fact they would have left with a heavy heart not being a part of this.”
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| Photo: Melanie Dinjaski |
But no matter how good Brisbane are, home crowd numbers at Suncorp Stadium have drawn the ire of football fans around the country.
Paartalu’s suggestion? Be realistic and downsize.
“We’re not going to get the same size crowds that the Broncos get and obviously with a new NRL franchise coming in it’s only going to get harder for us,” he said.
“I love playing at Suncorp, but if we’re not going to get 40,000 to the game and our support base is only about 20,000 you’d rather have something a bit smaller.
“That’s perfect sizing for Australian football.”
Last Sunday at a more family-friendly time slot, a healthy home crowd of 16,428 came out to see the Roar draw 1-1 against Wellington Phoenix.
Though they didn't come away with a win that day, the Roar created numerous chances in front of goal as Wellington, like Melbourne Victory before them, appeared content in sitting back.
The home side relentlessly peppered the Phoenix goal as the visitors, unable to keep up with Brisbane's quick-tempo style of play, just tried to withstand their attack.
It was evident on that day and on most days, that an obvious advantage the Roar have against other teams, is their ability to play quality football for the entire 90 minutes while others fizzle out.
It was evident on that day and on most days, that an obvious advantage the Roar have against other teams, is their ability to play quality football for the entire 90 minutes while others fizzle out.
Paartalu says the facilities and support staff at the club have played a big part in the team's improvement in this area. This structure is just another reason the towering defender decided to come back to Australia.
“I knew how professional Australia was compared to a lot of places in Europe, in terms of sport science, recovery and training,” he said.
“Kenny, our football conditioning coach has been at big clubs like Coventry and he’s had job offers from Rangers and Celtic and Manchester City. People like that, make a big difference to this club behind the scenes."
The team’s supreme fitness is a result of a productive off-season, as well as some meticulous technical and physical preparation before each game.
“We haven’t just gotten fit overnight,” he said.
“The schedule’s been so that we’re peaking at the right times and loading at the right times.
“There are probably teams who do a lot more cardio training and running around the pitch than us, but we do a lot of work with the ball. That way when we’re tired we can make decisions on the pitch,” Paartalu said.
“Win, lose or draw we’re always trying to get better."
It’s a scary thought. But it’s this mantra similarly heard from Ange Postecoglou, that will see Brisbane and Paartalu continue to entertain Australian football fans for a few more years yet.