Team of the Week: Round 6

After 36 goals were scored in week four and five, week six saw just nine balls hit the back of the net.

Each week Matt Collard will reveal The Football Sack's best eleven. Disagree with his choices? Let him know in the comments section below.

Goalkeeper

It was between Eugene Galekovic and Liam Reddy this week, with Tony Warner running in third. I went with Reddy as Sydney were absolutely bombarded in the second half during his sides’ 1-0 win over Perth, and he had arguably his best game in a Sydney shirt as he defiantly denied Perth time and time again.

Defence

Nigel Boogaard and Andrew Durante are the center backs holding this team together, and you can guarantee they will do a pretty damn good job after the performances they put in. 

Boogaard was dominant in the air for Adelaide in their A-League game against Gold Coast United. Adelaide held on for a 2-1 win, largely thanks to the dominance of Boogard in defence. 

Durante was important for Wellington on the weekend, as they needed their defence to step up. He did just that, consistently denying Brisbane as they tried to play balls into the area from the wing during the 1-1 draw.

Ivan Franjic and Aziz Behich are my fullbacks this week. Two attacking fullbacks, but it’s covered for if you factor in the grit and determination showed by both Boogaard and Durante in their defensive efforts this week. 

Franjic was one of the few players who looked near his best for Brisbane on the weekend. Every play went down the right, Brisbane always looking for Franjic.   

Behich scored his first A-League goal – a beautiful curler into the top corner – and was an instrumental part of Heart’s attack in their 3-0 win over Newcastle.

Perhaps unlucky to miss out on selection was Joshua Rose, who I thought showed glimpses of getting back to his best. Michael Beauchamp was also very good for Sydney at center back but didn’t make the cut.

Midfield

Rostyn Griffiths anchors the midfield this week. He marked Marocs Rojas out of the game during the 0-0 draw between Mariners and Victory, halting Mehmet Durakovic’s plans of the electric teenager adding more of a spark to the games of Danny Allsopp and Archie Thompson from the number 10 role.

Tim Brown and Fred will pull the strings in the midfield. Carle was another consideration, but I didn’t think his defensive efforts were as good as Brown’s when Sydney were getting overrun in the second half. Brown also scored the goal which gave Wellington a point against Brisbane.

Fred was great in a much needed win for Heart, scoring the opener and controlling the central zones against a Newcaslte Jets side that has been pretty good in the midfield this season. 

Attack

Three goal scorers in attack this week. Iain Ramsay impressed against the Gold Coast – in the first half, where both teams really struggled, Ramsay was the only player on the pitch to really show any signs of providing some attacking quality. His goal to win it was brilliant, too.

Another day, another great game from Mate Dugandzic. A well deserved goal capped a good – although not his best – performance from the winger. Ben Halloran was unlucky to miss out, he was vital in Gold Coast’s late surge for a point, but it just wasn’t enough. 

The strikers were a bit underwhelming this week. Besart Berisha, Mark and Eli Babalj were the only ones who scored. I gave the spot to Berisha. Even though he was squished right in the middle of Wellington’s ten players behind the ball, he still managed to look dangerous at times. Also, his header for the opener was great.