Hyundai A-League Team of the Week: Round 8

Who stood head and shoulders above the rest in Hyundai A-League Round 8?

After a thrilling round of action, we've assessed the contenders and opted for a 4-3-3 formation for this Round's Team of the Week.

Did we get our starting XI right for Round 8? 

WATCH FOR FREE: How to watch the Hyundai A-League LIVE and FREE
SUNDAY: 
City beat Reds as Glory return to Hyundai A-League summit
SATURDAY: Sydney FC claim bragging rights, Wellington too good for Mariners
FRIDAY:
 Honda and Toivonen inspire first half blitz as Victory beat Roar in six-goal classic

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GOALKEEPER

Liam Reddy (Perth Glory)

The Hyundai A-League veteran had only made 14 saves this season in total prior to Glory's match with the Jets.

But as Ernie Merrick's side turned the screw, Reddy made six stops - including two fine saves of the highest quality - to help Glory withstand a barrage of Newcastle pressure.

Reddy's best may have arrived at the most crucial point of the encounter: a fine reflex save from Jair after just 14 seconds, a moment that proved crucial in Glory moving back to the summit.

REPORT: Perth too good for Newcastle, back top of Hyundai A-League

DEFENDERS

Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC)

Sydney FC's tireless, mullet-sporting fullback just keeps getting better and better.

Rhyan Grant has been a key part of the Sky Blues recent Sydney Derby dominance and barely put a foot wrong in Saturday night's 3-1 win over Western Sydney.

Grant passed at 96%, sent in eight crosses and created two chances in another barnstorming display down the right flank.

REPORT: Sydney FC 3 Western Sydney Wanderers 1

Tomislav Mrcela (Perth Glory)

Perth's central defensive trio could just about earn a spot in the team of the round every week.

This time around, we've opted for Tomislav Mrcela thanks to the Glory centre-back's fine showing in the Hunter Valley.

Mrcela picked up an assist for Jason Davidson's strike and made eight clearances for Tony Popovic's side.

Bart Schenkeveld (Melbourne City)

Melbourne City's man-mountain offered a colossal performance in his side's 2-0 win over Adelaide United.

City were indebted to a colossal performance from their giant Dutchman, alongside an equally impressive showing from Harrison Delbridge at the back.

Schenkeveld repelled Adelaide at every turn during City's 2-0 triumph, demonstrating why he's one of the competition's best in his position.

READ: Schenkeveld and City roll up sleeves in Adelaide to claim priceless confidence boost

Corey Brown (Melbourne Victory)

Returning to the side he spent six seasons at, Brown proved a constant thorn for Brisbane Roar in Victory's 4-2 win.

The 24-year-old former Brisbane player of the year enjoyed immense licence to spring forward following the dismissal of Roar's Eric Bautheac and tallied a huge 129 touches on the ball - more than Keisuke Honda. 

Brown sent in three dangerous crosses and claimed an assist through his fantastic delivery for Ola Toivonen.

RE-LIVE: All the goals and talking points from Victory-Roar thriller

MIDFIELDERS

James Troisi (Melbourne Victory)

While Honda and Toivonen continue to steal the headlines, James Troisi is flying under the radar for Kevin Muscat's side.

But it was another performance of high class from the Victory midfielder, who registered two assists and proved untouchable in his side's opening half rout at Suncorp Stadium. 

ANALYSIS: Victory's deadly trio sparking breathtaking displays

Brandon O'Neill (Sydney FC)

Either of Sydney FC's formidable midfield pivots could've earned a position in this round's team of the week, but we've plumped for Brandon O'Neill.

O'Neill passed at an accuracy of 98.5% for the match, a game in which the Sky Blues amassed the third most passes of any team in a game over the last seven seasons (661).

He also created three chances and grabbed an assist late on via a perfect corner delivery for Jacob Tratt.

Mandi (Wellington Phoenix)

Wellington Phoenix's midfield metronome cut a class above in his side's 2-0 win over Central Coast Mariners.

The Spaniard's sweetly-struck effort from distance saw Louis Fenton open the scoring in New Zealand, while no other Phoenix player tallied more touches (65) or passes (50).

READ: Phoenix enter top six, condemn Mariners to worst ever Hyundai A-League start

FORWARDS

Alex Brosque (Sydney FC)

Brosque underlined his evergreen importance to the Sky Blues on a night where he became the Sydney Derby's outright leading goalscorer.

The Hyundai A-League veteran hit a timely equaliser for Sydney FC in Saturday night's win over the Wanderers, created three chances and was his side's main threat on a quiet night for top scorer Adam Le Fondre.

Kosta Barbarouses (Melbourne Victory)

The Kiwi flyer is in rare goal-scoring form at the minute, demonstrated by the clinical manner of his first half brace against the Roar.

Barbarouses had the first and last say in Victory's first half rout, steering in a confident first time volley and finishing off a delicately constructed corner routine to cement Melbourne's sixth win in a row.

With four goals and one assist, no other player in the league has had more goal involvement than Barbarouses so far in December.

Roy Krishna (Wellington Phoenix)

Krishna may not have found himself on the scoresheet, but he was the driving force behind Wellington's 2-0 win over the Mariners.

The striker bolted across the pitch like a bull terrier for 90 minutes and scorched the Mariners defence with his pace throughout the match.

He created two chances on the night - including an assist for Sarpreet Singh - and should have collected his fifth goal of the season himself.

REPORT: Phoenix enter top six, condemn Mariners to worst ever Hyundai A-League start

 

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This article was originally published on the Hyundai A-League website.
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