Opta reveals every club's best player from Round 26
Central Coast Mariners' inspirational skipper, Wellington Phoenix's flying Fijian and a Melbourne City rising star all feature among the best from Round 26 of the Hyundai A-League.
Who stood head and shoulders above the rest for your club?
Thanks to Opta data, let's take a look back at a thrilling Easter weekend and identify the best performers.
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Adelaide United – Michael Jakobsen
Adelaide United were at their resolute best in Good Friday’s 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory, and Jakobsen was central to keeping the reigning champions at bay.
The Danish defender won nine duels (the only defender to tally more was Perth Glory’s Shane Lowry with 10) and made 50 passes, along with an interception and a clearance.
Brisbane Roar – Zach Duncan
Despite suffering their worst home loss in Hyundai A-League history, Duncan showed that – with the young talent emerging in Queensland – there are rays of light glinting through the storm cloud that is Brisbane Roar's 2018/19 campaign.
Duncan made two dribbles, scored a goal from his lone shot on target and created one scoring chance as the Roar fell to Newcastle Jets 6-1 on Saturday.
Central Coast Mariners – Matt Simon
Caretaker coach Alen Stajcic hailed Central Coast’s 3-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday as their best performance of his short reign at the Gosford club.
Captain Matt Simon led the charge, winning 14 duels – more than any other player in Round 26 – as well as scoring twice and creating two chances.
Melbourne City – Riley McGree
Melbourne City’s talented midfielder has a habit of producing the spectacular, as he proved in his side’s 3-2 loss to Wellington Phoenix on Sunday.
McGree twice dragged Warren Joyce’s side level with excellent left-footed finishes, before Roy Krishna one-upped the 20-year-old in stoppage time.
Melbourne Victory – Raul Baena
Melbourne Victory were unable to crack Adelaide United last Friday, but it was not for a lack of trying on Raul Baena’s account.
The Spanish midfielder kept things ticking over neatly for Kevin Muscat’s side with 49 passes and did not neglect his defensive duties either, making a joint team-high three interceptions and contesting eight duels.
Newcastle Jets - Joey Champness
How different could Newcastle Jets’ season have been had Champness been fit and available for the majority of it?
In Newcastle’s 6-1 win over Brisbane Roar, Champness demonstrated why he is one of the hottest young properties in the Hyundai A-League.
The attacker scored a double, registered an assist and also created two scoring chances for his teammates.
Perth Glory – Tomi Mrcela
Tony Popovic is mulling over options for Perth Glory’s Finals Series assault, and Mrcela presented the Perth boss with a compelling case for selection despite his side losing 1-0 to Sydney FC last Thursday.
The defender made a round-high 95 passes, with a 95% pass accuracy, made five interceptions and four clearances.
Sydney FC – Adam Le Fondre
It will not go down as the greatest goal he has scored on Australian soil, but how important will Le Fondre’s match-winner against Perth prove to be in the context of Sydney FC’s season?
As well as providing the perfect statement of intent for Steve Corica’s side ahead of the Finals Series, Le Fondre turned in a complete centre forward performance to defeat the premiers, finishing with a 92% passing accuracy, and two goal scoring chances created.
Wellington Phoenix – Roy Krishna
There is just no stopping Roy Krishna when the Fijian is in this kind of form.
Wellington Phoenix’s talisman forward netted a hat-trick to help his side edge Melbourne City 3-2 on Sunday, a match that saw the irrepressible Krishna also create two scoring chances and contest 19 duels.
Western Sydney Wanderers – Mitchell Duke
Mitchell Duke has not been in Western Sydney long but he has already made himself integral to Markus Babbel’s plans for the Wanderers next season.
On his return to former employers Central Coast Mariners, Duke created two scoring chances, attempted two shots, contested 15 duels and made four dribbles.
