1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:12,027 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB. 3 00:00:12,827 --> 00:00:15,507 Speaker 2: In the commentary box last night and joins us now 4 00:00:15,507 --> 00:00:18,667 Speaker 2: on Weekend Sport, Jacob and A. You put a lot 5 00:00:18,667 --> 00:00:22,427 Speaker 2: of thought into your post match reviews and you've been 6 00:00:22,467 --> 00:00:26,227 Speaker 2: doing some deep thinking about this game last night. What 7 00:00:26,307 --> 00:00:28,627 Speaker 2: do you think gave Auckland FC the edge? 8 00:00:30,347 --> 00:00:33,347 Speaker 3: In short, the defense, the way they set up, the 9 00:00:33,947 --> 00:00:37,227 Speaker 3: architecture that Steve Kurako has put in place, the emphasis 10 00:00:37,227 --> 00:00:40,867 Speaker 3: of Danny hay and in the execution, especially from the 11 00:00:40,987 --> 00:00:44,547 Speaker 3: likes of Louis via Strata, the calm composed way that 12 00:00:44,667 --> 00:00:47,907 Speaker 3: he picked off Melbourne victory, and then also at times 13 00:00:47,907 --> 00:00:50,747 Speaker 3: set the press very confrontational through the middle of the park. 14 00:00:51,067 --> 00:00:53,907 Speaker 3: But if you got beyond Uvstrata, you then had to 15 00:00:53,947 --> 00:00:57,867 Speaker 3: overcome Nando Pinek and Dan Hall and then Hiroki Sucky 16 00:00:58,187 --> 00:01:01,027 Speaker 3: as well. And in one on one confrontations they buy 17 00:01:01,067 --> 00:01:03,547 Speaker 3: and Large came out on top. And the key thing 18 00:01:03,587 --> 00:01:06,307 Speaker 3: for me, Piney is if you look at it the game, 19 00:01:06,507 --> 00:01:09,707 Speaker 3: If you look at the game overall, the small moments, 20 00:01:09,707 --> 00:01:12,067 Speaker 3: the small ones, look at the fist pumps, look at 21 00:01:12,067 --> 00:01:16,667 Speaker 3: the little celebrations, the micro kind of moments where Auckland 22 00:01:16,747 --> 00:01:19,827 Speaker 3: knew they had put together a couple of small victories 23 00:01:19,827 --> 00:01:21,947 Speaker 3: and that not only gave them a little bit of 24 00:01:21,987 --> 00:01:25,747 Speaker 3: momentum internally, it also send a message to Victory that 25 00:01:25,867 --> 00:01:28,827 Speaker 3: they were in for the fight and that Auckland wanted 26 00:01:28,867 --> 00:01:31,547 Speaker 3: to ensure that they took an advantage back to go 27 00:01:31,667 --> 00:01:32,827 Speaker 3: media amounts mart just. 28 00:01:32,827 --> 00:01:35,187 Speaker 2: To build on that defense of resilience. This is a 29 00:01:35,227 --> 00:01:39,067 Speaker 2: Melbourne Victory team that is widely regarded as one of 30 00:01:39,107 --> 00:01:42,187 Speaker 2: the most dangerous and an attacking sense in the entire 31 00:01:42,227 --> 00:01:44,947 Speaker 2: A league. They've got any number of game breakers, both 32 00:01:45,347 --> 00:01:47,427 Speaker 2: in the starting eleven and off the bench. That is 33 00:01:47,507 --> 00:01:51,227 Speaker 2: three straight games now that Auckland FC have kept them 34 00:01:51,507 --> 00:01:55,547 Speaker 2: scoreless again. You know, we can only talk so much 35 00:01:55,587 --> 00:01:59,787 Speaker 2: about the defense, but how big a sign is that 36 00:02:00,387 --> 00:02:02,867 Speaker 2: of just what Auckland FC have built here in their 37 00:02:02,867 --> 00:02:03,467 Speaker 2: first season. 38 00:02:06,387 --> 00:02:10,387 Speaker 3: In seventeen minutes, they've kept out a combination of international 39 00:02:10,427 --> 00:02:15,387 Speaker 3: stars and soccerus Nichean Valoupola and Daniel Arzani. They toiled away, 40 00:02:15,387 --> 00:02:18,227 Speaker 3: but they really weren't given an inch at all. In 41 00:02:18,267 --> 00:02:22,627 Speaker 3: the postmatch interview, Azani cut a very frustrated figure. He 42 00:02:22,667 --> 00:02:25,427 Speaker 3: wanted to talk about penalties that weren't given fowls that 43 00:02:25,467 --> 00:02:28,427 Speaker 3: weren't given. He wasn't able to talk about any chances though, Piney, 44 00:02:28,507 --> 00:02:32,027 Speaker 3: And that's huge. Now I've got this scenario in my head, 45 00:02:32,067 --> 00:02:34,827 Speaker 3: so just bear with me. But if you've seen Sacario, 46 00:02:34,987 --> 00:02:38,107 Speaker 3: there's a song called the Beast. It's this ominous tune 47 00:02:38,147 --> 00:02:41,067 Speaker 3: that lets you know that a big moment's coming. And 48 00:02:41,507 --> 00:02:44,107 Speaker 3: I'm just playing that over and over in my head 49 00:02:44,147 --> 00:02:48,187 Speaker 3: and thinking about the Melbourne victory sides having to step 50 00:02:48,227 --> 00:02:52,667 Speaker 3: out onto the field again, coming up against the Beast, 51 00:02:53,307 --> 00:02:56,387 Speaker 3: coming up against the teeth of this Auckland FC defense, 52 00:02:56,707 --> 00:03:00,067 Speaker 3: and then looking up above that and seeing the port bouncing. 53 00:03:00,627 --> 00:03:03,187 Speaker 3: They have everything to play for, and I think at 54 00:03:03,187 --> 00:03:05,547 Speaker 3: the moment they're a bit of a wounded animal. So 55 00:03:05,667 --> 00:03:07,667 Speaker 3: it can go one of two ways I see from 56 00:03:07,667 --> 00:03:10,267 Speaker 3: Malbourn victory. Either They'll come out swinging and I'll land 57 00:03:10,307 --> 00:03:13,427 Speaker 3: a few blows in Auckland in the weekend, or the 58 00:03:13,467 --> 00:03:15,507 Speaker 3: wheels could come off and in which case we could 59 00:03:15,547 --> 00:03:19,507 Speaker 3: have a huge moment to celebrate in Auckland next weekend. 60 00:03:19,787 --> 00:03:22,547 Speaker 2: Auckland f C no that if they don't concede next 61 00:03:22,587 --> 00:03:25,947 Speaker 2: week they're into the Grand Final. Will there be any 62 00:03:26,067 --> 00:03:29,547 Speaker 2: temptation for Steve Coricker to depart from what has been 63 00:03:29,587 --> 00:03:33,067 Speaker 2: a pretty attack minded strategy for the most part, not 64 00:03:33,147 --> 00:03:35,507 Speaker 2: all out attack. But certainly you know they don't. They 65 00:03:35,507 --> 00:03:39,627 Speaker 2: don't sit any temptation for Steve Coricker to just sit 66 00:03:40,267 --> 00:03:41,147 Speaker 2: next Saturday night. 67 00:03:42,587 --> 00:03:44,867 Speaker 3: You have to ask him. But I would say if 68 00:03:44,867 --> 00:03:51,347 Speaker 3: you round it up zero percent, Piney, the blueprint for 69 00:03:51,467 --> 00:03:54,467 Speaker 3: Auckland has been very settled from the get go. There 70 00:03:54,827 --> 00:03:57,347 Speaker 3: we've seen some nuances, we've seen some wrinkles. Yes, they 71 00:03:57,347 --> 00:03:59,907 Speaker 3: convert to a bat five to see our games. The closer, 72 00:03:59,987 --> 00:04:04,867 Speaker 3: Tommy Smith comes on just to make things absolutely concrete. 73 00:04:05,707 --> 00:04:08,827 Speaker 3: But let's from that. This side has talked about success. 74 00:04:08,907 --> 00:04:11,467 Speaker 3: It's a mandate that's come down from Bill Foley. They've 75 00:04:11,467 --> 00:04:14,987 Speaker 3: got their first piece of silverware. They did so refining 76 00:04:15,307 --> 00:04:19,907 Speaker 3: this process, refining this attacking transition football throughout the course 77 00:04:19,947 --> 00:04:22,787 Speaker 3: of the season. Now, if you talk to them during 78 00:04:22,827 --> 00:04:24,787 Speaker 3: the week, if you had a chance to chat to 79 00:04:24,947 --> 00:04:28,067 Speaker 3: the players, what became very apparent was there was almost 80 00:04:28,147 --> 00:04:32,987 Speaker 3: a confrontational focus on the championship. They've got the Premier's 81 00:04:33,027 --> 00:04:35,347 Speaker 3: Play now that's been locked away. It was paraded around 82 00:04:35,387 --> 00:04:37,947 Speaker 3: for around about a week. We haven't seen it. That 83 00:04:38,107 --> 00:04:41,627 Speaker 3: says to me that this side is squarely intent on 84 00:04:41,787 --> 00:04:44,587 Speaker 3: going to the Grand Final and giving the best account 85 00:04:44,587 --> 00:04:47,907 Speaker 3: of themselves as they possibly can. Now this second leg, yes, 86 00:04:47,907 --> 00:04:50,387 Speaker 3: it has to be played, but in some ways it 87 00:04:50,467 --> 00:04:53,827 Speaker 3: is also preparation for the Grand Final. And I I 88 00:04:53,827 --> 00:04:58,507 Speaker 3: don't see Steve Corker straying anywhere away from what he 89 00:04:58,547 --> 00:05:01,467 Speaker 3: has done all throughout the course of the season. Let's remember, 90 00:05:01,547 --> 00:05:04,347 Speaker 3: as you put in a tweet this morning, consistency has 91 00:05:04,387 --> 00:05:06,147 Speaker 3: been key for the success of AUC. 92 00:05:07,627 --> 00:05:09,147 Speaker 2: Just to finish, I want to ask you about the 93 00:05:09,147 --> 00:05:11,467 Speaker 2: two players who combined for the goal last night, Francis 94 00:05:11,507 --> 00:05:15,107 Speaker 2: Devrees and Logan Rogerson. A year ago, Logan Rogerson was 95 00:05:15,107 --> 00:05:18,427 Speaker 2: playing his football in Armenia. I don't think most people 96 00:05:18,427 --> 00:05:20,347 Speaker 2: could even pick that out on a map. No one 97 00:05:20,347 --> 00:05:23,547 Speaker 2: would have heard of FC Noah, which is where Logan 98 00:05:23,667 --> 00:05:27,427 Speaker 2: Rogerson was playing. Francis Derees was looking for a professional 99 00:05:27,427 --> 00:05:30,507 Speaker 2: football club. Now in the white hot atmosphere of a 100 00:05:30,547 --> 00:05:34,107 Speaker 2: semi final, they cambine for an absolutely crucial goal and 101 00:05:34,627 --> 00:05:37,627 Speaker 2: Jake both kiwis. 102 00:05:38,707 --> 00:05:43,307 Speaker 3: This is the underlying value to Auckland FC coming into competition, 103 00:05:43,907 --> 00:05:47,907 Speaker 3: more opportunities for Kiwi players. We know that the player 104 00:05:47,907 --> 00:05:50,907 Speaker 3: poor has been maturing. You can look at their high end, 105 00:05:51,147 --> 00:05:53,307 Speaker 3: the lights of Marcus Dominic's and Tyler Benden going to 106 00:05:53,347 --> 00:05:56,467 Speaker 3: the Premier League being olden Lega. But there's also this 107 00:05:56,507 --> 00:05:59,947 Speaker 3: middle class of players that wants to have opportunities. They 108 00:06:00,027 --> 00:06:02,627 Speaker 3: want to play in their hometown and at times the 109 00:06:02,667 --> 00:06:05,267 Speaker 3: way into Phoenix simply haven't had the spots. But we've 110 00:06:05,267 --> 00:06:07,787 Speaker 3: seen opportunities given to Francis Defee, skipped up from the 111 00:06:07,867 --> 00:06:10,827 Speaker 3: National League. Logan Rogerson, as you said, wanted to have 112 00:06:10,867 --> 00:06:13,467 Speaker 3: a chance to play in a well resourced, well run club. 113 00:06:13,547 --> 00:06:16,787 Speaker 3: He's got the chance to do that and basically his hometown. 114 00:06:17,747 --> 00:06:19,947 Speaker 3: This is the thing that I think is so exciting 115 00:06:20,027 --> 00:06:24,547 Speaker 3: because yes, the Marquet players, the international stars will give 116 00:06:24,587 --> 00:06:27,787 Speaker 3: you that sugar, they'll grab the attention. The connection is 117 00:06:27,947 --> 00:06:32,187 Speaker 3: built through the hometown. Boy come good, and we've got 118 00:06:32,187 --> 00:06:35,347 Speaker 3: that in spades this season. Logan Rogerson arguably the most 119 00:06:35,427 --> 00:06:39,307 Speaker 3: consistent player across the competition. Eight goals now to assists. 120 00:06:39,667 --> 00:06:42,067 Speaker 3: Of course, it was going to beat him last night, 121 00:06:42,627 --> 00:06:45,867 Speaker 3: and the dividend that we will see from what these 122 00:06:45,907 --> 00:06:48,707 Speaker 3: two players are doing will be realized in ten to 123 00:06:48,707 --> 00:06:51,507 Speaker 3: fifteen is time when you're talking to an Auckland FC 124 00:06:51,627 --> 00:06:54,067 Speaker 3: player that pulls on the shirt and says, I was 125 00:06:54,107 --> 00:06:56,867 Speaker 3: inspired by what I saw from Francis to Freeze and 126 00:06:56,947 --> 00:06:59,347 Speaker 3: Logan Rogerson all the way back in year one. 127 00:06:59,947 --> 00:07:03,827 Speaker 2: Are you able to secure me a ticket for next weekend. 128 00:07:05,187 --> 00:07:08,147 Speaker 3: Partie? I haven't slept. I mean an eighteen months old 129 00:07:08,147 --> 00:07:10,507 Speaker 3: who gets up at four am. I returned home at two. 130 00:07:10,907 --> 00:07:14,227 Speaker 3: I wasn't out partying ladies and gentlemen. I got to 131 00:07:14,827 --> 00:07:16,667 Speaker 3: we got to the end of the broadcast at twelve thirty, 132 00:07:16,747 --> 00:07:19,267 Speaker 3: went into Tyler Street to have a drink with a 133 00:07:19,307 --> 00:07:22,027 Speaker 3: couple of the staff at Auckland FC. They put on 134 00:07:22,067 --> 00:07:24,507 Speaker 3: a fantastic event at Tucky Tide Square. It's got to 135 00:07:24,547 --> 00:07:28,467 Speaker 3: be said, two thousand plus people in their raucous atmosphere. 136 00:07:28,507 --> 00:07:32,147 Speaker 3: We saw the visuals last night. Had a chat to 137 00:07:32,507 --> 00:07:35,827 Speaker 3: Raf Turnbull and he said to me, there's only around 138 00:07:35,867 --> 00:07:37,747 Speaker 3: about five hundred tickets left, and that was at one 139 00:07:37,947 --> 00:07:41,267 Speaker 3: thirty in the morning this morning. I can't even imagine 140 00:07:41,587 --> 00:07:45,587 Speaker 3: the scarcity, that the absolute toil that you're going to 141 00:07:45,627 --> 00:07:46,787 Speaker 3: have to go through to get your hands on one 142 00:07:46,827 --> 00:07:50,427 Speaker 3: of these tickets. The most sought after ticket in town 143 00:07:50,507 --> 00:07:51,547 Speaker 3: this week all right, So. 144 00:07:51,547 --> 00:07:54,627 Speaker 2: In other words, you can't secure me your ticket for next. 145 00:07:54,507 --> 00:07:57,587 Speaker 3: Weekend's soft note, Jason, it's a soft note, right. 146 00:07:58,387 --> 00:08:00,907 Speaker 2: Always enjoyed chatting, Jacob, enjoy the rest of your weekend. 147 00:08:01,027 --> 00:08:03,547 Speaker 2: Rastop Big Saturday Night coming a week from now. 148 00:08:04,387 --> 00:08:06,707 Speaker 3: I cannot wait to be in a commentary box. Next 149 00:08:06,707 --> 00:08:08,227 Speaker 3: week is going to be huge. 150 00:08:08,347 --> 00:08:11,027 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's going to be big alright, thanks Jacob, Jacob Spoonley. 151 00:08:11,147 --> 00:08:13,627 Speaker 2: They're from the Sky Sport football team. 152 00:08:14,067 --> 00:08:17,227 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 153 00:08:17,347 --> 00:08:20,627 Speaker 1: to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow 154 00:08:20,667 --> 00:08:22,267 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio