Brisbane Roar: Big game hunters

Brisbane heading to yet another grand final | Credit: Joseph Mayers Photography

The Brisbane Roar are set to contest their fifth grand final in six W-League seasons and shoot for their third Championship.

It is a remarkable record but unsurprising for a state that has dominated women's football since the days of  Sue Monteith and the first Australian national team in 1979.

The Queensland Academy of Sport and Queensland Sting were dominant in the old Women's National Soccer League, winning four championships and one second place.

In six short seasons, Brisbane Roar have already collected two championships and premierships with a third well and truly in their sights.

As befitting their moniker, Brisbane are big game hunters.

"Regardless of what kind of season we have, or how we are playing, we come into the big games with our game face on," said defender Kim Carroll.

"We like big games, play for the big games and I am glad we do."

Brisbane entered Saturday's semi final with indifferent form. While they continued to win and pick up points throughout the season, they admit they have not been playing to their full potential.

However, having a solid squad for the past three seasons, good coaching, structure and a winning culture counts for plenty.

"It don't think we controlled the game," admitted match winning goalscorer Elise Kellond-Knight.

"But we put in a solid performance and did what we set out to do."

What they did was constrict the free flowing and attacking Canberra United who had scored 17 goals in a five game winning streak.

Carroll and her defensive cohorts time and again broke up United's attacks with her central defensive partner Laura Alleway playing particularly well.

Carroll was equally effective and also found herself scoring in regular time for the first time since 10 December 2010.

"I didn't really get a good connection but it went in," laughed Carroll of the goal that gave Brisbane a flying start.

"We have probably struggled a bit with our set plays this year and I was in the right spot at the right time."

With wet conditions made scoring difficult, Kellond-Knight was just pleased that her low and skidding effort found the back of the net.

"To be honest I haven't really been scoring in training," she said.

"I have been really frustrated; been hitting crossbars, side posts, everything. What went through my mind was hitting it and luckily it went in."

The Brisbane Roar now turn their attention to another grand final.  A place they are quietly pleased to be at again considering they missed out on the showpiece match last season for the first time.

After sewing up a finals place relatively early in the regular season, preparations for the finals series began several weeks ago.

"We have been preparing for the last three weeks," said vice captain Kellond-Knight.

"We knew we had been guaranteed a semi final position so the last few games we just spent on building up game momentum and confidence."

"They meet a Melbourne Victory side that they have never tasted defeat against.

Brisbane have the more experienced squad with 13 of their players having previously lined up in a W-League grand final and seven players having Asian Cup or World Cup experience.  However, considering how tight their last contest was, Brisbane will not be taking them lightly.

Both sides have been present on the final day of the season at least once before but only one has come home with the big prize.

And that might just count for everything come Sunday.