3 minute read
Melbourne Victory veteran Leigh Broxham says the club's dramatic A-League Men's form reversal can be linked solely to Tony Popovic's influence.
Melbourne Victory veteran Leigh Broxham has hailed the transformation masterminded by Tony Popovic at the A-League Men's club as they return to the competition's upper reaches.
After two dismal seasons for the previously-mighty Victory, Popovic's arrival ahead of the 2021-22 season has had a big and gathering impact.
Under the former Socceroo, Victory won the FFA Cup in February and have since gone on a club-record 12 game unbeaten run including a 4-1 thumping of Macarthur FC last Friday.
Victory will be back in action on Monday for an Anzac Day clash with Brisbane at Moreton Daily Stadium, the club's seventh of eight matches in an April that has already yielded 16 of 18 points.
Having endured the club's fall from grace, Broxham has only praise for Popovic and the way he has restored Victory's fortunes.
"All the changes that we've had have come from him and the players that he's brought in, the ones that he knows and known quantities," Broxham told AAP.
"He's changed a lot of things in the background as well that needed doing to get to where we are at the moment.
"It certainly started from the board wanting someone like Tony here and he's driven everything from his end and he's got complete buy-in from everyone at the club.
"It's taking shine at the moment but we're still a little way to go."
Victory's all-time appearance record holder with 431 games in all competitions since his debut in an Oceania Champions League qualifier in 2005, Broxham has gone on to win four ALM grand finals and three premierships with the club.
A win over the second-last Roar would lift Victory up to second on the ladder on goal difference over Western United and within two points of leaders Melbourne City.
While their rivals hold the upper hand, 34-year-old Broxham says he and his teammates will be doing all they can to mark Popovic's first season in charge with a premiers plate.
"You don't really speak it out loud, right, but it's in the back of your mind," he said.
"We've played all the games we can against them (Western and City) so we're 100 per cent focusing on the games that we can play because if we don't get maximum points out of them it's not possible.
"But, yeah, you're watching and hoping that they can drop some points so you can achieve something that everyone sets out to the start of the year."
Despite coming off at halftime in the win over Macarthur, defender Matthew Spiranovic is a chance to feature against the Roar as is Jason Davidson who missed the Bulls' trip with illness.
Brisbane meanwhile are expected to pick a similar squad to that which lost 2-1 to Macarthur on April 15.
