Western United needed a spark.
After an incredible team goal from Carlo Armiento, the reigning champions found themselves 1-0 behind at half-time against Brisbane Roar.
Western looked a yard slower and struggling to get a foot-hold on the game, in comparison to their opponents who looked fresher and more dynamic throughout the opening 45 on Friday night.
All the signs of coming off a four-day turnaround (in comparison to Brisbane’s seven) – where they had played largely with 10 men in their gutsy 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory – came to the fore and something had to change at the break at AAMI Park.
And with many of Western’s experienced starters playing close to, or the full 90 on Monday evening, it was down to their substitutes to provide the spark.
Enter Western’s young brigade.
John Aloisi turned to his bench in the second-half, bringing on Nicolas Milanovic, Dylan Pierias, Rhys Bozinovski and Noah Botic – who all helped swing the pendulum back in their favour after Western emerged from the dressing rooms in Melbourne.
The quartet provided the sorely lacking energy in attack and in midfield, as they started turning the screws and putting the pressure on Brisbane’s miserly defence.
While it wasn’t their best performance of the campaign by any stretch, Western were able to salvage a 1-1 draw thanks to an Aleksandar Prijovic diving header which ensured Western’s unbeaten run stretched to three straight games going into the new year.
Milanovic, however, told KEEPUP after the game that he felt overall, it was one of their “worst performances” as a team this season, but believes they were better after the break.
“I think it’s a good point to get considering how we performed, so it’s actually a positive that we got a point, because we could have easily lost that game,” Milanovic said.
On myself, I thought just come on and try change the game. That’s the only thought I had when I came on.
“So hopefully I did that a little bit. I thought we were okay second-half, still can be better , but we were definitely better in the second half.”
Aloisi also acknowledged how difficult of a contest it was going to be, considering the short turnaround and humid conditions and that it wasn’t their “best performance” – but felt as if things began to turn after half-time.
“We knew it was going to be hard, especially the first half, backing up five days later, it’s the first time we’ve done it the season,” Aloisi said.
“The conditions were hotter than normal and also we played against a Victory side with ten men for 60 odd minutes so we felt that we were going to be, and I didn’t say it to the players, but I could see that they weren’t going to be at their best in the first half.
But once you start to make changes, they give energy and you can get energy from those changes.
“There was always the intention of bringing those younger, fresher legs on that could make a real impact when they came on and they did that.
“Even for the goal, I know Noah Botic doesn’t get on the end of it but he’s in a position to attract the defender, frees up space for Aleks and in the end it was a good goal.”
Energy was something Western United got in their bucketloads, as a bi-product of the changes after half-time.
Milanovic and Pierias added unpredictability, speed and creativity respectively on the wings, while Bozinovski got things ticking over in the middle and Botic caused all sorts of headaches in the final third – coming close to equalising before Prijovic found the net.
And it might be this crop of kids, who were all either substitutes or in the stands on Grand Final day in May, that could very well build on their green shoots and take the next step in their respective developments as footballers in 2023 – should they continue to get an opportunity in the senior side.
But when the youngsters perform, the questions continue to circle back as to why they aren’t starting more often, with Milanovic and Bozinovski the only two of the four to start a game this season in the Isuzu UTE A-League (twice each), while Pierias and Botic have only made appearances off the bench in the league.
As a result, much of the external attention focuses on their ageing starting XI – particularly when the positive results weren’t coming at the start of the season.
Aloisi, however, knows that the kids waiting in the wings are, in fact, alright and he believes that their time will come as the “process” continues to play out.
“It’s great (to see them perform) and it’s a credit to them, but it also it takes time,” Aloisi said.
There’s a process in place. I know that a lot of people say why don’t you play the younger players? We have to also help the younger players. They have to first of all keep on improving and learning the game, have to be ready. You don’t want to put too much pressure on the younger players when they’re ready they’ll get their minutes.
“And you know Nic Milanovic especially has featured in all 10 games and I brought him on at half-time in about three of them I think and then started him in a few.
“He’s getting his minutes because he deserves it and he’s doing well. Is there a lot more improving to do? Yes, he knows that and so we’ll keep working with him and then when he does get his minutes and takes the opportunities he will get more.”
Milanovic has been one of the youngsters to really take his opportunity at United and make the proverbial ‘leap’ this season – after biding his time and waiting in the wings for a more sustained opportunity in the last few seasons.
“It’s been a good start to the season for me,” Milanovic said.
“That’s a lot of thanks to John (Aloisi) and Foxey (Hayden Foxe) at training. I’ve improved so much over the last two, three years and that’s credit to them as well because they’ve helped me tactically, physically, mentally.
Now the goals and the minutes, and the performances, that’s just the reward of that hard work.
In 10 appearances this season, Milanovic has scored three goals (equal-most at the club with Prijovic), with many of those coming as an impact substitute.
But it hasn’t just been the goals that have caught the eye, with his dynamism and creative flair also impressing in his minutes throughout the campaign.
However, it’s the goals that breeds the confidence.
“It gives me heaps of confidence (scoring goals),” Milanovic said.
Obviously, because when you get one goal, two goals and I’ve been lucky to get three, you just think every time you touch it, it’s going to go in so that’s all I think. First thought is, where can I score?
“It improves your confidence, when you have your goal tally up a little bit.”
