Round Nine Report

Tensions are high. Between the FAs of Australia and Uruguay, between John Kosmina and Miron Bleiberg, between Damian Mori and Mark Shield, and just about everywhere else in between. It's that mid-season and pre-qualifying feeling, where careers and ever-lasting reputations at stake and when so many elements are in limbo. It seems that just about everyone is making a statement and sharing an opinion about our lovely game, from tactical configurations and player selections right down to the word 'football' itself. The times are looming remarkably large for Australian football; clearly these are precious moments. If we can capture this mood and sustain it every week, as we one day hope to, the lives of footballers and football fans in Australia will be very much improved.

The voices and hearts of the naysayers will only grow stronger as we close in on the lofty heights of World Cup qualification and the smaller successes at home. At this important juncture in our history, it's important we remain focused on our long-term goals for the game. There is still plenty of room for the A-League to expand and improve its status, but likewise things could sour.

This entire season is one long knife's edge.

While Uruguay offers us a merry distraction and the topsy-turvy antics of our favoured clubs bring us jubilation and despair from one week to the next, we must remember to nourish and sustain all these sensational thoughts and feelings, even while they jolt us awake in the middle of the night. I like to imagine that the entire spectrum of football that is in our collective blood and minds is like a vast stretch of sandy beach, disturbed by the ebb and flow of the tide. We need to pick up a handful of the fine golden sand and keep it in our pockets, taking it with us on our journeys, having it on our side.

Such were my thoughts when confronted the other day by grounds keepers at a local park, while attempting to have a kick of the old round ball. "You can't play here, it's not soccer season," was the jist of the antagonist's argument. "Clearly you haven't heard of the A-League," I retorted, smiling to myself and picturing that long sunny beach...

Best of Round Nine:

Player: Matt Horsley (pictured) - making the most of a rare start to provide the spark for a nostalgic Glory outing

U-20 Player: Jacob Timpano - a gutsy and at times silky performance from the national youth captain

Coach: Steve McMahon - overcoming the bizarre situation with Mori's ring finger and limiting Thompson's opportunities by closing down Melbourne's flanks, while cramming the midfield

Match: Queensland Roar vs Adelaide United

Referee: Ben Williams

Goal: Fernando Rech - sweetly timing a run into the box and stooping low to power a header from Kemp's angled cross into the lower-left corner, leaving Higgins rooted to his line

4-4-2 Team of the Week:

Shengqing Qu - Sasho Petrovski
Nick Ward - Simon Colosimo - Andre Gumprecht - David Carney
Mateo Corbo - Jacob Timpano - Ned Zelic - Matt Horsley
Clint Bolton

Subs: Remo Buess, Lucas Pantelis, Daniel Allsopp, Daniel Beltrame