Home

Juric eager for big finish to AL season

Ed JacksonAAP
Tomi Jurics says Adelaide aren't finished yet in the A-League finals after upsetting Brisbane.
Camera IconTomi Jurics says Adelaide aren't finished yet in the A-League finals after upsetting Brisbane. Credit: AAP

He's endured a frustrating return to the A-League with Adelaide but striker Tomi Juric is hopeful of a big finish.

The former Socceroos regular, who last featured for the national team in 2018, scored a first-half double as the Reds claimed a historic 2-1 win over Brisbane in Sunday's elimination final at Moreton Daily Stadium.

Those goals were Juric's first since a strike against Sydney FC on April 18.

In that time the 29-year-old has struggled for fitness in five matches, continuing a trend that has marred his first season back in the A-League after five years in Holland, Switzerland and Bulgaria.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

"I came off a long time not playing, out of quarantine, with four days of training in my legs and straight into high intensity games," Juric told AAP.

The Game AFL 2024

"It's been tough on the body and just trying to tick through and get through the sessions and games and that.

"Obviously the body hasn't agreed with me too well but I'm feeling quite okay now and hopefully I can continue this run now of games and stay in a good run of form.

"Finish this season on a high and that's definitely what we want to do as a team."

Sunday's victory over the Roar was the first time in Adelaide's history they've won an A-League final outside South Australia.

Juric says the backs-to-the-wall result, where the Reds held firm under intense pressure from the home team in the second-half, is something they can build on ahead of Saturday's semi-final against back-to-back defending A-League champions Sydney FC.

"We're going to take a lot of confidence from this game," he said.

"We defended brutally ... against Sydney it's going to an even harder game.

"They are a top quality side, that's something of a challenge for us - if not the hardest of the year for us.

"It's something that we're looking forward to ... I believe we have what we takes to break them down and to go through and play in that final."

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails