3 points on Brisbane 3-1 Victory

First off, Happy New Year to you all - hopefully your holiday hangovers are a distant and fuzzy memory. 

Brisbane returned back to winning form, halting a worrying run of five matches without a win, by easily disposing of a disorientated Victory. Mehmet Durakovic has his fair share of detractors, but this was easily his worst tactical performance against a title contending team yet. By contrast, Ange Postecoglou was masterful in the dug-out, completing bamboozling his counterpart, by tailoring his system to exploit key weaknesses. 

Heart 3-2 Victory: Match Analysis

This edition of the Melbourne Derby was a thrilling contest, fought between two clubs with contrasting approaches. Heart were able to emerge victorious, largely due to the shrewdness of Dutch manager John van't Schip. Having seen his initial theoretically sound tactical plan fail to contain the sparkling Victory trident of Hernandez, Kewell and Thompson, the former Ajax winger changed Heart's formation, and from then were in the ascendant. This match superbly illustrated the superiority of a collective 'system' over reliance on individual 'star power' in building a team. 

8 points on Sydney 2-0 Brisbane

It's almost like the sky is falling. After a record-setting unbeaten streak, the reigning champions tasted defeat for the first time in 3,240+ minutes of football, bending the knee to none other than...Sydney FC? How in blazes did Lavicka manage that? With clever use of pressing, a dawn sacrifice to the weather gods and more than a dollop of good fortune. 

6 points on Adelaide 0-4 Central Coast

Here are 6 tactical points on the Mariners ruthless four-goal shellacking of a hapless Adelaide. 

Before the start of the season, the Reds were tipped by many, including PM, to mount a serious title tilt, despite the departures of a host of key players. Coolen supervised a complete rebuild of the playing squad, presumably at great expense. Among his prized recruits were Vidosic, McKain, Levchenko and Slory. And although none of the new arrivals have particularly distinguished themselves, perhaps the most disappointing performance has been produced by the manager himself, who has consistently committed severe tactical mistakes. 

Central Coast 3-1 Heart: Match Analysis

A genuinely exhilarating tactical encounter was decided, undeservedly perhaps, by a foul on a keeper resulting in a stunning overhead kick and a mis-judged handball. Melbourne and the Central Coast have shaped up this season as genuine title contenders; the Red and Whites and the Mariners will be tussling for the silver and bronze medals come the business end of the season. John van't Schip and Graham Arnold renewed their reputations as among the finest tacticians in Australia.