Super striker ... Daniel McBreen's form is remarkable. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
A Newcastle boy goes from Romania, England, Scotland, North Queensland, Perth and now to Gosford.
He gets to play in another grand final after winning the Golden Boot at an age when most footballers are ex-footballers.
Or at least grown up.
Danny McBreen is neither. And the easygoing, soon to be 36 year-old, doesn’t want to be.
Adam Peacock: Grand final. What are those two words for you?
Our grand final countdown is on!
Here's what you'll see...
Joining the hosts will be former Adelaide United coach John Kosmina, Perth Glory captain Jacob Burns and Herald Sun journalist David Davutovic.
1pm EST: Re-live one of Australian sport’s greatest grand finals – the 2011 championship between Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners.
2pm EST: Simon Hill and Mark Rudan take a look back at both team’s journeys to the decider on the Road to the Grand Final.
3pm EST: A bumper one-hour LIVE Grand Final preview show live from Allianz Stadium when Rudan is joined by Adam Peacock, Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater.
The hosts will deliver all the breaking news and team movements plus cross to both coaches to hear their thoughts ahead of their greatest test.
4pm EST: Hill and Harper take over the reins to call all the action for Fox Sports' live and exclusive coverage of Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners.
BRING IT ON!
Daniel McBreen: Yeah, it’s a cup-final feel about it. We’ve said it for the years I’ve been at the Mariners the Premiership is like what it’s like in Europe, and this is like a Cup at the end.
It’s on the day – you can ride your luck, or make your own luck.
Goals. Do you think to yourself why couldn’t I have had a season like this when I was 24 or are you just so happy that you’ve had a season like this?
It’s alright, I’ve still got 10 years left in me ... haha! Still got those big moves to go!
Nah, just take it as it comes, just enjoy it while I can and hopefully I will be playing in a few more years and say I’ve had three or four years like that. It’s just taken all these managers all these years to work out what my best position is – just play me as an out and out No.9. I told (coach Graham Arnold), it’s taken him three years to work that out, he’s not much of a coach is he...! (laughs)
And you’ve got the light training regime, you can bludge during the week...
Yeah just let me do whatever I want during the week and just rock up and bludge around in the box, it’s alright, should have been doing that for years.
Glad you came back no doubt, interesting how it worked out when you did though. Went to North Queensland, went to Perth and when in Perth you signed for the Mariners, but Glory wanted to keep you, correct?
Yeah Tony Sage asked me if I wanted to stay and I committed two years to the Mariners obviously. I enjoyed my time in Perth (7 games 5 goals) and that was the one time I played for the national team. Arnie met me at the airport, and I think Sagey had been saying something in the press, and Arnie said, even before saying hello, "you’re not going anywhere" so that sort of made my decision, not that there was a decision to be made really and haven’t regretted it because he’s been the best manager I’ve worked under.
You can always tell when it’s a good manager when the guys who aren’t getting a game still say good things about him, because they are usually the first ones who are pissed off.
But no-one has a dig, he’s a great tactician, great guy ... big on team morale and bonding, he likes us to get out and have a beer together. Really enjoyed my time.
To us, he comes across as a man as a total stress head, sitting on the sideline who can see him age every single game, but then you see training, you clowning around behind interviews – he’s got that balance right, he gives enough rein?
Yeah he does. When it’s time to do the business, it’s time. But around training he doesn’t mind, as long as you’re doing the job properly, you can take the piss out of each other, take the piss out of him. He likes a laugh, always trying to get us to wind each other up – he’s got a good balance of professionalism and to enjoy yourself.
From a personal point of view – your boy, toddler, Noah, he’ll be at the game on Sunday?
He might be. But, ahhh, my missus, she’s been banned from games this year.
Has she!?
Yeah I always joked around with her that she was a jinx, every time she went to a game I never scored. Some people might say that’s because I was a terrible finisher, but I blame her. Every time she didn’t come to a game, I would score a goal. Then for some reason she couldn’t come to the Sydney game and I scored a hat-trick. When I got home she just looked at me as said ‘I’m not allowed to come again, am I?’
So she sits at home, she’s never come to a game this season since, and I’ve scored 18 goals now. I said ‘do you want to come to the grand final?’ She said she can’t bear the responsibility so she’ll be at home!
But her mum and dad, my mum and stepdad will be coming, so they might bring Noah down...but if she (my wife) turned up and we didn’t win, she’d know every time I look at her that’s what I’d be thinking..haha!!!
Now it’s a year on since your father (former professional Jimmy) passed away, what do you reckon he’s saying where he’s been watching?
He’s up there gloating, I’m telling ya! ‘See I told ya, I told ya, that’s my boy down there!!’ He loved a story, he loved a yarn and loved to big me up so I’m sure he’s doing that somewhere with a big grin on his face still telling me to work on my right foot!
Occasions like this you’ve been involved in before, a Wembley Cup Final (2009 FA Trophy) and Scottish Cup Semi against Rangers you played in, the whole family gets involved don’t they?
Yeah even my dad’s side of the family in the UK have been texting me today and they’ve found out our game is on live over there so they’ll all be watching and they’ve said dad would be so proud and it’s great they’ll be able to follow it on the other side of the world – just a bit more pressure! Haha.
Despite the fact you think you’ve got a decade left, do you approach it that this could be the last big occasion or is that not even a factor?
I don’t think like that really. I know it’s a big game, grand final, but when it comes down to it, it’s just another game. We go out there a stick to our structure, we hopefully win the game. So this week is the same as any other week.
So we’ll see you in the pre match interview making a arse of yourself in the back of shot?
Yeah I’ll have to have a chat to the boys to see what else I can do, the planking and swimming didn’t go down to well!
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