April 19, 2025 • 8 mins
Auckland FC are trying to keep what's likely to be a milestone achievement from becoming a distraction as they return home from their latest A-League football triumph.
The Black Knights have a six point buffer at the top of the standings after a 2-nil away win over Melbourne Victory.
A win over Perth Glory next Sunday at Mount Smart would secure Auckland FC the Premiers Plate for the top finishing side in the regular season.
Director of Football Terry McFlynn joined Piney to discuss.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks EDB one hand.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
If you like on the Premier's plate after last night,
to wait to get the middle am I arriving now?
It's over his head? Pear his defrees for Struta.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
It's Kriptain Louis for Struta for Auckland. Had Steve Coricer's
team have hit the front in that bit potentially to
win the premiership as early as tonight.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
So it's just explained they didn't win it last night
with Melbourne City closing to within a point. They went
seven points cleare Auckland. Melbourne City drew last night, so
six points. I've just explained how that all works. But
it means that Auckland FC could win the Premier's Plate
at home against Perth Glory a week today. They actually
(01:00):
might even win it before they play that game because
Melbourne City play Adelaide the night before. If they don't
win that game Melbourne City, then Auckland have the Premier's Plate.
I'd quite like to see it come down to that
that Perth game, because Auckland FC could win the Premier's
Plate at home in front of what's likely to be
a very very big crowd. Auckland's FC's director of football
(01:22):
is Terry mcflynn, who joins us from Melbourne just before
the team flies home. Terry, thanks for your time mate.
First of all, last night a two yeerl win over
Melbourne Victory. What did you make of the of the
performance at Amy Park in general terms?
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Yeah, look, I thought it was a very professional performance
and I think it was a real Oakland FC dn
air performance where we just kept going and kept going
and grind down the opposition. I think in the first
half we knew we knew it was going to be difficult.
Obviously melbourn Victory are fighting to maintain their position in
the six as well, so he knew it wasn't going
to be an easy game and there's no easy games
in this league. But I think we weathered the storm.
(01:57):
Early on. I thought Alex Pulson was absolutely fantastic again
and then the second half, as I said, it was
a real typical Auckland FC performance where we dominated with
him the ball, growing on opposition until we finally got
the breakthrough and got to deserve it too.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
The win their phrase you used there the Aukland ft
C D and A. I heard Steve Corriker and say
the same thing after the game last night, just that
that desperation on defense, that that never say die editude,
just the the I guess the desire terry to deny
Melbourne victory a very good attacking side, anything really in
the way of too many concrete opportunities.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Yeah, we knew obviously the coaches and the analysis team
had done a fantastic job and analyzing Melbourne victory and
how they how they'd like to hurt their opposition. We
knew their front four was very very attack mind that
very creative in attacks, and we knew we had to
shut them down. I thought Massache in the middle of
park was was fantastic for them yesterday. He's a fantastic
footballer to watch. But I thought our boys started the
(02:56):
game plan and did a fantastic job in in nullifying
as Ani for Loopal a very Goosi for only when
he came on as well. So I think they only
really had one real clear cut at the goal, and
again Alex stood up to the challenge on that one.
So yeah, it was a real resolute defensive performance. You know,
we said that right from the outset that defences will
win your championships, and we've been fantastic all season. So
(03:18):
I think we looked at the stats yesterday, We've picked
up twenty five points at home, twenty five points away
from home. We've lost one game at home, lost one
game away, so we've been consistent right across the whole season.
So we're looking forward to getting back in front of
a full hosted Go Media stadium on Sunday and getting
the job done there as well.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Just on the Paulson save, it comes late in the game,
you won the lap, It's an absolutely magnificent save from
Alex Paulson, save of the season contender. Then you go
down the other end shortly afterwards and make it to nil.
So how big a moment was Alex Paulson's save at
that time in the game.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
That was massive. It was absolutely massive, And you know,
I think that's when you look right across the whole group.
And we spoke to a voice during the week about
big players stand up in big moments, and there was
a few moments Chester to do with Australia. I thought
was back to his best yesterday. I thought Alex was fantastic.
Thought Dan Hall was excellent again, So yeah, we just
kept going. We knew that if we pressed high we
(04:15):
get opportunities, and like you said, that second goal come
from a high press. Louis wont high up. He had
the composer to get inside the box, beat a defender
square for Kishim went to wrap it up at two
nils so instead at the start, Jason, I think it
was a really professional performance from the boys. We knew
we had to come down here get the job done
and that's what we did.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So after you had won, you needed Western Sydney to
beat Melbourne City last night if you were gonna win.
The Premiers played last night with the couple of games
to spare that would turn it up early, got Pig
back to two too, then scored what looked to be
the winner lights on that was chalked off by v Ai.
How are the emotions? Did you all watch that game together?
Speaker 4 (04:49):
We did this obviously. It started shortly after ours Phoenix
as the boys were we're doing a bit of recovery
in the change room, my spats and massize and things,
so we actually saw the first two goals in the
change rooms before we left the Emmy Park. We got back
to the hotel just before halftime. Obviously, Melbourne said he
made a two just before halftime and we all had
dinner together in the team room and we watched the
(05:10):
game and then it went to two two, and obviously
as the clock was taken down Western so you got
the as you said, they got the free kick right
of to death and yeah, let's just say there's a
there's a lot of celebrating for about two and a
half minutes until the vah I chopped it off. So yeah, look,
it's what we knew that to win the premierships and everything,
we'd come down to ourselves and if we if we
kept destiny in our own hands, which we have done,
(05:32):
then we'll be fine. So for us, it would have
been nice obviously to be gone back flying into Auckland
today as the premiers into Auckland. But I think it'll
be a special moment if we can get the job
done at home in front of our friends, family and
the port on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, I think that that's the that's the silver lining here.
As you say, you've obviously preferred to win it as
soon as you can, but you'll get the chance in
front of your home fans next Sunday. They have been magnificent,
haven't they, And it would would be quite special, wouldn't it.
Almost fist thing if you were to lift that first
piece of silverware in front of in front of the
fans that go media.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Yeah, it looked it would be absolutely amazing. You know,
right from the very first pre season friendly we had
in I think it was the end of July start
of August at Auckland United when they turned up there
and no one really knew anything about the football club
or who we were or what we were doing. And
I think we've all gone on this journey together and
you know, as you said that, they've been absolutely fantastic,
both at home and away. You know, the support we
(06:26):
had in Sydney last week was amazing. Having that number
of people travel from Oakland across to support the boys
meant a lot to them. And again yesterday, you know,
we had a few hundred there at the game yesterday
and the boys celebrated with them after the game. So yeah, look,
I think it will be a special moment, but again
we need to remain focused. We need to make sure
that the boys will cover well this week. A bit
(06:48):
of a longer turnaround. We've got eight day turnaround before
we play Sunday, so we'll fly back into Auckland today,
not tomorrow, of train Tuesday, Wednesday, of Thursday off train
Friday Saturday, and then get ready for the game Sunday.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Thirteen games on dating at Terry had the number of
drawls in the last little while become in any way
frustrating for you or for Steve the players.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Not really. I think the obviously you want to win
every game, but I think every team we knew every
team goes through a little bit of dip in form
throughout the season, whether that be through injury, suspension, or
just purely based on form or travel. The good thing
for our season is that our dip in form ended
with draws, you not defeat. So I said, we've only
lost two games all season, one at home one away,
(07:34):
so our dip in form coinocated with a lot of
the draws. So I think, as long as you maintain
picking up points, as we said at the minute, we're
sitting on fifty points. We've always said two points a game,
we're winning the competition. So we're on track to maintain
that level of consistency.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yeap close enough to touch, Travel safe, Terry. Thanks for
your chet today, Mate'll see you next Sunday. Thanks, take
care you take care too, Matt. That it's Terry mcfluinn,
director of football with Auckland FC. Close enough to touch. Indeed,
just one point from their remaining two games will ensure it,
and they may not even need that.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks EDB one hand.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
If you like on the Premier's plate after last night,
to wait to get the middle am I arriving now?
It's over his head? Pear his defrees for Struta.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
It's Kriptain Louis for Struta for Auckland. Had Steve Coricer's
team have hit the front in that bit potentially to
win the premiership as early as tonight.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
So it's just explained they didn't win it last night
with Melbourne City closing to within a point. They went
seven points cleare Auckland. Melbourne City drew last night, so
six points. I've just explained how that all works. But
it means that Auckland FC could win the Premier's Plate
at home against Perth Glory a week today. They actually
(01:00):
might even win it before they play that game because
Melbourne City play Adelaide the night before. If they don't
win that game Melbourne City, then Auckland have the Premier's Plate.
I'd quite like to see it come down to that
that Perth game, because Auckland FC could win the Premier's
Plate at home in front of what's likely to be
a very very big crowd. Auckland's FC's director of football
(01:22):
is Terry mcflynn, who joins us from Melbourne just before
the team flies home. Terry, thanks for your time mate.
First of all, last night a two yeerl win over
Melbourne Victory. What did you make of the of the
performance at Amy Park in general terms?
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Yeah, look, I thought it was a very professional performance
and I think it was a real Oakland FC dn
air performance where we just kept going and kept going
and grind down the opposition. I think in the first
half we knew we knew it was going to be difficult.
Obviously melbourn Victory are fighting to maintain their position in
the six as well, so he knew it wasn't going
to be an easy game and there's no easy games
in this league. But I think we weathered the storm.
(01:57):
Early on. I thought Alex Pulson was absolutely fantastic again
and then the second half, as I said, it was
a real typical Auckland FC performance where we dominated with
him the ball, growing on opposition until we finally got
the breakthrough and got to deserve it too.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
The win their phrase you used there the Aukland ft
C D and A. I heard Steve Corriker and say
the same thing after the game last night, just that
that desperation on defense, that that never say die editude,
just the the I guess the desire terry to deny
Melbourne victory a very good attacking side, anything really in
the way of too many concrete opportunities.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Yeah, we knew obviously the coaches and the analysis team
had done a fantastic job and analyzing Melbourne victory and
how they how they'd like to hurt their opposition. We
knew their front four was very very attack mind that
very creative in attacks, and we knew we had to
shut them down. I thought Massache in the middle of
park was was fantastic for them yesterday. He's a fantastic
footballer to watch. But I thought our boys started the
(02:56):
game plan and did a fantastic job in in nullifying
as Ani for Loopal a very Goosi for only when
he came on as well. So I think they only
really had one real clear cut at the goal, and
again Alex stood up to the challenge on that one.
So yeah, it was a real resolute defensive performance. You know,
we said that right from the outset that defences will
win your championships, and we've been fantastic all season. So
(03:18):
I think we looked at the stats yesterday, We've picked
up twenty five points at home, twenty five points away
from home. We've lost one game at home, lost one
game away, so we've been consistent right across the whole season.
So we're looking forward to getting back in front of
a full hosted Go Media stadium on Sunday and getting
the job done there as well.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Just on the Paulson save, it comes late in the game,
you won the lap, It's an absolutely magnificent save from
Alex Paulson, save of the season contender. Then you go
down the other end shortly afterwards and make it to nil.
So how big a moment was Alex Paulson's save at
that time in the game.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
That was massive. It was absolutely massive, And you know,
I think that's when you look right across the whole group.
And we spoke to a voice during the week about
big players stand up in big moments, and there was
a few moments Chester to do with Australia. I thought
was back to his best yesterday. I thought Alex was fantastic.
Thought Dan Hall was excellent again, So yeah, we just
kept going. We knew that if we pressed high we
(04:15):
get opportunities, and like you said, that second goal come
from a high press. Louis wont high up. He had
the composer to get inside the box, beat a defender
square for Kishim went to wrap it up at two
nils so instead at the start, Jason, I think it
was a really professional performance from the boys. We knew
we had to come down here get the job done
and that's what we did.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So after you had won, you needed Western Sydney to
beat Melbourne City last night if you were gonna win.
The Premiers played last night with the couple of games
to spare that would turn it up early, got Pig
back to two too, then scored what looked to be
the winner lights on that was chalked off by v Ai.
How are the emotions? Did you all watch that game together?
Speaker 4 (04:49):
We did this obviously. It started shortly after ours Phoenix
as the boys were we're doing a bit of recovery
in the change room, my spats and massize and things,
so we actually saw the first two goals in the
change rooms before we left the Emmy Park. We got back
to the hotel just before halftime. Obviously, Melbourne said he
made a two just before halftime and we all had
dinner together in the team room and we watched the
(05:10):
game and then it went to two two, and obviously
as the clock was taken down Western so you got
the as you said, they got the free kick right
of to death and yeah, let's just say there's a
there's a lot of celebrating for about two and a
half minutes until the vah I chopped it off. So yeah, look,
it's what we knew that to win the premierships and everything,
we'd come down to ourselves and if we if we
kept destiny in our own hands, which we have done,
(05:32):
then we'll be fine. So for us, it would have
been nice obviously to be gone back flying into Auckland
today as the premiers into Auckland. But I think it'll
be a special moment if we can get the job
done at home in front of our friends, family and
the port on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, I think that that's the that's the silver lining here.
As you say, you've obviously preferred to win it as
soon as you can, but you'll get the chance in
front of your home fans next Sunday. They have been magnificent,
haven't they, And it would would be quite special, wouldn't it.
Almost fist thing if you were to lift that first
piece of silverware in front of in front of the
fans that go media.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Yeah, it looked it would be absolutely amazing. You know,
right from the very first pre season friendly we had
in I think it was the end of July start
of August at Auckland United when they turned up there
and no one really knew anything about the football club
or who we were or what we were doing. And
I think we've all gone on this journey together and
you know, as you said that, they've been absolutely fantastic,
both at home and away. You know, the support we
(06:26):
had in Sydney last week was amazing. Having that number
of people travel from Oakland across to support the boys
meant a lot to them. And again yesterday, you know,
we had a few hundred there at the game yesterday
and the boys celebrated with them after the game. So yeah, look,
I think it will be a special moment, but again
we need to remain focused. We need to make sure
that the boys will cover well this week. A bit
(06:48):
of a longer turnaround. We've got eight day turnaround before
we play Sunday, so we'll fly back into Auckland today,
not tomorrow, of train Tuesday, Wednesday, of Thursday off train
Friday Saturday, and then get ready for the game Sunday.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Thirteen games on dating at Terry had the number of
drawls in the last little while become in any way
frustrating for you or for Steve the players.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Not really. I think the obviously you want to win
every game, but I think every team we knew every
team goes through a little bit of dip in form
throughout the season, whether that be through injury, suspension, or
just purely based on form or travel. The good thing
for our season is that our dip in form ended
with draws, you not defeat. So I said, we've only
lost two games all season, one at home one away,
(07:34):
so our dip in form coinocated with a lot of
the draws. So I think, as long as you maintain
picking up points, as we said at the minute, we're
sitting on fifty points. We've always said two points a game,
we're winning the competition. So we're on track to maintain
that level of consistency.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yeap close enough to touch, Travel safe, Terry. Thanks for
your chet today, Mate'll see you next Sunday. Thanks, take
care you take care too, Matt. That it's Terry mcfluinn,
director of football with Auckland FC. Close enough to touch. Indeed,
just one point from their remaining two games will ensure it,
and they may not even need that.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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