Brisbane coach Warren Moon wants more defensive resilience from his A-League Men outfit this year and says the team has the personnel and mindset to achieve his wish.
The Roar host Macarthur FC in the opening round of the season on Saturday at Suncorp Stadium and Moon was clear about the key to improving their 11th placing last year.
"We want to play an attacking brand of football, create chances ... and be something people want to come and watch but we need to look at what we did last year and stop the leaky goals," he said.
"There was a frailty to us last year in terms of set pieces and in general play.
"We've looked to add some steel and fix that, so we want to be a side that's hard to beat."
The Roar conceded 39 goals in 26 games last season. That was the seventh-best defensive record of the 12 teams, so by no means the worst, but Moon wants the Roar to play finals this year and tighten up at the back.
He said captain and defensive lynchpin Tom Aldred would be a key after he missed four months at the start of last season with a knee injury suffered in the final pre-season match against Adelaide United.
"Not having Tom was a factor in some games. You want him on the pitch and he's our leader so you want him to organise and make us hard to beat," Moon said.
"(Former Olyroos captain) Connor Chapman was brought in late last year with a view to what we're doing this year.
"Jordan Courtney-Perkins is back on loan from Poland and we have people like (Riku) Danzaki who was one of our best defenders two years ago with the way he harassed players.
"We've got a lot more steel, a lot more grit to us."
Australian under 23s defender Courtney-Perkins has re-joined the Roar on loan from Rakow Czestochowa, while Danzaki is back for a second stint and on loan from J1 League side Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
"This year we go into the season with huge experience at the back and that provides a huge foundation to keep clean sheets and hopefully win football matches," Aldred said.
"For me personally last year was frustrating. I did the full pre-season and ... fell at the final hurdle. Now I am here and excited to show what I am about.
"I am looking forward to a strong season and helping lead the team and bring success back to Brisbane Roar. We owe it to the fans, ourselves and our families because last year wasn't good enough."
