Brisbane youth ready to Roar, says Gorry

Brisbane Roar's rapidly improving young squad will be a tougher team to beat this W-League season than the Premiers Plate-winning team of last season, according to star midfielder Katrina Gorry.

The Roar dominated the regular season during the 2017-18 campaign to finish in first place and claim the Premiers Plate.

Melissa Andretta's side lost only two games in 14 rounds and spent the final seven weeks of the competition in top spot.

However, Brisbane's season came to a heartbreaking end in week one of the finals as they were stunned by Melbourne City to put a premature end to their season.

While the early exit was a difficult way to end their season last year, returning midfielder Gorry believes it has helped steel the Brisbane squad as they set out to make amends this W-League campaign. 

Gorry, back for her seventh season with her hometown club, told The World Game she believes youth will be a difference maker for the Roar this time around.

"To come back and see how much our younger girls have progressed in the off-season is something that has really impressed me," Gorry said.

"Seeing how much work they have done since the end of last season just makes you want to work harder.

"It was very disappointing the way the season ended last year because we felt we were playing really good football.

"The fact we didn't get the chance to play for the Championship last year after such a good season just brings us closer together as a team and makes us stronger."

The Matildas midfielder has had a busy few months herself since the end of the last W-League season including national team duty and a successful season in the United States with NWSL side Utah Royals.

Gorry said her time in the NWSL has helped her game and she hopes to share a few of the lessons learnt with her Brisbane teammates.

"The mentality of the American players is very different to us. We try to play more possession-based football while over there they are a bit more athletic and strong on the ball," she said.

"As you travel the world playing you pick up different styles of play and are then able to bring them back to Australia and hopefully try and implement some of it here."

The Roar open up their W-League campaign on Sunday against Perth Glory and Gorry said confidence was high among the Brisbane squad.

"This season is hopefully going to be a big one for us," she said.

"We all want to win a Championship and a Premiership and have set ourselves little goals to help get us through the season in the best possible shape. 

"I think we have a really good team this year so everyone is very excited to get the season underway."