Luke Brattan has nothing but praise for his side after they pushed the Premiers all the way but fell inches short in the end.
Despite being light on bodies and being without at least three regular starters, they came to Gosford with a game plan and forced the hosts to sit back and really looked like the only team likely to score.
Upon reflection of the night, the captain couldn’t be prouder of his side.
“I thought we were great tonight. The mentality was great. The energy was great. The football was good so it is a tough one to take.
“It comes back to last week where we weren’t good enough and that clearly killed us. It’s tough to take,” Brattan said.
The 90 minutes in the second leg was marred with contentious calls and Brattan calls for consistency across all matches.
“It’s tough to take.
“If it was one decision you’d be like OK sure, but we are talking three clear decisions and that is what the VAR is there for, to correct mistakes on the pitch.
“I saw the Victory handball [on Arzani] and all we ask for as players is consistency and we haven’t gotten that all season and it is the same for every team.
“It’s a clear handball, I think it’s a clear penalty on Jordy [Courtney-Perkins] in the first half and Fabio’s not interfered with anyone at all, so it is a very tough one to take but I am very proud of the boys,” he said.
The skipper also revealed that he has been playing through injury after he hobbled off against Macarthur.
Late in the Elimination Final, Brattan was withdrawn after a challenge with Jake Hollman and the number 26 revealed that he had indeed broken his foot.
“Yeah my ankle is no good. It happened in the Macarthur game.
“I’ve got a couple of fractures in there and a few floating bones so I had a jab before the game last week and another one at half time as I re-did it during the first half.
“Just a couple of needles and it is good. It is what it is mate,” Brattan added.
Finally, he eluded to the fact he is off contract at the end of the season and where he sees his future lying.
“I am off contract but I am a Sydney FC player.
“I love the club and this group of boys and I’ll reflect now and speak to my partner and do what’s best for me and my family.
“But I have loved every minute here and if I can stay, I would like to stay,” Brattan concluded.
