From the first public appearance, it was obvious that Popovic had considered his messages, knew how to lead both in public and private, and had the strength of character to ensure he avoided the politics that develop at many clubs. This allowed him to work consistently, ensured he had a clear idea of the players necessary to express his vision and that his methodology was ready. Popovic, in fact, pushed the league forward by posing the next problem necessary for the development of other teams and coaches. To understand, we need to look at the anthropological history of the modern A-League …

In the late Miocene epoch, man came together in a series of hunting groups, called teams, attacking opposing tribes at random, relying on the stronger and more skilled specimens to make the decisive kills and feed the tribe. Some tribes would even trade these valuable individuals, paying great and unprecedented sums to satisfy the wishes of the tribe.

Later, as the Pliocene epoch dawned, a tribe from a far northern region known as Brisbane developed greater strategic and physical adaptations and were able to maintain their attacks for longer periods. This was a problem that had not been confronted before by the early hominids, which fell in great numbers and were nearly wiped out.

Some survived and even prospered, such as a group from the Central Coast, who fought fiercely and with strong, defensive organisation. These two early tribes waged a great battle, from which the Brisbanites were fortunate indeed to escape alive. During this period, most teams threw great numbers into attack with little thought and found they could not get far without great losses. Indeed, they could hardly get into the battle as the Brisbanites seemed to overwhelm them very close to home before they were prepared.

Many team leaders fell on their swords as younger candidates came through, with different solutions to this vexing problem. Some tried to fight fire with fire, also seeking to overwhelm and dominate the battle near to the opposing cave; others setting strong defensive walls and seeking to endure the onslaught and wait for an opening to strike.