Marco Rojas celebrates one of his two goals against Newcastle Jets. Source: Getty Images
ARCHIE Thompson revealed Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou's structure and discipline is the reason he and Marco Rojas have flourished this season.
Rojas has been the biggest benefactor of the Postecoglou regime, with Sunday's brace against Newcastle Jets taking his tally to 14 for the season - 14 more than his barren 2011-12 campaign.
Thompson has already reached last season's seven goals and exceeded his assist tally, setting up his fifth of the season and Rojas' opener on Sunday.
It's foolish to say Rojas struggles without Thompson, but Fox Sports' stats prove how much the Socceroo helps the Kiwi when he's on the park.
Thompson said Postecoglou has given him a new lease of life at 34 but Rojas is the one who's realty grown under the new boss.
"He's one player that's really flourished under Ange, who has installed so much confidence in him,'' Thompson said.
"You don't even have to know football to see what the kid's got, he's confident, scores goals, it's exciting.
"Ange has instilled discipline and structure which has been good for me and the reason we've improved so drastically.
"At A-League level I've usually had that freedom to be able to float around the park where in the Socceroos I've always played within a structure.
"I'm 34 and if anything I'm still learning and that's why I enjoy playing so much and becoming a better player.''
Thompson's influence is evident - Victory has won just one of six without him while it concedes 3.2 goals per game without Thompson (19 in six games) and just 1.1 when he plays.
But the Rojas and Thompson numbers are intriguing:
* They are responsible for 51 per cent of Victory's goals this season;
* They've directly combined for seven of Victory's goals this season, primarily with their training ground counter attack and cross move;
* The club record 6-0 loss in round 2 was the only time both players have missed the same game.
Thompson said opposition teams were applying more attention to Rojas in recent weeks.
"Obviously he's getting more attention now and it's well deserved because he's done really well this year,'' Thompson said.
"When the likes of myself and Marcos (Flores) don't play, the opposition will tend to focus on one of the other key players and Marco has been one of them.
"Coming in takes some pressure off him and that's my job also.''
Postecoglou said 21-year-old Rojas is a victim of his own sudden rise.
"I still think people judge Rojas far too harshly, Marco has been consistent all year against all opposition,'' Postecoglou said.
"He's scored 14 goals, he's got half a dozen assists, he's 21 and if you have a look at all the other scorers on the charts there's not many that age and he hasn't scored any penalties, others have. And he doesn't play as an out and out striker.
"People say he struggles without Archie, we as a team don't have as many attacking options.
"If he does nothing else this season, scorers all over the world would be happy with that.
"Marco needs to supply, he can't pick up the ball himself.''
Thompson, Gui Finkler and Flores were the three who supplied that and with Flores set to return this week, no one will be happier than Rojas.
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