16 Jan WATCH | Five-star Victory rout hapless Roar

A Kosta Barbarouses hat-trick inspired Melbourne Victory to a crushing 5-0 win over Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium overnight.

Playing their fourth game in 11 days and without marquee man Keisuke Honda, the reigning champions sent an ominous warning to the rest of the league with a scintillating display of attacking football.

In-form striker Ola Toivonen opened the scoring in the 15th minute – his eighth of the campaign, before Barbarouses took centre stage, putting his former club to the sword by netting a stylish second-half treble.

Fellow New Zealander Storm Roux also got on the scoresheet as the Victory closed the gap on league leaders Perth Glory to just three points.

Kevin Muscat’s side host Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park on Sunday night.

Watch all five of Melbourne Victory’s goals in the links below:

On 🔥! Sit back and enjoy @KostaBarb7's hat-trick #MVFC #OurVictory pic.twitter.com/cKf7IcVI5A

— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) January 15, 2019

Nice header! @Storm_Roux with his second #MVFC goal #OurVictory pic.twitter.com/sNJiI9admr

— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) January 15, 2019

He's loving life in navy blue! @OlaToivonen20's eighth of the campaign #MVFC #OurVictory pic.twitter.com/2Exvxe9rgx

— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) January 15, 2019