The Roar claimed their first league victory under Robbie Fowler in dramatic fashion in front of a near-capacity crowd at Redcliffe's Dolphin Stadium on Sunday.

Trailing 3-1 following Jamie Maclaren's hat-trick on his return from a hamstring injury, the Roar overran the previously unbeaten City to take out the three points.

O'Donovan also scored a treble, including the match-winning penalty which came after City substitute Denis Genreau was deemed to have handled the ball by referee Alex King after consultation with the VAR official.

It marks the first time in an A-League match a player from both teams has scored a hat-trick, but it is the comeback which O'Donovan says will be inspirational as the season goes on.

"That's huge. You think about it this way: if we're ever down in the dumps in a game at half time this season, what are we going to say? We've scored four before in a half against the top team in the league," the 34-year-old said.

"It's worth more to us than any one-nil, or a grinding result ... I know we conceded three goals, we can work on that.

"We've had games this year against the Wanderers and Victory that you're probably saying to yourself, we've left it behind us.

"Today's lovely but we learn lessons defensively. Take confidence from it and we kick on."

The Roar's win as well as Newcastle's 1-0 victory over Western United on Saturday mean Wellington are now the only winless team left in the A-League.

Brisbane travel across the Tasman to face the Phoenix next Saturday and O'Donovan was wary of their upcoming opponents.

"Wellington have nothing to lose against us. They're at home and they'll be saying to themselves they fancy their chances," he said.

"We've conceded three goals so it won't be an easy game for us by any stretch.

"We've got a little bit of confidence to take over there now and we just need to back up and kick on and all the cliches."

Australian Associated Press