Sydney FC v Wanderers: Rhyan Grant’s good, bad and ugly in Sydney derby

Sydney FC’s Rhyan Grant still remembers the first Sydney derby ever played but it is the last one he will be using as motivation this weekend in the infamous A-League clash.

Mitchell Duke and Rhyan Grant go head-to-head in a local derby.

He’s experienced both the highs and lows in the A-League’s infamous Sydney derby but Socceroos and Sydney FC stalwart Rhyan Grant still rates it as his most “loved’’ game of the season.

In some games Grant has had a ripper - and the result has gone his way. Others against cross city rivals, the Western Sydney Wanderers, have ended in pain - and an extended sojourn on the sidelines.

But all have been tough, gritty and among the hardest contests he has ever been involved in - including the first.

The Sydney derby was born in the 2012/2013 A-League, watched by more than 19,000 and won by Sydney FC.

Keanu Baccus and Rhyan Grant last year.

Daniel Wilmering up against Rhyan Grant in 2019.

The famous Italian marquee Alessandro De Piero scored the only goal of a much anticipated match in which a then 21-year-old Grant played.

“I have a terrible football memory but I remember we had gone into that match under the pump and there was a lot of hype and we were well and truly up for it,’’ Grant said.

“We got the cookie and that was great.

“Then a couple of years later I tore my ACL in the derby. That wasn’t great.

“A year later I came on for a teammate who did his knee. It was only my second game back so that was great again.

“But one of the standouts, though, was that 4-0 win in 2016/2017 in round one.’’

Jaushua Sotirio of the Phoenix is challenged by Rhyan Grant earlier this month.

Uppermost in Grant’s mind going into Saturday’s clash, however, is Sydney FC’s inability to get on top of the Wanderers last season.

“Last year we didn’t have the best record against them. It’s something we have put down this year as super important,’’ he said.

“It still does sting. We take it very personally. They are our biggest rivals and we love beating them. It still hurts when your don’t.

“We had a great year, a very successful year taking the title, but we still remember not beating them.’’

Rhyan Grant poses with the A-League Trophy after scoring the winner for Sydney FC.

Grant, who grew up in Canowindra and Bathurst and now lives at Bondi, expects the match to get fiery but not “out of control’’.

“There is always hype around it. It does get fiery. For us its very entertaining and my most loved fixture,’’ he said

“It doesn’t get out of hand but there always a bit of niggle, a few words, scuffles. It’s always entertaining. There’s always a lot of passion fighting for your team.

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