A-League Sydney derby to reclaim its place in the sporting landscape
The A-League’s Sydney derby is back in a big way and it’s not just the move to a sold-out Bankwest Stadium that has the fixture back on the must-watch list.
Western Sydney Wanderers
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The new A-League season has received a massive shot in the arm with a sold-out Sydney derby at Bankwest Stadium ready to reignite the rivalry. Here’s why
1. The derby is local again
… at least on the Wanderers’ side. Of the starting XI against Melbourne Victory last Friday night, six grew up in the city’s western suburbs.
Three of them came through the club’s academy, and the other three have all “come home” after playing elsewhere.
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Compare that with Sydney FC’s team that beat Wellington on Sunday, of whom just one — Alex Wilkinson — hails from Sydney. That regional identity is arguably more important out west than for the Sky Blues, and gives the sense of a club getting back to its roots.
2. Competitive edge
For the first time ever (bar the derby that opened 2016-17), the contest comes with the teams neck and neck — albeit after two rounds. Observers of football in this city have dreamt of a year when both teams mount a title challenge, or at least fight in the same weight division. Only one extra goal scored separates the teams coming first and second, and a win will carry more than just bragging rights.
3. … thanks to the Wanderers’ best ever start
It seems incredible but in their eighth season, two wins from two represents Western Sydney’s most potent opening to any campaign. In neither game have they played particularly flowing football, but the fans have loved the commitment levels from this remodelled squad. A number of key players missed the bulk of pre-season and are effectively trying to get fit, including Mat Jurman, Alex Meier, Daniel Georgieski and Mitch Duke. If they can get up to speed and keep winning in the process, no wonder there’s a quiet confidence at the club.
4. The Bankwest effect
You have to stand at the foot of its steepling stands to understand the new stadium’s appeal. Redolent of the best European stadiums, Bankwest should fairly crackle on Saturday night with a full house. The RBB were in good voice in round 1 against the Mariners, but hopefully will be there in greater numbers to take on The Cove in a battle of the chants.
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5. Supply and demand
Last season offered too much of a good thing — between three A-League games, two at ANZ Stadium and one at the SCG, and an FFA Cup semi-final, there were more than 220,000 tickets to the derby available, after years of limited capacity.
That figure drops to less than 80,000 this season, with two derbies at Bankwest and one at Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah. Yet again, it’s a powerful argument for the A-League playing in boutique stadiums where atmosphere is an easy and natural by-product of any sort of decent crowd.