Big Blue: Sydney FC hatch plan to deal with international nightmare

With a host of stars set to be absent on international duty, Sydney FC have launched a bid to push back their key match against Melbourne Victory.

Rhyan Grant of Australia in action during the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers match between the Australian Socceroos and Nepal at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Thursday, October 10, 2019. (AAP Image/James Gourley) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

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Sydney FC are set to rush Socceroos Andrew Redmayne and Rhyan Grant straight from pitchside to airport in Jordan for a 14,000km dash to ensure they can face Melbourne Victory in what looms already as a key fixture in their title defence.

Under the plan — which has still to be given final approval by A-League bosses — the Big Blue scheduled for Saturday November 16 would be put back 24 hours to the Sunday at 6pm, avoiding one of the A-League’s showpiece fixtures having to be postponed to a midweek slot later in the season.

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Andrew Redmayne is likely to be on the bench for the Socceroos against Jordan. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

Assuming they are selected for Australia’s World Cup qualifier with Jordan on November 14, which kicks off at 6pm local time, Grant and Redmayne would go straight from the King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman to the city’s airport after the final whistle.

Catching a 2am flight would return them to Sydney on the Saturday morning, with the Sky Blues medical staff comfortable they could then play against Victory the following day at Jubilee Stadium.

Though Redmayne is almost certain to be on the bench for Australia, Grant is likely to play 90 minutes against Jordan before racing back to back up against Victory 72 hours later.

Rhyan Grant is likely to play 90 minutes against Jordan before racing back to back up against Victory. Picture: AAP Image/James Gourley

The Big Blue date switch is likely to be the first under the compromise written for this season in the absence of breaks for the international windows, with clubs affected significantly by national team call-ups able to seek to have games rescheduled.

Sydney expect to also lose Kosta Barbarouses with New Zealand and back-up goalkeeper Tom Heward-Belle to Olyroos duty, while up to four players could be with the Joeys at the Under-17 World Cup in Brazil.

Sydney, Victory and A-League officials have been in discussion for the past fortnight about a potential postponement, with initial plans for a Boxing Day clash vetoed as that would have involved Victory’s players travelling on Christmas Day.