D-Day for Sydney Derby
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THE OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME FOR THE NRMA INSURANCE WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS FC FOURTEENTH EDITION | SEASON 2012/13 SATURDAY, 23 MARCH 2013 | ROUND 26 VS SYDNEY FC SOUVENIR SYDNEY DERBY BUMPER EDITION D-DAY FOR SYDNEY DERBY TYSON: ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES Supporting HARMONY THROUGH FOOTBALL THANKS TO OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS OFFICIAL WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS FC PARTNERS MARQUEE SHOWDOWN: ONO VS DEL PIERO WHAT A START FOR THE CLUB: FROM THE SQUAD CONTENTS CONTENTS NO SHORTAGE OF 03 MOTIVATION IN SYDNEY DERBY Points to prove for both sides despite different positions on the ladder. KEEPING POSITIVE 05 Jerrad Tyson commits to 05 the Wanderers for another season on and off the pitch. Players TO Watch 06 Ono vs Del Piero - All eyes on the international superstars now playing in the A-League. TYSON TALKS 09 08 Always a willing contributor - let's hear from Tyson. ROCK MAN 09 Rocky Visconte brings a wealth of experience from his time at Brisbane Roar. 10 WHAT A SEASON 03 11 The players attempt to sum up an amazing adventure Today’S Match HAIL, HAIL THE with the Wanderers. 16 Derby number three. Who 25 WANDERERS will have bragging rights? Check out what other FOOTBALL TEAMS sportsmen think of 13 rally FOR Bryson SINCE YOU WERE the Wanderers. A chance to be part of a 18 LAST HERE gripping community event. Another two wins puts the VOLUNTEER THANK Wanderers in good stead. 26 YOU ON A ROLL A barbecue with Channel 14 Here are six moments from HARMONY THROUGH 7 News - thanks to the our ten match winning streak. 21 FOOTBALL volunteers for all their We've embraced the initiative hard work this season. in our own Wanderers way. MEET OUR WE ARE FOOTBALL 28 VOLUNTEERS 22 Our foreigners feeling at Read more about some of Advertising ENQUIRIES home in Western Sydney. those people who dedicate For all advertising enquiries their time to the club. please contact Corey Mouttou on SPOT THE DIFFERENCE 02 8602 6417, 0404 042 328, email 24 Can you pick the five WESTERN SYDNEY [email protected] or differences in the photo 30 WANDERERS FC Kelly Russell on 02 8602 6413, Partners 0431 404 521, email of Shinji Ono? [email protected] Thanking our 2012/13 partners. PHOTOGRAPHY FIND-A-WORD Front cover photograph courtesy of 24 Can you find the Harmony CAPTION THIS PHOTO Getty Images. All photography courtesy of Day themed words 31 The best entry wins a Getty Images and Eric Berry. in today's puzzle? Wanderers merchandise pack. 02 WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS FC VS SYDNEY FC NO SHORTAGE OF MOTIVATION IN SYDNEY DERBY THERE COULD NOT BE MORE at staKE FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL instalment NO shortage OF THE SYDNEY DERBY FOR SEASON 2012/13. OF Motivation It seems inconceivable that this rivalry is less than a season old; such is the depth of the feeling between IN SYDNEY the two clubs on all levels. The geographical divide of Sydney, the vast difference in club culture and the opposing approach to just about DERBY everything will ensure Sydney football observers will be either red and black or light blue and nothing in between. Instead of spending its formative years in the shadow of its older sibling, the Wanderers club has already upstaged Sydney FC in performance in its first year and is showing a growth trajectory that threatens to match its overall size in a very short time. Tonight’s clash is a tale of two clubs and will have a significant bearing on their respective seasons, but for one more than the other. Sydney FC is in a dogfight for a spot in the top six and anything less than a point would be a major blow to its chances, considering its -8 goal difference. Sydney will be hungry, desperate and keen to cut its cross city rival down to size, especially considering the 2-0 loss in the second derby in front of its own fans. And the Sky Blues have some dangerous players capable of scoring important and individual goals in striker Joel Griffiths and the one and only Alessandro Del Piero. In many respects they will fancy their chances as they meet the Wanderers at their most vulnerable state all season without the suspended dynamo Youssouf Hersi, injured fullback Jerome Polenz (quad) and injury clouds over midfielders Shinji Ono and Aaron Mooy. They are expected to throw caution to the wind and they would know that they will need to score to have any chance, such has been their wobbly defence this season. The Wanderers is a side on a ten- match winning streak and boasts a seemingly interchangeable bench that seamlessly compliments the structure, skill and hunger of the starting 11 whenever needed. If the Wanderers need extra motivation Courtesy of Getty Images Continued on page 4 WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS FC VS SYDNEY FC 03 NO SHORTAGE OF MOTIVATION IN SYDNEY DERBY Courtesy of Getty Images Continued from page 3 to an end eventually. raising its bar even higher. If Sydney FC doesn’t win or take The thousands of red and black faithful - and they probably don’t - then the something from this match then their will be in full voice and they will have a prospect of raising the Premier’s Plate after season is more than likely over. big say in the matter. The supporters alone crushing their fiercest rivals in front of a Momentum and a winning habit are worth triple the price of admission sell-out crowd would certainly provide it. are important things in football and another gear for a tired player. Guaranteed inclusion in the and the Wanderers have both in They have faith in their club and AFC Asian Champions League spades. But coach Tony Popovic says they know the depth of the pride and will accompany the feat. that momentum is not enough. respect that already exists in Wanderland The astonishing prospect of such a He knows the team must constantly and total motivation is a given, with glorious moment so early in a club’s strive for improvement and keep or without the prizes on offer. history will make headlines around the world and underline the most amazing sporting story - and one of the few positive ones – in the country. Even the most level-headed staff member and player know the derby is a special occasion and do not try and pretend this is just another match. It isn’t. The simple fact is that on paper it means more to Sydney FC than the Wanderers. If they are unsuccessful tonight the Wanderers will still in all likelihood win the Premier’s plate, qualify for the ACL and they will certainly have a home semi-final. Every winning run comes Courtesy of Getty Images OFFICIAL HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE partners KEEPING POSITIVE Courtesy of Eric Berry KEEPING POSITIVE JERRAD TYSON HAS “Everybody within this group has an has helped me stay alert with my NOT played A MINUTE equal right to the success and everyone work in training,” he said. OF HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE puts as much effort as the next person “I’ve met a lot of people and all the FOOTBALL THIS SEASON in their own way so the club benefits.” support I’ve been getting has helped me BUT THE NRMA INSURANCE Tyson admits it took some adjusting keep motivated so when the chance does WESTERN SYDNEY from his position between the sticks come up to play then I’ll be ready to go.” WANDERERS GOALKEEPER at Gold Coast to sitting back on Western Sydney football fans IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST the bench for Western Sydney. exceed Tyson’s expectations – players at THE CLUB. For someone who hasn’t been able calling the Wanderers’ supporters to literally be part of the triumphs on the most passionate of any sport The Tasmanian-born custodian is an the pitch, Tyson sees the positives of code in Australia by far. obvious asset – having signed with the shadowing his superior in Ante Covic. “They live and breathe this squad for another season last week. “I get to watch how one of the club which is fantastic for “Since coming here I have noticed that best goalkeepers in the country something so new,” he said. there was still so much more to develop, does his thing,” he said. “It’s been really inspiring for and still so much more to learn as a “The way he trains and the way he me to get out and meet the people professional and a person,” Tyson said. looks after himself – they’re all little who put in so much effort. “That’s been one of the real pieces to show why he is where he is at. “Anything I can do to help positives about coming here. “I’ve tried to learn as much as I them I’m happy to do because “I’ve been able to take my game to can off him and hopefully one day they do a lot to assist us. another level and really learnt the true I can be a goalkeeper like he is and “I think they’ve been a direct value of being a professional footballer.” have the career he has had.” result of points we’ve been able The journey from now defunct The keeper has found himself to get so far this season.” Gold Coast United to Western engaging with the club off the pitch Despite the goalkeeper role often Sydney has proved to be incredibly on several levels as a way to keep being a lone figure on the football rewarding for the 23-year-old.