Do you prefer it straight up? Would you, would you prefer more re- like a couple of more reps, like, you know, playing some other teams that isn't such a big occasion? Or all right, first, first round? 'Cause there might be a little bit of rust from both, both squads.

I don't mind it.

I think we, we've had, um, a really good pre-season.

I think in, this is my fourth year at the club and, as far as pre-seasons go, this is definitely the best one that I've ever had personally, and I feel in the team that we've ever had.

And I think we- our preparation is been very good and we're all confident, so why not? I think it's good for, you know, not just us and for Sydney FC, for the league, you know? It's a derby round one.

It's the, it's the big one on the calendar for not even just our fans and their fans, but any neutral, they all wanna see the derby, so why not?

... do you try to make sure that like, not only the, the management obviously as well, but, um, with the playing group's a little bit down in the dumps, have, have you approached it in a different way this year? Did you, did you take it upon yourself to be more of a vocal leader or a lead, lead by action sort of?

I, I think a little bit.

Do you prefer it straight up? Would you, would you prefer more re- like a couple of more reps, like, you know, playing some other teams that isn't such a big occasion or all right, first, first round? 'Cause there might be a little bit of rust from both, both squads.

I don't mind it.

I think we've, we've had, um, a really good pre-season.

I think in, this is my fourth year at the club and, um, as far as pre-seasons go, this is definitely the best one that I've ever had personally, and I feel in the team that we've ever had.

And I think we- our preparation is been very good and we're all confident, so why not? I think it's good for, you know, not just us and for Sydney FC, for the league.

You know, it's a derby round one.

It's the, it's the big one on the calendar for not even just our fans and their fans, but any neutral.

... do you try to make sure that, like, not only the, the management obviously as well, but, um, with the playing group's a little bit down in the dumps, have, have you approached it in a different way this year? Did you, did you take it upon yourself to be more of a vocal leader or a lead, lead by action sort of?

How did things wrap up with the team? Did you, did you get together? Was there a review? And what's the thoughts sort of looking ahead into to the next A-League season?

Yeah, of course.

Yeah, we all got together.

We, um, sat down and just reviewed, um, you know, what, what went wrong in the year.

And, yeah, it was a disappointing year for everyone, um, involved with the club.

Um, no one was happy with the position we came and how the season turned out.

But yeah, I think, um, it's very important to put that aside now.

What did, what did you make of, uh, of the Socceroos, firstly as a, as a player, but then also as a, as a football fan in Australia?