3 minute read
Ante Milicic's Macarthur FC will be keen to make a fast start to life in the A-League when they take on a new-look Western Sydney Wanderers side first-up.
It will come three days later than planned but the prospect of a new A-League derby has the Western Sydney Wanderers chomping at the bit for their season opener against Macarthur FC.
The Wanderers were originally due to host the Bulls on the first day of the season on December 27 but had their game at Bankwest Stadium pushed back to Wednesday amid Sydney's coronavirus cluster.
New Wanderers signing Graham Dorrans wasn't fazed by the delay, instead relishing the prospect of kicking off his A-League career in a derby.
"It's exciting. It's a new game, it's new for everyone, new for the fans, new for the players," Dorrans said.
"So the boys are excited, it's a great first game to start for us and we'll be looking to set down a marker for the rest of the season.
"What a game to start with.
"It gets everyone going. The players love a derby, the fans love it and it's great for the club, it's great for the full city.
"So the boys are excited and it's a great opportunity for us to go into a big game like that and set the tone early doors."
Dorrans is among several new faces at Western Sydney as the Wanderers press for their first finals berth since 2016-17 under new coach Carl Robinson.
The Wanderers have recruited hard with experienced trio James Troisi, Bernie Ibini and Ziggy Gordon all signed from other A-League clubs in recent weeks.
Meanwhile Macarthur are aiming to join last year's newcomers Western United in winning their first ever A-League game.
The Bulls have pulled together a squad full of players with international experience, with Ante Milicic, in his first A-League head coach role, astutely drawing upon his connections from both club and country in his recruitment.
Captain Mark Milligan will marshal the defence, while goalkeeper Adam Federici, Spanish duo Benat Extebarria and Markel Susaeta, Frenchman Loic Puyo and English striker Matt Derbyshire add further class across all lines.
Now it's just a matter of how they click.
STATS THAT MATTER
* A large percentage of Macarthur's squad have never played in the A-League with 10 of their named squad for round one yet to debut
* Carl Robinson led Newcastle to six wins and three draws from 10 games after taking over and will hope to replicate a similar turnaround at Western Sydney
* Macarthur will be hoping to be the sixth A-League team to win their first ever fixture in the competition, joining Brisbane, Adelaide, Central Coast, Gold Coast and Western United