Australia finds itself amid a sporting crisis of conscience. Is the use of performance enhancing substances endemic to the oval ball codes? Is it institutionalised by players or clubs? The distinction is massive, as is the implication. And as the oval ball games are now firmly in damage control mode, it raises the obvious question in the rest of us – given that this was all but common knowledge to Joe Public, did AFL and NRL’s custodians really not know?

Let’s not kid ourselves, they are in damage control mode for two reasons. One is juniors - the lifeblood of any sport. If it is true that for little Johnny to reach the top of the AFL or NRL pyramid he needs to get on the juice in his teen years, it will place doubt in many parents’ minds that this is the sport and culture to which their child is to be entrusted. Cycling, anyone?

Of course, the other factor is money. Does a sponsor want its company and product identified with images of roided-up athletes who reached the top through the power of the needle?

The corollary for football is obvious. Does the game’s management play the nice guy or play hardball? Do we merely ensure that we have our own house in order or do we let the dogs out? Should we begin pumping out the message in the media, online and to the business community that football is the clean, wholesome sport in which our country’s parents and business leaders can have complete confidence while the oval ball games are replete with pill-popping, needle-injecting behemoths risking poor health and testicle shrinkage?

The oval ball codes have had their day. The days of opening bottles of Bollinger when we failed to qualify for World Cup finals, of questioning footballers’ masculinity and Australian identity, of denying media space, of frightening parents with beaten up stories of “soccer-related violence” and doing their utmost to derail our World Cup bid – all this was a wonderful story to sell to a public and a business community that knew no better. Things are somewhat different today but the glass ceiling still exists and time may be right to smash through it.

Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt. The FUD strategy has long been the domain of successful business practice in warding off competition and it may be wise for football’s custodians to get the gloves off and place the FUD firmly in the minds of parents and the business community. The oval ball codes have provided us with plenty of ammunition. Perhaps, in the traditional way of Australian sporting insularity, it is time to rake some muck.

As Sydney prepared to host Adelaide United, there was plenty of fear, uncertainty and doubt in the minds of the home supporters. Are we now the real deal or are top four sides still largely beyond us? Have we turned the corner or are we going around in circles? Was it right to show Jason Culina the door? And, biggest of all, what position would Rhyan Grant occupy this week?

There were plenty of questions surrounding Adelaide too. Were the wheels back on after defeating Victory? Could they function with Michael Valkanis out of audio reach? Would they continue their assault on the opposition legs and ankles? And would the referee let them?

The Sky Blues answered these emphatically. Yes, we are now the real deal. Yes, we can cope with a top four side, albeit an Adelaide that were not allowed to play like one. No, we are not missing Jason Culina one bit.

And Rhyan Grant once again excelled, starting wide on the left and doing a great job linking with Del Piero, Powell and Fabio. He has had a magnificent season and Ali Abbas may not find it easy to reclaim his spot against Heart.

The game was won in midfield, twin screeners McFlynn and Triantis completely shutting down Carrusca and Vidosic. The first half was not pretty but when a side playing two defensive midfielders meets the roughest team in the league, it is hardly going to be one for the purist. Having said that, both Sydney central midfielers kept the ball well, McFlynn’s distribution effective and Triantis ever the willing runner and chaser.

The spark in the second half was provided by a player few have understood or appreciated lately. Perhaps they do now. What they forgot about Paul Reid was that he came to the club from Thailand well short of match fitness and found it hard going the first few months. And what they don’t see and may not know is just how good Reid has looked at training in recent weeks, his booming voice audible all over the park and most good moves in 11 v 11 matches involving the Campbelltown-born creator.

The old class is still there. The man who won two Socceroo caps in 2009 after starring for, ironically, Adelaide United, showed he still has what it takes to dictate matches. Replacing the injured Triantis at halftime, Reid took the game by the scruff of the neck and made it his own. Gliding across field time and again, his distribution made all the difference as Sydney’s attackers finally had someone behind them unafraid to hold and release late, and to bring the ball forward those few extra yards before delivering a quality ball.

If rumours are correct and this is Terry McFlyyn's last season with the club, we could do a whole lot worse than retain the services of the experienced midfielder with the complete array of passes and a work ethic to match. A contract to Paul Reid would help bring greater stability and leadership to next year’s squad and I for one would love to see Reidy remain a Sky Blue another season.

Both Sydney goals had a touch of luck about them but the win was well deserved. Antonis’ goal and performance will give him extra confidence in coming weeks while Powell’s poacher’s finish was just reward for his toil. Sadly, he may find himself out of the squad next weekend as Joel Griffiths comes back in and should Frank Farina deem Joel Chianese or the fit-again Yaira Yau a better option off the bench. Such is professional football. But the young striker has done his career no harm at all.

I felt Del Piero had a quieter game than usual but still had a say in proceedings, keeping the visitors guessing time and again. Perhaps we have come to expect greatness and are becoming desensitised to the great man’s quality. Picking himself up off the deck time and again, the Italian seems to have accepted that being kicked and unprotected is part and parcel of playing for Sydney FC and is probably the better for it.

The backline functioned well  – Tiago and Griffiths had a field day and the two midfield screeners allowed Fabio to attack even more than he normally does, while Seb Ryall turned in yet another terrific performance.

Behind them, Janjetovic had little to do all afternoon but kept his concentration when it mattered. In contrast, Eugene Galekovic was United’s best player, his save off Del Piero down to his left absolutely world class. For mine, he is still the best keeper in the country, with Mariners’ Matt Ryan a close second.

So - six points from the two home matches, something not many believed was likely a fortnight ago. It has taken the Sky Blues this long to find their mojo, but there wouldn’t be a side now that doesn’t fear coming to Moore Park.

Two away games coming up, both tough and both winnable. We are finally in the top half of the table but it is still very tight and the boys will be aware of the need to maintain momentum. Six points on the road is a big ask but gaining them will effectively seal us a spot in the semi-finals.

The big guns will be available once again as Emerton, Abbas and Joel Griffiths come off suspensions. Does Farina rush them all back in? Abbas may struggle but the other two should be guaranteed starting berths.

Lucas Neill looked fit enough in Spain a fortnight back so should have enough in him to start, which is likely to put paid to Tiago’s first eleven aspirations. This means yet another centre back combination but hopefully one that lasts until the end of the season. Neill’s experience and organisation will be welcome and our defending and distribution should improve as a result.

How will Melbourne Heart respond? After losing in Newcastle in the most boring game of the season, they will be under pressure to perform. And how will the little club and its players react to the Socceroo skipper being snatched from under their noses?  

Heart are a dangerous proposition, with Babalj, Tadic and Garcia able to hurt us and Matt Thompson’s studs about to become reacquainted with Del Piero’s ankles. David Williams and Gol Gol Mehbratu offer pace and genuine quality so the defence is in for a busy shift.

Respect to all the Sydney players for turning the season around. John Kosmina was right in saying that Sydney’s turnaround would come through sheer hard work and the boys have embraced the challenge. Not all have handled the pressure well but most have shown a readiness to shed blood for the Sky Blues. We are once again a force to be reckoned with. And don’t the fans love it.