Struggling to get comfortable and having a series of high-profile brain snaps after joining City in the January transfer window of the 2017/18 season, the Appalachian State University alumn was quickly written off by some fans and media.

However, perhaps unrecognised by those detractors still relying on first impressions, the 27-year-old has since gone on to become one of the best Australian defenders in the A-League.

Stepping up in the wake of Dutch defender Bart Schenkeveld's, Delbridge's lift in quality should now put him in contention for a Socceroos call-up.

A notable feature of Delbridge’s play – especially in 2019/20 – has been his ability to make driving runs through the heart of the opposition’s midfield to open up a new phase of possession, and shift play towards the opposition's goal.

Combined with his knack for winning balls in the air and his pace-driven ability to provide cover for teammates, such a capacity to run with the ball – and a willingness to use it – makes the Australian-born, American-raised defender one of the league’s best.

“I feel comfortable on the ball right now,” Delbridge told FTBL following his side’s 3-2 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.

“It’s obviously a style where we’re on the ball as centre backs more often, and every now and then I think, as a centre back, we can keep the ball all we want but, at the end of the day, we need to create as many chances as possible.

“If it gets a little stale and we pass the ball around – but then you open up gaps and when those gaps are there, sometimes you just need a bit of a spark in a game to light a bit of fire and take it on ourselves.

“I saw a bit of a gap a few times and went for it. Obviously, you have to pick and choose when you go, because when it goes wrong it’s all on you but I think a lot of time it can help spur momentum and help create opportunities.

“The biggest thing I’m looking for is if there’s not the movement that we’re used to seeing – we’re not in a pattern where I can play into our eight or our ten or our six – if I do see a gap then I’ll drive and then the picture changes.

“Then you can look for a diagonal if that’s on or if that’s not on, slipping Macca [Jamie Maclaren] through or something else, but it changes the picture sometimes.

“In our shape, teams set up defensively and try to cut up passing lanes so to be able to change the picture from a different angle and drive the ball you can open up different opportunities I think.

“[Head Coach Erick Mombaerts is] encouraging us to feel comfortable on the ball and trusting us to make the right decisions. I think our decision making has been good lately and he’s supportive of that.”