Rhyan Grant

LESSON FOR THE NEXT GEN: Believe in yourself

Sydney FC 2008-

Socceroos debut: 2018

Grant is the original one club Socceroo. A Sky Blue stalwart, the kid from Canowindra came through the NWIS and AIS before joining Sydney – and he’s been there ever since. Although he’s primarily a rightback, he’s often been used as a utility player in almost every position on the field. Over the past decade, despite the occasional injury, he’s honed his skills to the point where his talent could no longer be overlooked. The arrival of his former Sydney coach Graham Arnold as Socceroos boss was the final piece of the jigsaw and he was drafted in for a Socceroos trial in the friendly against Lebanon. Arnold saw enough to draft him into the Asian Cup – and he nailed it. In the space of a few matches, his vision, touch and decision-making went to another level and he made that rightback slot his own, earning a new three year deal from his club in the process as they sought to tie him down to a long-term contract before overseas clubs could strike for free.


Aaron Mooy

LESSON FOR THE NEXT GEN: Find a place to shine

Western Sydney Wanderers 2012-2014
Melbourne City 2014-2016

Socceroos debut: 2012

While the Pasty Pirlo, as fans have nicknamed him, may not have started his career in the Hyundai A-League, he was definitely made there. Mooy was picked up as one of Tony Popovic’s band of so-called “discards and rejects” when he put together the inaugural WSW squad for the new club’s first season. Mooy had started off with Bolton Wanderers in the UK and then moved on to Scottish club St Mirren without making much impression. Alongside Shinji Ono though, he began to shine. Ongoing debate about his best position saw him move south to City and a shift further forward on the field let Mooy sparkle. He dominated the Hyundai A-League for two seasons, rattling home both goals and assists on a scale never seen before or since, earning him a move to Manchester City and an eventual record-breaking $10m move to Huddersfield Town, helping them get promoted to the Premier League on the way. He’s the first name on the team sheet for the Socceroos now too.

Trent Sainsbury

LESSON FOR THE NEXT GEN: Football’s a serious business

Central Coast Mariners 2010-14

Socceroos debut: 2014

Sainsbury was a Hyundai A-League standout in the Mariners backline alongside Alex Wilkinson and the pair looked naturals to transition that partnership into the Socceroos. He earned a national team call-up to the EAFF East Asian Cup in 2013 but was the only outfield player not to make it onto the field, after coach Holger Osieck was said to feel Sainsbury was just too laid back. A switch of coach to Ange Postecoglou quickly revealed Sainsbury to be a very serious player indeed though – and only injury forced him out of 2014 World Cup plans. Since then, he’s been the rock at the centre of the Australian defence at both the 2015 and 2019 Asian Cup campaigns and the 2018 World Cup. He’s tipped to be our next captain when Mark Milligan retires from international football.