As Sydney FC prepares to host Melbourne City at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 5pm, goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares is brimming with confidence. He believes this current squad is the most talented he has ever played with, declaring, "It’s the most talented group I’ve ever been a part of, no doubt. When we hit our potential, it’s a beautiful thing to watch." This high praise comes from a player whose journey has taken him from the United States to Romania and back to Australia, providing him with a broad perspective on footballing cultures and team dynamics.
Devenish-Meares insists that nothing compares to the quality of players surrounding him now. "When you’ve got players in the team who can decide a game in a moment, it gives you real confidence," he noted. "Even if the flow of the game isn’t going your way, you know you’ve got guys who can step up." Sydney FC has demonstrated its game-breaking ability throughout the season, scoring at least three goals per game in all but one of their last 11 home matches.
Despite their attacking prowess, the Sky Blues have been focusing on consistency, particularly in defense. "I think we’re also starting to shore things up at the back, which gives the attacking guys more confidence to play freely," Devenish-Meares added. "But it’s a collective effort. We can’t be scoring four or five and conceding the same—that’s just not good enough. So I take a lot of responsibility at the back to make sure I’m doing my part to get results for the team."
At 28 years old, Devenish-Meares is embracing his role as Sydney FC’s No. 1 goalkeeper, despite feeling like a rookie in the league. "I’m 28, but I’m still a rookie in the league," he admitted. "This is my first time playing in a first division. It’s something I prepared for, for a long, long time, and it’s something I always planned to do." With the club chasing silverware in both the A-League and the Asian Champions League 2, he is ready to embrace the pressure that comes with high expectations.
"The expectation here is Championships; that’s why I love playing here, that’s why I love this football club. We have to make finals, that’s just non-negotiable for me. And obviously the Asian Champions League 2—we’re hunting for silverware there too," he stated. Currently, Sydney FC is just three points outside the top six and four points behind Melbourne City, making this clash crucial for their playoff ambitions.
On the other side, Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar is preparing his team to face a determined Sydney FC. He acknowledges the challenge posed by Sydney's star-studded squad, which includes some of the league's top talents like Brazilian forward Douglas Costa, Polish striker Patryk Klimala, English winger Joe Lolley, and Socceroos midfielder Anthony Caceres. "We know we’re up for a very, very tough game," Vidmar said. "They’re a good side. We know they’re very good with the ball. The great attacking weapons are highlighted with the boys (Costa, Klimala, and Lolley) up front."
Melbourne City is equally motivated to secure a win, especially with Marco Tilio, a former Sydney winger and Socceroo, looking to prove himself after being overlooked by national team coach Tony Popovic in recent matches. Vidmar emphasizes that his team will not be intimidated and plans to take the fight to Sydney. "We’ve got to be positive as well," he said. "We’re not going to sit back and let them dictate. We got to try to play our own game, and we do that regardless if we’re home or away."
Meanwhile, Sydney FC has been using the recent international break to bond off the field. Coach Ufuk Talay organized a squad outing to Luna Park, where the players participated in Squid Game: The Experience, a fun activity based on the popular Netflix series. "Just the players went. We wanted the players to enjoy it and have some time together outside of football," Talay shared. "I thought it was a great idea." However, the lighthearted moments are now behind them as they focus on the critical matches ahead.
Talay recognizes the importance of the upcoming games, stating, "We’ve got very big games coming up to put ourselves into a good spot, hopefully leading into finals football. It’s very important that we beat the teams that are currently above us so we can move up the ladder." With five of their remaining six regular-season matches against teams currently higher in the standings, the pressure is on Sydney FC to perform. They will face Melbourne City twice, along with matches against Adelaide United, Auckland FC, Western United, and Newcastle Jets.
As the countdown to kick-off begins, both teams are aware of the stakes involved. For Sydney FC, a victory over Melbourne City could be the turning point they need to solidify their position in the playoff race. Devenish-Meares and his teammates are ready to make a definitive statement on their home turf. With both teams eager to secure points, fans can expect an electrifying encounter at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
