Sydney FC defender Joel King says he cannot wait to step into another fiery Sydney Derby, admitting the noise, intensity and emotion of the fixture still hits him every time — even after playing in several already.
The left-back says the squad’s current form and confidence only adds to the anticipation as the Sky Blues prepare for a massive showdown at CommBank Stadium.
“Obviously really excited — always excited for a big game like the derby,” King said.
“The boys are in good form at the moment, so hopefully we can take this form into the game and get a win.”
Derby Atmosphere: “It’s Hard to Even Hear Each Other”
Having grown up through the Academy and now a club stalwart, King knows the derby better than most — and says the intensity never gets easier to block out.
“It’s actually quite difficult,” he admitted.
“It’s very loud and the atmosphere is great, so it’s hard to concentrate.
“But after the first whistle goes, you’re locked in and focused on the job at hand.”
Communication, he says, becomes a challenge in itself.
“That’s the main difference between the derby and other games,” he said.
“There are moments where you’re trying to communicate with a teammate 20 metres away and they can’t even hear you. You’re screaming.
“But that’s a great part of the game — it’s a great fixture of the A-League.”
Favourite Derby Memories
King has collected several iconic derby moments, both as a player and as a fan. A couple stand out more than the rest.
“When JK [Jaiden Kucharski] scored the winner — that was a great game, probably one of the best I’ve ever been involved in,” he said.
“And last year, when Cass [Anthony Caceres] scored the equaliser… that was pretty special too.”
Confidence High — But No Room for Comfort
The Sky Blues enter the derby unbeaten in four matches, but King says that doesn’t mean they can relax.
“Of course we’re confident — four games unbeaten, we have to have some confidence,” he said.
“But it’s a derby. They’re going to be up for it. They’re going to be a different beast.
“We’ll have to be up for it and a whole lot better than what we’ve been so far.”
Enjoying His Football and Growing Every Week
With regular minutes under his belt, King says he’s loving his football — and grateful to contribute to Sydney FC’s momentum.
“It’s good to be on the park getting regular minutes,” he said.
“Hopefully I can continue playing well and contributing to the team’s success.”
He also credits training battles with star winger Joe Lolley for keeping him sharp.
“He’s up there with the best players in the league,” King said.
“Training against him week in, week out is only good for me.
“To play with him on game day is special. He helps the team — and me — a lot.”
Defensive Confidence Driving the Whole Team
With multiple clean sheets in recent weeks, King says the improvement is collective.
“Not only the back four — the whole team contributes to our defensive success,” he said.
“The way we’re playing and the players we’ve brought in, we’ve got a lot of confidence in defence.
“And that helps us in attack too. We’ve scored a few goals on the counter — it’s an exciting brand of football we’re playing.”
A Message to the Fans — Though He Knows They Won’t Need One
King knows better than to hype the fans up — they always deliver.
“I don’t think I have to give too many messages to the fans,” he smiled.
“They’re always up for it. Ever since I’ve been a player, the derbies… the fans come out big and loud.
“I’m just excited to see them there at CommBank.”
Match Details
Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC
Isuzu UTE A-League 2025/26 Round 6
Saturday 29th November 2025
Commbank Stadium, Parramatta, NSW
Kick Off: 7:35pm AEDT
Gates Open: 6:00pm AEDT
Broadcast Live: 10Drama & Paramount+
Tickets: Click Here
