They may have 551 career appearances between them but Saturday’s sold-out Sydney Derby is set to be the first time ever that Ryan and Dylan McGowan go head-to-head.
The Adelaide-born siblings each agreed to return to Australia in the 2019/20 off-season, signing for clubs on opposite sides of the Sydney Derby divide.
Feature image courtesy of Fox Sports Australia
Dylan had ran out 100 times in the Hyundai A-League for Gold Coast United and Adelaide United before penning a deal with Western Sydney Wanderers, while Ryan made his domestic debut in Round 1 this season, having joined Sydney FC following a 12-year career in Europe and Asia.
The pair played alongside each other during a spell at Hearts in Scotland in 2010 and now the day has finally arrived that Ryan, 30, goes up against his little brother Dylan, 28.
While their friends and family work on sewing together their half-and-half, Sky Blue-Red and Black jerseys, let’s look at some of the family feuds that have graced the Hyundai A-League in years gone by.
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Brother v Brother
The first confrontation between siblings was way back in Round 2 of the inaugural Hyundai A-League season, 2005/06.
The Hyundai A-League’s first ever F3 Derby featured Leo Carle, who went on to play six games for the Central Coast Mariners, squaring off with Nick Carle of the Newcastle Jets.
The spoils were shared in a 1-1 draw in Gosford on that historic day as Nick went on to forge a career in Europe, playing in Turkey and in England, for Bristol City and Crystal Palace.
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The Elrich quadrilogy
The most common instance of brother versus brother wars was the four-match series between Ahmad and Tarek Elrich.
During Tarek’s seven-year stint at Newcastle Jets, the younger of the Sydney-born duo twice faced his elder brother during Ahmad’s time at Central Coast Mariners and twice when he was with Wellington Phoenix.
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Doubling up
The brotherly battles have continued in the Hyundai A-League right up until present day.
In fact, there were two instances in the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 campaign which saw brothers lock horns on opposite sides of the pitch.
Western Sydney Wanderers’ midfielder Keanu Baccus faced up against his opposite number – then of Melbourne City – Kearyn.
And 25-year-old Wellington Phoenix defender Ryan Lowry pitted himself up against his five-year elder brother Shane of Perth Glory.
Here is a list of all brothers to play against either other in the Hyundai A-League
Aloisi, John and Ross
Baccus, Keanu and Kearyn
Carle, Leo and Nick
Coyne, Chris and Jamie
D`Apuzzo, Adam and David
Dodd, David and Karl
Elrich, Ahmad and Tarek
Griffiths, Adam and Ryan
Griffiths, Brent and Rostyn
Lowry, Ryan and Shane
Petratos, Dimitri and Kosta
Trifiro, Glen and Jason
Stats provided by Andrew Howe
