We build our A-League Grand Final dream team

We have picked a combined best 11 from this weekend’s Grand Finalists, Perth Glory and Sydney FC.

The Hyundai A-League will crown its 2019 Champions this Sunday, as Perth Glory and Sydney FC do battle in the Grand Final. Held at Optus Stadium, the match will kick off at 4.30pm (WST).

As we prepare for the occasion, we decided to put together our combined best 11 from the Glory and Sydney. All players in the 11 will be available for the Grand Final this Sunday.

There are a host of stars in the front half of the pitch for both sides, and in order to best accommodate as much star-power as possible, we have opted for a 4-4-2 formation.

Goalkeeper

Liam Reddy. This one really was a flip of the coin with both Reddy and Redmayne having phenomenal seasons and playing every game.

We gave Reddy the nod due to his semi-final shootout heroics, securing his side a berth on the big stage, coupled with the Glory’s brilliant defensive record; the only side to average less than a goal conceded per game.

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Right Back

It has to be Rhyan Grant. Earning his first Socceroos call-up last year, Grant has been brilliant on the right side for Sydney this campaign.

Centre Backs

We’ve gone for a pairing of Shane Lowry and Alex Wilkinson in the heart of defence. Lowry has been arguably the best defender in the league this season. The beating heart of Glory’s unbelievable defence, he has been the key cog in ensuring his side has only shipped 23 goals in 27 home and away matches this season.

A picture of consistency, Wilkinson has played every minute this campaign, bar one game. Like their Glory counterparts, Sydney’s defensive record has been brilliant this season, conceding just 29 goals for the campaign, and Wilkinson has been central to all of it.

Left Back

One of the toughest positions to pick, we gave Jason Davidson the nod. While Michael Zullo’s season has been nothing short of remarkable with his ability to get forward, we have Davidson just ahead. With six for the season, Davidson is one of the top in the league for assists, and the leader for Glory. He is also up there in chances created for the Glory and second for passes.

Clearly, he is a go-to man for the Glory, and his ability to get on the ball, get forward and put players into scoring positions is a big reason the Glory have been able to score so many goals this season.

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Defensive Midfielder

Neil Kilkenny. It couldn’t be anyone else, could it? Finishing equal second in the Johnny Warren medal, Kilkenny has been critical in the centre of Perth’s midfield this season. Third in the league for passes, third for chances created, and sixth for crosses, Kilkenny has been the man to break up attacks and screen the defence, before launching attacks for the Glory all season, and no one in the league has done a better job.

Central Midfielders

With an abundance of options, we’ve opted for three central midfielders in front of Kilkenny. Sydney pair Milos Ninkovic and Brandon O’Neill will sit just behind a more attacking Diego Castro.

The Sydney FC midfield cogs, Ninkovic and O’Neill have been up there with the players of the season. Sydney love to get the ball at their feet, as they are simply able to create and get the ball forward to their potent goalscoring force at the earliest opportunity.

Just in front of the Sydney pair sits Glory maestro and captain Diego Castro. Finishing fourth in the Johnny Warren medal, Castro has been mesmerising this campaign. With nine goals himself, Castro has been the key creator for Perth this season, and a pivotal reason they’ve managed to score a stunning 56 goals.

Strikers

With a front two selected, we have gone with Adam le Fondre and Chris Ikonomidis. Andy Keogh is very stiff, but his team-mate Ikonomidis simply couldn’t be left out.

While he hasfewers goals than Keogh, the ‘Young Player of the Year’ Ikonomidis has been in scintillating form. He has managed nine goals himself, on top of supporting and setting up Keogh and the rest of the Glory strikeforce.

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le Fondre, in his first season over from England, fell second in the Golden Boot with 18 goals and has knocked in ten more than any other Sydney striker this season. A no-brainer to slot into our side.