True blue Ryall has reason to cheer Sydney milestone Ring of truth ... Sydney FC train yesterday ahead of the match against Brisbane on Sunday. SEBASTIAN RYALL might have made his professional debut for Melbourne Victory but there can be no doubting his allegiance to Sydney FC has been true from the very start. As the Sky Blues prepare to play their 200th game, against Brisbane Roar at Allianz Stadium this weekend, Ryall can say he was there from the very beginning. Not as a player, but a fan in the stands. Now 23, Ryall was just a teenager in school on the night in October 2005 when Dwight Yorke debuted - and scored with a looping header - for the Sky Blues in a 1-1 draw against the Victory. I was 16 at the time. I think it was special for Sydney because obviously Sydney FC was a new club. I remember at the time that having a player like Dwight Yorke in town was amazing. For me that will always be a special night because now I play for Sydney FC, it's such a good club to be a part of and it was really good to be there for that match. Even though he was initially overlooked by Sydney FC despite coming through the local ranks, Ryall said he dreamed of representing of his home-town city. "I always hoped I would and I always had aspirations to be a professional footballer," he said. I am very satisfied to be able to watch that game and now be here every day, at training, and playing with the likes of Alessandro Del Piero is really special, so I'm really happy to be here. Pleased though he may be to represent the club, this season has been a considerable struggle for Ryall and his teammates. Their 2-2 draw with Newcastle last week perhaps summed up their season - cruelled by injuries and suspension, the Sky Blues looked set for a famous win before a late penalty gifted a share of the points to the Jets. However, Ryall reckons there was enough to draw from the match to give his side confidence. "It wasn't the best of matches, obviously the conditions were hard to deal with but I think collectively we did really well," he said. We made a lot of changes since last week through injury and suspension. We were disappointed we didn't win but there were really good signs. We played as a team, we got a point away from home after losing twice to them. The Sky Blues have been hit by three red cards in two weeks and have also lost Joel Griffiths to a three-game suspension after the match review panel decided to out him for abusing a match official. However, Ryall disagrees with the notion that there's an issue with discipline at the club. I don't think there's a problem with discipline. The Joel Griffiths case is a matter for the FFA and there's not much I can really say about that but here at Sydney FC we're very dedicated to keeping the game clean," he said. We've got some red cards over the past two weeks but generally this year we've been pretty good. While coaches often speak about the need to develop an understanding across the back four, the changing of players in defence clearly hasn't helped the Sky Blues. "Obviously it helps to have continuity in the team but, as a player, there's always going to be difficulties," Ryall said. It is difficult at times but there is nothing you can do about it. We don't look too far into the future and now we're preparing for Brisbane. Meanwhile, there could finally be some good news for Farina at selection with both Brett Emerton and Jason Culina set to be cleared to play against Brisbane. Emerton didn't complete the whole session of training yesterday but the club's medical staff are confident his complaint - a back-related hamstring injury - will have improved by the weekend. Culina completed training and moved freely through the session, effectively confirming that he will be ready to play. Also free to return are defenders Fabio and Tiago Calvano, who missed the last match with suspension, and striker Yairu Yau, who was away on international duty. ■ Youssouf Hersi has signed a one-year contract extension with Western Sydney Wanderers. The Dutch winger has been one of the club's form players this season and was rewarded with a new deal after leading their charge to third place on the A-League table. Hersi has scored four goals and has supplied eight assists, the equal-best in the competition. "I am more confident and now I re-sign and my mind is free and happy," Hersi said. One year ago, I must fight every day. I have been around to a few countries over the past few years and it is good to commit to staying here.