When Jacob Tratt captained the Sydney FC youth side to a national title in 2014 it seemed only a matter of time until he became a key dog in the club’s A-League side.
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Little did he, or anyone else, realise the Dubbo junior would have to wait four years to make his Sky Blues debut.
The moment finally came for Tratt on Saturday night and he made it count, scoring via a thumping header to seal victory in the derby clash with the Western Sydney Wanderers.
After failing to make the grade with Sydney FC after his time in the youth league, Tratt joined the Wellington Phoenix before briefly returning home and then making the move back to Sydney.
Tratt signed a short-term deal with Sydney FC in early November, his strong form with the Sutherland Sharks seeing him called up after an injury to centre back Ben Warland.
After initially acting as cover in defence, Tratt got his chance on Saturday night.
He come on as a second half substitute after a number of defensive injuries and after keeping the Wanderers a bay he scored from a corner inside the final 10 minutes to ice the 3-1 victory.
The Dubbo product could be set for an extended run in the side now, with import Jop van der Linden exiting the match inside 25 minutes due to injury on Saturday while his replacement, Aaron Calver, made way for Tratt in the second half after suffering severe cramps.
Another regular centre back, Alex Wilkinson, missed the match due to a virus and that left Tratt and Brandon O’Neill to cover in the win over Wanderers.
"Wilks was obviously out tonight because he was sick so he'll be back next week. I thought Jacob Tratt did well when he come on, scored a great goal," Sydney FC coach Steve Corica said.
"Calver was only a little bit of cramp. He hasn't played for quite a while. It was only normal, to come back and with heavy conditions, to start cramping up.
"He'll be better off for it and he'll be fine next week. Jop, probably not, but we'll have Wilks back and obviously we've got Tratty as well.
"I thought he did well, and he's in contention as well now which is great."