After their fondly-remembered boom on arrival the Western Sydney Wanderers have slipped into the role of A-League’s ‘sleeping giant’ over the past eight seasons, playing finals just once since 2016/17. They cycled through six permanent managers in that period, experienced a long stretch without a regular home as Parramatta was rebuilt, and saw crowds fail to return once they’d moved back in.

Hometown appointment Alen Stajcic now has the side firmly in the mix to end the malaise in his first season in charge. Sitting six points inside the Top Six with three to play, Sunday’s 2-0 win over Western United indicated they should not only play finals, but arrive with momentum.

The 13,000 in the stands stands as their highest non-derby home attendance of the season, aided by an initiative that saw registered local footballers able to attend for $1. Alex Gersbach’s maiden goal for the club, and key hand in the second, gave those who took up the offer plenty of reason to return.

‘The Western suburbs of Sydney has probably been the heartland of Australian football for 30-40 years. It’s been a massive breeding ground of football talent, heritage and culture, and that culminated when the Wanderers came through’, Stajcic told Box2Box.

‘We know the passion and fans are there but obviously they want something to believe in, connect to. So many fans have left our game, but there’s many new fans that want to come. That’s our job, as coaches and players, to hopefully rebuild the club in the way it should be seen.’

‘So many of our best Socceroos and Matildas were raised in the West of Sydney. No doubt we’re doing everything we can on the pitch to ensure that we strengthen those bonds again and regrow the club in the way I think it should be – the biggest in the country.’

Nicolas Milanovic could well be the next Socceroo from the region. The Penrith-born attacker was a member of the Wanderers’ maiden academy intake in 2015 and after a four-year spell in Victoria, returned ahead of the 2023/24 season. His 20 goals, numerous assists, and newfound consistency mean at now 23, a future move abroad and international career look likely.

‘He’s matured a lot this year. Even from the beginning of last year to now he’s speaking in a different way, a more holistic way about himself and the team. Usually when that maturity comes, you get a little bit more consistency.

‘Everyone’s seen his weapons over the past year or two and it’s a matter of bringing them out in a more consistent manner. In the past five-six games we’ve seen him threaten constantly, causing problems for the opposition, working back hard with a good team-first mentality.

‘I think he’s really grown as a person in the last six-seven months and I think that’s reflected in how he’s playing his football.’

The Wanderers have teased a rebirth before. The appointments of Gombau, Babbel & Robinson all looked promising at the time. But to unlock a complex puzzle sometimes requires a deep understanding, and Stajcic’s knowledge of all the moving parts to football in Sydney’s west may see him trump them all in their efforts to awaken the giant.

‘There’s no silver bullet to solve every little problem. We’ve been winning and scoring the most goals in club history, but still crowds didn’t elevate instantly. It’s every little ingredient: connecting with grassroots, schools, corporates, stakeholders.

‘Playing exciting football and having local kids in the team, having a good academy connected to the club – it’s hard work, but it has to be a unified approach, and no doubt we’re doing everything we can.’