Dan Edwards: Wellington Phoenix Defender previews the Auckland FC clash

The Wellington Phoenix have had a rough run in the New Zealand derby thus far, losing all four meetings to Auckland FC. 

However, they’ll be hoping to change that in tonight’s clash at Mt Smart Stadium – the place they suffered a 6-1 loss to the Black Knights in the final derby last season. 

Phoenix defender Dan Edwards joined D’Arcy to preview the match. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
First things first, let's go to Dan Edwards out of
the Wellington Phoenix huge game today. One of three local
darbies Wellington and Auckland. Dan Edwards, he's a defender for
the Phoenix. He made his Auckland Auckland debut for in
the A League last month. Great way to start, he

(00:33):
joins us. Now to do it all over again morning, Dan,
welcome the show, you return, you get to play these
guys again. I expect you've got revenge on your mind.

Speaker 3 (00:44):
A thanks having me firstly, and yes, I wouldn't say
revenge and that's just another game. Is three points on
our mind every game?

Speaker 2 (00:53):
Is that a philosophy that you've always had? Is that
something that the group shares around the import of various games?

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Obviously this is my first year so I can only
speak for this. Yeah, but yeah, it's know. The philosophy
is just play each game as it is. You know
the result there's going to be three points if it is.
If it isn't, then that's okay. We just go again
next week and we keep building.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Beside, Dad, what's coach Telliano been telling you what's he
been trying to force into your mouth ahead of this game?
Because it's obviously very very big and you are crazy outsiders,
but you ignore the t A B right, But what
what does gian Carlo want you to concentrate on?

Speaker 3 (01:33):
Just sticking to our processes and what we have been doing,
you know, trusting what we're doing is right and not
shining away from you know, our identity as a team.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
What is your identity?

Speaker 3 (01:45):
Attacking football? Highline, attacking football, be on the front foot?

Speaker 2 (01:49):
Is that a situation or way you like to play?
Is that what you would say about your position wing back?
Is that that summarize what you bring to the park.

Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, essentially, yes, wing backs obviously more of an attacking
position these So that's a nicely into into the way
we want to play.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Have you always set out there? It's just been where
you want to play the game since a young man.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
No. No, When I was playing up in Auckland, before
I moved over to Oz, I was a I was
like I just like a stock standard, like an eight
and over to Iz had to cover someone in that
position because the are injured and kind of enjoyed it
and done well and it kind of suits my suits

(02:36):
my traits.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
So interestingly, and you touched on it before you were
playing over here. Then you decided to go, I'm going Aussie.
I need to I need I'm presuming you need to
play at a at a higher level. And there was
there was opportunity here and you grabbed it.

Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, I think as I came back during COVID after
being a college in America, so I fancied a new challenge,
and at that point in time during COVID, the bubble
was the best option for me, and I went over there,
had a great four and a half five years over there.
You know, I loved every second of it. So it's

(03:11):
led me here, so I'm pretty happy with it.

Speaker 2 (03:12):
What drade do you home? And I say home because
New Zealand is home, but Wellington's not really home. So
what was the drive.

Speaker 3 (03:21):
Living out that professional dream? I'm twenty seven, so opportunities
like this don't come around very often, let alone to
someone a bit further down their career than most.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
Twenty seven doesn't really represent like veteran age. Though you're
not an old man, you're still relatively young. You must
still have a lot in your legs you still got
You've got a lot of time, right, How long is
this krag going to go on? From? Where does it
take you?

Speaker 3 (03:46):
Well, I don't know. We're just going to take it
year by yeah, season by season and hopefully many more years.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
Did you impress yourself when you first started playing, when
you got out there in the A League and started playing,
I'm comfortable. I belong here, this is where I need
to be.

Speaker 3 (04:05):
I wouldn't say myself, but it was a nice feeling
knowing that like I wasn't off it, I wasn't reaching
to play, So that's been nice. That's been a nice
confidence booster for myself.

Speaker 2 (04:19):
It must have been super cool playing in a derby.
I mean this is really read life and to the
A League over here, people are right so engaged, especially Aucklanders,
and they've been terrible with previous teams, but they they
want to be there. So that feeling on the park
described that to us.

Speaker 3 (04:35):
It's hard because like when when you're on the picture
and you know you're in game mode, so you want
to you don't want to let the outside influence you
too much. So obviously, you know, a good crowd adds
a whole different aspect. Of the game, and it gives
you the extra legs, it gives you the extra energy,
gives you everything to be honest, so you know, the
bigger the crowd, the better the game.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
Are a family going to come and watch you play?
And what strip are they going to wear?

Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah, the family are flying over from Melbourne everyone and
then obviously grandparents and all that. The grandparents torn they're
a bit old skills, so I think they'll be neutral,
but the mom and dad and brother are definitely going
to be in the yellow and black.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
It's going to be a special afternoon, it sounds like
for you and your whole funo and hopefully you can
turn those crazy odds around. Last time I checked was
five dollars eighty for the win. It's got to happen
in the Staby eventually, so you need to get it
done in their backyard. Dan Edwards, go well, friend, chairs mate,
Thank you appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (05:32):
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