This week Tarek Elrich follows in the footsteps of last round’s milestone men Matt McKay and Andrew Durante to become the eighth player to hit 250 appearances in the A-League. The in-form Rhyan Grant made his 150th appearance, while Tasmanian Josh Hope and Novocastrian Mark Cowburn net their first A-League goals.

On the eve of his 250thappearance, Tarek Elrich said it would be “an honour” to become part of an elite few in A-League history to reach the milestone.

Particularly, he told the Daily Telegraph, to do so with the Wanderers, whom he considers his ‘hometown club’, would be extra special.

After appearing in all 14 campaigns of the A-League, Elrich made his 250thappearance in the Wanderers’ 2-2 draw with Brisbane Roar on Saturday afternoon in Mudgee.

An inaugural signing with the Wanderers, Elrich spent four seasons with the Newcastle Jets prior to the Western Sydney club’s entry into the competition in season 2012-13.

Elrich spent one season with the Parramatta club, before re-joining the Wanderers this year after five seasons with Adelaide United.

“It’s a massive honour to be reaching that number,” Elrich told the Daily Telegraph. “Last season was a tough year with injury and coming off contract. It was very stressful times.  I’m glad to be home now and achieving this milestone at my hometown club is massive for me.”

 

A player raising eyebrows of late for more than one reason is Sydney FC’s Rhyan Grant.

His impressive performances for Sydney FC have caught the eye, while there have been some question marks over his choice of ‘mullet’ hairstyle.

Despite the flowing locks dividing opinion, Grant continues to register standout appearances, particularly in Sydney’s 3-0 thumping of Melbourne City in Round 3.

And the Sky Blue right-back can add another achievement to his name early in the season; 150 A-League appearances.

Fittingly, Grant fed Alex Brosque for Sydney’s opener against the Jets on Saturday to continue his red hot form.

 

Grant’s opponent, Nick Cowburn, had the final say in the encounter, when he finally opened his A-League account for the Novocastrians with the equalising goal against Grant’s Sydney.

Having commenced his professional career with Jets in 2014, securing a professional contract at the Hunter club, Cowburn had gone 59 matches without finding the net.

However, his response to Brosque’s opener proved crucial for the Jets, securing a point with four minutes left of the regulation 90 – his first goal in five seasons.

Meeting Dmitri Petratos’ set-piece from the right at the near post, Cowburn’s cleverly-steered header was executed perfectly, and from his reaction it look like he enjoyed his first ever goal in the A-League.

 

Down in Melbourne on Sunday night, Tasmanian Joshua Hope became a rare scorer in the A-League from the Apple Isle, netting his first goal for Melbourne Victory in their dominant win over Central Coast Mariners.

Hope, 20, is one of two Tasmanians currently playing in the A-League, alongside City’s Nathaniel Atkinson.

Tasmanians Jeremy Walker, Jerrad Tyson and Andy Brenan have also played in the A-League, but never managed to find the net, while Atkinson has not yet scored for City in his two seasons at the Melbourne club.

Hope, who was a 75thminute substitute at AAMI Park on Sunday, scored Victory’s final goal in a 4-1 win over the Central Coast Mariners, with his neat finish coming in stoppage time, following a through-ball from fellow substitute Ola Toivonen.