Every time you come into Socceroos camp, there’s a real buzz and excitement and it always puts a smile on your face.
It’s great to see the boys again. We obviously don't get to meet up too often, but it’s a fantastic group – we all get on really well and everyone's pumped to be here.
There’s nothing better than being with your mates, training hard and working together towards the common goal of qualifying for the World Cup.
It was a bit of a luxury having our extended training camp in Abu Dhabi. To have that much time with the group before a big international window is rare.
I know everyone feels a lot better with that camp under our belts,it was a great opportunity to take more strides as a team.
I’m buzzing to be back in Perth. Before last year’s Socceroos game here, I think it had been around eight years since we were in town.
I'm pretty lucky to hopefully get two games in Perth in the space of a year for Australia.
Last year was so good. It wasn’t just a great result but a brilliant occasion overall.
Until then, it had probably been 12 or 13 years since I played in Perth - I was about 16 and was in the NPL. So last year was my first game as a professional footballer in Perth, and now I’m really looking forward to potentially a second.
There are probably a few games that stand out in my career, but last year’s Socceroos game here is definitely up there.
It took me a while to get called up, but when I did, everything happened in such a short space of time. Making my debut against Mexico, then playing against England at Wembley were two big moments for me, for slightly different reasons.
One is obviously a debut, which you’ll never forget, then the other was a big game in a massive stadium in a country where I’ve spent most of my career. Not everyone gets a chance to play at Wembley, so it was a cool moment to experience it.
Then you’ve got World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup as well – they all mean a lot.
The game in Perth last year was special and I know that’s the same for the other boys from Western Australia too. I’d waited so long to be able to play in Perth and to then do that with the national team in front of friends and families was huge for me.
It was also really cool to have my son walk out with me onto the pitch – he’s done that a few times for Ipswich as well. He loves doing it. It’s special for us both.
They’re moments to cherish - not just moments that he'll remember, but ones that me and my family will too. They’re always filming him when he's on the TV, so it’s something cool for him to look back on in a few years’ time.
Once again, I'm excited to play in front of friends and family in my hometown. Given who we’re playing against and what’s riding on it, it should be even more special. A big game and one I can’t wait for.
I love everything about Perth - it fits my character perfectly. I really couldn't land in a better spot. I think just the way people are there, the weather, the beaches, the lifestyle and just everything about it, it’s all pretty perfect, in my opinion.
It’s also where my family are, of course.
That’s what makes playing in Perth that little bit more special. My family don't get a chance to come and watch me live too often, given I play so far away and they live over here.
Obviously, there’s no extra motivation required when you represent Australia, but we know how important the game against Japan is going to be and what it means for our campaign. So that only adds to the occasion.
Considering where we started the campaign, I’m grateful that we’re in a good position and it’s in our hands. We've progressed really well over the last number of camps.
We’re under no illusion about how difficult a finish it will be to our qualifying campaign, but it’s a challenge that we’re relishing. We know what it would mean for Australia to qualify for a sixth consecutive World Cup and we’re determined to finish strong.
That’s why our training camp was so important. We were able to get together as a group, get even more accustomed to our playing style and put in the hard yards to make sure we’re as prepared as we possibly can be.
I've actually been to Perth Stadium as a fan before so I’ve seen how good a stadium it is first-hand.
It’s been really well made and they've put it in a cool spot as well. I can’t wait to step out onto the pitch and experience it as a player now.
The fans were really good last time we played in Perth and we need more of the same this time. I hear we’re expecting a big crowd and that’s really important to help us get over the line.
When you’re on the pitch and have the fans behind you, it makes such a difference.
It’s going to be a massive night and the fans definitely have a big part to play in filling Perth Stadium and creating an electric atmosphere.
And then it's up to us to put on a good show, and hopefully, together, we can get a good result.
We’re playing against a top, top team in Asia and we really need you all to get behind us and help us get a positive result. It’s as much your game as it is ours.
We're ready for the challenge, and hopefully together, we can put on a good show and get the job done.
Hopefully there will be many more games in Perth to come after that.