Emerging Western Sydney midfielder Keanu Baccus says being the focus of a VAR review can be distracting, but he is glad to finally be on the right end of the controversial system.
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The 21-year-old has played every minute of the Wanderers' A-League campaign so far, after winning their player-of-the-year award following a tumultuous 2018-19 season.
Baccus and more than 28,000 fans at last week's Sydney derby had to wait for a VAR ruling on a potential handball penalty call against the Wanderer.
Ultimately, VAR backed the referees' original call not to award a spot-kick, although some pundits felt it was a penalty.
It was a better outcome for Baccus than on two occasions in the 2017-18 season, when VAR intervention resulted in him being sent off twice.
"It probably could have gone either way," Baccus said of last week's call.
"But it is hard because you find yourself looking at the screen a little bit to see if it is upheld and maybe get distracted for a couple minutes of the game, especially when it's about you.
"Sometimes, they go for you and sometimes they don't. I've been on both ends of the spectrum."
Top of the table after winning their first three games, the Wanderers will look to maintain that momentum in Saturday's home clash with Brisbane.
"We've just got to take it to them and press them up the pitch and put pressure on early," Baccus said.
"We've just got to keep our concentration high because, coming from a derby, it will probably be a bit harder."
An Olyroos squad member, Baccus is hoping to get a call-up for January's AFC U-23 Championship in Thailand, where the top three teams will earn the right to join host nation Japan as Asia's representatives at Tokyo 2020.
This season, he has played alongside a proven high-quality defensive midfielder in Swiss international Pirmin Schwegler, who already looks to be one of the best A-League recruits this season.
"He's such a great guy and he helps us along the way each game and each day," Baccus said.
"He's very smart so you have to watch and really buy in and you can learn."
Australian Associated Press
