Gersbach told TWG:
Where in the world football has taken him
Where he hasn't been yet, but would like to go
What it's like to play against opponents old enough to be your father
How Jarryd Hayne breaking into the NFL has captured his imagination
That he wasn't bad at another sport himself
What a buzz it was to play in his first Sydney derby at 17
TWG: You completed the Higher School Certificate in 2014. How did you go?
AG: I did alright. Not great, but I got into uni, which is good. I was at uni in the last semester, part-time, but I'm going to give it a miss this semester. I'm deferring it while the football season starts and I'll weigh things up again at the start of next year. It's a media course at Macquarie University. I'm interested in a few things, including sports journalism - maybe something along those lines. I want to pick up the course again at the right time, so we'll see what happens.
TWG: Are you still living at home with the family?
AG: Yeah, still living at home. I've been thinking about moving out, but I've got it pretty good at home. Dad has just done a few renovations as well, so the house is looking good for summer.
TWG: Your coach, Graham Arnold, likes to build close relationships with his players. With you being so young, just 18, is he a bit like a second father or uncle to you, as well as a coach? Is he someone you can go to with a problem, if you've got one?
AG: Pretty much. Obviously we see each other every day. 'Arnie' is very approachable, to be honest. He's always there for a chat if you need to have a chat and that's really helpful.
TWG: Are you like most players in that you've got an ambition to play overseas?
AG: Yeah, of course. Every young Australian player these days wants to play in Europe and I'm no different. Hopefully, if I play well enough in the A-League I can get over to a club in Europe.
TWG: Is there any particular league or club that you follow?
AG: I follow the EPL mainly, because it's all televised over here. I support Manchester United.
TWG: Do you still hang around with mates from school or are all your friends in football - or a bit of both?
AG: I still hang around with my school-mates around Cronulla. Obviously not as often now, because of football, but I still keep in touch with them. Not many of them play football, to be honest, they're more into rugby league or rugby union.
TWG: Have you made a lot of friends in football?
AG: There are plenty of young guys at Sydney FC at the moment and we're all pretty close, we're all pretty good mates. It helps when you're a young player to have a few other guys your age there.
TWG: You played in the Under-17s for Australia and you've started with the Under-20s. Where in the world has football taken you so far?
AG: Some pretty cool and weird places, actually. Our first trip with the Joeys was to Laos and we also went to Saudi Arabia, Bolivia and our Asian Cup was in Iran. We had a quick stop-over in Dubai on the way there. The AIS team I was in did a tour of Holland and that was pretty cool.
TWG: It's like that, football, isn't it. It's no joke when they say it can take you around the world.
AG: Yeah, I know. It's true. I've been fortunate so far.
TWG: Where would you like to go that you haven't been yet, for football or just to visit?
AG: I haven't been to Greece, but I've got a Greek passport. I wouldn't mind going to the Greek Islands. My mum's side of the family is Greek. I think Gersbach is German.
TWG: What about relaxation, are you into music or movies? Do you watch a lot of TV?
AG: I watch the occasional TV show and I don't mind a good movie. Some of the boys think I'm a bit weird because I don't really listen to music, I didn't have music on my phone, but a few weeks ago I decide to get this App and download a bit of music, so the boys have made fun of me a bit.
TWG: Have you seen any good movies lately?
AG I saw the boxing movie, Southpaw, recently. I thought it was very good. It's quite a deep movie. I was sitting in the cinema with my girlfriend crying on my shoulder all the time. The fight scenes are very realistic.
TWG: Jarryd Hayne has captured the imagination of sports followers. Are you following what he's doing in the NFL, with the San Francisco 49ers?
AG: Yeah, of course. It's a bit hard not to follow it, with all the coverage it's getting, But I'm very interested in following what he's doing. I love my rugby league - I go for the Roosters. I was hoping he wouldn't sign over there and he'd come to the Roosters next year.
TWG: Could you imagine yourself trying to break into another sport?
AG: I don't think so, but it would be good fun trying, wouldn't it.
TWG: Is there any sport you've played that you felt comfortable with?
AG: I played cricket up until I was about 15. I wasn't bad at that, but I had to stop because I went down to the AIS for football. I was more a batsman, with a bit of spin bowling.
TWG: Have you got heroes, or idols, in football?
AG: Yeah, I guess I've got plenty of idols, really. I guess my main Aussie one would have to be Harry Kewell. Just because he was a left-footer and when I was growing up he was at his peak.
TWG: Have any of the older players at Sydney FC taken you under their wing? Is there anyone in particular who has really helped you?
AG: No-one in particular - everyone is very helpful. It's a pretty close-knit team we've got at the moment.
TWG: Your first game as a starter was in a Sydney derby against Wanderers in front of a packed house at Allianz Stadium. You were 17. How was that?
AG: It was unreal. I went from playing at the AIS, in front of about 200 people, to a derby in front of about 40,000. I was nervous before the game, but once I got out there things felt different. You get involved in the game, but at the same time the noise from the crowd really lifts you.
TWG: Do people recognise you on the street, or in cafes? Do you get Sydney FC fans pulling you up for a chat?
AG: Occasionally. Not so much in Cronulla - they're more rugby league supporters in my area.
TWG: There are some players in the A-League who are old enough to be your father. Ante Covic, at 40, is more than twice as old as you. Does it seem weird to be playing against men who are so much older than you?
AG: Yeah, it is a bit weird, but the older boys in our team don't act so much older. They enjoy a joke and mingle with the younger boys, so it doesn't feel strange at our club.
TWG: They're more like big kids, are they?
AG: Yeah, some of them. 'Brosquey' is a bit like that (laughs).
TWG: Alex Brosque is a pretty good captain, is he? Good leader, but also knows how to relax and have a bit of fun?
AG: Yeah, he's a great captain.
TWG: When you're playing against older players, do some of them try to put you off your game? Do they try to take advantage of how young you are and how experienced they are? Is there any sledging?
AG: No, not really. There's not much chat that goes on out there. They're battling with me the same as they're battling with anyone else. I haven't heard any sledging. The older players will get physical and go in a bit harder for the challenge and try to put me off, but it doesn't really faze me.
TWG: You haven't looked like you've been overawed by opponents. Do you feel like you've stood up to the challenge pretty well?
AG: Yeah, physically I try and give as much as they do, or even more.
