On Sunday night there was a text from his mother in Wales: "You certainly would have made Mrs Petratos happy today".

Mrs Petratos is set to be sporting plenty of smiles if the performance by her sons in the 1-0 win over Western United is an indication.

In a family and A-League first, Dimi, 27, Kosta, 22, and Makis, 19, came on as second-half substitutions.

It was just the third time a set of three brothers have been on the field together in a national league game following John, Mike and Rob O'Shea, who played for St George in the 1980s, and Jets trio Joel, Adam and Ryan Griffiths (2003-04).

Two of the Petratos brothers had been on the park together previously. Dimi and Kosta have teamed up regularly. Dimi was on the pitch when Makis made his A-League debut off the bench in the 2-1 loss to Adelaide in round three and again in a 3-0 win over the same opposition in round 23.

The Petratos siblings nearly marked their special moment with a goal in stoppage time.

Dimi found Makis unmarked on the edge of the box. He took a touch and played a short ball back towards the penalty spot for Kosta.

Instincts took over. In a move played out hundreds of times in the family backyard, Kosta bounced an angled ball into the path of Makis, who lashed a first time shot at the near post which was brilliant saved by Western United keeper Filip Kurto.

"I knew what he was going to do," Kosta told Fox Sports. "We do it in training and at home all the time. I knew it was on, he was just unlucky."

Dimi is one of the stars of the A-League, but has played the past three three games off the bench as he works back to full fitness after arthroscopic surgery on his knee during the COVID-19 break.

Kosta and Makis, who is on a scholarship contract, had limited opportunities under Ernie Merrick, but have revelled under Robinson.

"It was a good little moment for them and their family," Robinson said. "I was just disappointed they didn't score at the end. A little combination between the three of them would have been the icing on the cake.

"I have seen something in them. We all know that Kosta has a fantastic work rate. He is like the Energiser Bunny. He will run all day and get into good areas. He gets rewards when he does that.

"Makis does things naturally. What he has to improve are the simple, basic fundamentals of football. That is easy. That is just repetition at training.

"It was a challenge for him. I put him on at right wingback when we were penned in a little bit. I thought he would bring energy and in the last minute he nearly got the reason why I put him on."

Asked if the siblings could feature in the starting XI in the near future, Robinson said: "Possibly. If you deserve a chance, you will get a chance. There are no free rides."

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