There is plenty of talent developing through the A-League clubs’ respective youth teams, working towards a chance in the A-League. Given the various objectives and competition for positions of the senior teams, the best players won’t necessarily get the most game time at senior level. But the best talent across the country is getting plenty of minutes in the Y-League.
8. Macklin Freke – Brisbane Roar
Goalkeeper, 20.
Freke played in goal for every match of Brisbane’s championship winning side this past Y-League campaign and kept 2 clean sheets over the season. Freke is yet to make his debut for Brisbane’s senior side, though he was an unused substitute for a few matches last season while first choice goalkeeper, Jamie Young was suspended. With Brisbane not re-signing 2nd keeper Brendon White, there is a chance Freke for next season.
7. Tate Russell – Western Sydney Wanderers
Defender, 19.
Russell came in to the WSW senior squad to cover the injured Josh Risdon. When Risdon returned from injury, Russell kept hold of the spot anyway. Displacing a National Team regular is certainly a way to get noticed. Russell is a quick right-sided full back – which is a position in demand. His crossing will need to be improved upon, but his defensive instincts are what has got him this far.
6. Connor Metcalfe – Melbourne City
Midfielder, 19.
After slipping through the net at Newcastle Jets’ youth academy, Melbourne City pounced on the composed midfielder. Metcalfe played a full Y-League season before coming in to the senior side and making regular substitute appearances. Melbourne City captain, Scott Jamieson has singled out Metcalfe as being the most likely of City’s Y-League squad to make a successful career.
5. Nick Suman – Western Sydney Wanderers
Goalkeeper, 19.
Suman was the leading goalkeeper across the Y-League in 2018 with 4 clean sheets. His form was recognised as he was called up to the senior team to make his debut to cover the injured Vedran Janjetovic ahead of recognised back-up keeper Danijel Nizic. Over the A-League season, Suman played 4 matches in the absence of senior keepers. Like Macklin Freke, keepers ahead of him have not been re-signed. Meaning there is potential for more matches next season.
4. Louis D’Arrigo – Adelaide United
Midfielder, 17.
Louis D’Arrigo is a highly skilful passer who exudes leadership. D’Arrigo has won Adelaide United’s “Youth Player of The Year” twice, and the 2017 “Y-League Player of The Season”. He is also Adelaide’s youth team captain, which at 17 makes him the youngest captain in the Y-League. D’Arrigo has a sum total of 4 minutes in the senior side, but he has plenty of years still to develop.
3. Tass Mourdoukoutas – Western Sydney Wanderers
Defender, 20.
With 11 senior matches to his name, Mourdoukoutas has played the most of all the players on this list. The tall central defender has done a fine job of marking out some of the A-League’s best strikers. He hasn’t seemed over awed by his opponents, and his confidence on the ball is refreshing to see from a young defender. Mourdoukoutas has become a player that WSW can not only look forward to, but can call upon now.
2. Birkan Kirdar – Melbourne Victory
Midfielder, 17.
Kirdar became the youngest Australian player to feature in The Asian Champions League when he made is debut last year at the age of 16 against Shanghai SIPG. He is the only player on this list to have played ACL, yet weirdly he is yet to play any A-League minutes at all. The attacking midfielder missed a large part of the Y-League season with a suspension that had carried over from the season before – but his time was spent around the senior team developing.
1. Ramy Najjarine – Melbourne City
Winger, 19.
Najjarine has been used in a number of positions at A-League level, but the final round of the season was the first chance he got at his natural right wing. He duly produced a dribble past 2 defenders before firing a shot that clipped the underside of the cross bar on the way through. Najjarine has been likened to City Academy product Daniel Arzani, who is now plying his trade in Europe having gone to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Najjarine can live up to those comparisons, he is certainly worth watching.
Australian Youth Football 