Welcome to A-Leagues life, where KEEPUP goes beyond the pitch to bring you closer the players who wear your club colours.
Be it on the training track, on the international scene or simply enjoying life outside of football with family and friends, there’s more to the men and women who light up the A-Leagues than what they produce out on the park.
This is a glimpse into the other side of A-Leagues life.
Austin’s close Kangaroo encounter and ‘stinker’ Tim Tam selection
It’s the type of animal encounter which will only work to cement an overseas assumption about Australia: that everywhere you turn, a kangaroo and/or kangaroos will be there to greet you.
Charlie Austin’s Sunday “gym sesh” was complete, after a spin on the bike and a few weights.
The Englishman wiped down the sweat and headed to his car, with another workout ticked off as his Brisbane Roar pre-season regime rolls on.
In the carpark, the former Premier League gun received a surprise reminder of where he is in the world. It’s safe to say it’s not something he would have encountered throughout his 15-year career spent in his home country whilst departing the gym.
Austin and his family began the ‘austinsinoz’ TikTok to document their Aussie journey, after the 33-year-old signed a multi-year deal with the Roar ahead of the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
Prior to his kangaroo encounter, Austin took to TikTok to compare another Aussie icon – the Tim Tam – to the Digestives biscuits popular back home in the UK.
With his tea brewed, Austin sampled the two treats to compare – but there was one clear winner in his eyes.
Roar team-mate Jack Hingert was quick to point out it was hardly a fair fight, with the salted caramel Tim Tam variety selected by Austin paling in comparison to a popular classic.
We stand with you, Jack: it will never be a fair fight if Charlie strays from the classics.
‘Everyone is pinching themselves’: Young ALW stars react to dream U20 World Cup call-up
One of the best facets of every Young Matildas squad announcement is seeing the excitement expressed by the players selected to represent their nation.
And when selection for the squad means a place at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, those reactions become all the more special.
In the early hours of Monday morning, 21 players realised their dream as Young Matildas head coach Leah Blayney announced her squad bound for this month’s tournament in Costa Rica.
Of the 21 players selected, 17 played in the Liberty A-League last season. Bryleeh Henry (Western Sydney Wanderers), Jessika Nash (Sydney FC) and Jamilla Rankin (Brisbane Roar) were all included in Blayney’s squad, and told Football Australia exactly what it meant to be headed to Costa Rica.
FULL SQUAD: ‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE’ AWAITS FOR 21 YOUNG MATILDAS SELECTED FOR U20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Bryleeh Henry
“To be selected is amazing. It’s not something I can put into words. It’s been my dream for ages to go to a World Cup, it’s just amazing and I can’t wait to ge tout there and start playing, and enjoy the whole experience.
“It’s just amazing. I can’t put into words how I feel right now.”
Jessika Nash
“It’s a dream come true. Moments like these athletes dream of, hearing the words ‘you’ve made the team,’ or ‘you’ve been selected’ is just incredible.
“It’s something all athletes work towards. To be able to play on the stage that has the best athletes under 20 in the world will be a dream come true.”
Jamilla Rankin
“We’ve worked so hard for this. To get the opportunity to represent our country at a major tournament, honestly I think everyone is just pinching themselves at the moment.”
Brandon Borrello gets to work in Wanderland
It’s been an off-season of turnover in Wanderland, with 16 new signings joining Mark Rudan’s side as the club attempts to turn the tide of recent mediocrity.
One of the standout arrivals in Rudan’s rebuild is Socceroos forward Brandon Borrello.
Borrello, 27, returns to the league on a two-season deal after a stint in Germany which began in 2017, following four seasons at Brisbane Roar. He, like many players in the Socceroos frame, has elected for an off-season move ahead of the 2022 World Cup, to be held in Qatar in November and December.
The club was eager to reveal Borrello’s arrival on Monday afternoon – and he’s been put straight to work in red and black.
Make what you will of Western Sydney’s mass-overhaul this off-season – but Borrello’s arrival alongside a number of key signings from both within the ALM and abroad signals the club’s genuine intent to drastically improve in 2022-23.
READ: The complete list of ALM ins and outs
Medals for all at the Hangar
After three years of existence, Western United got their hands on the A-Leagues Championship in May.
It was an historic achievement, overseen by head coach John Aloisi.
And Aloisi was on hand to present the club’s entire administration and football department staff with their Championship medals at Western’s training base – the Hangar.
Aloisi and Western are busy preparing for their title defence!
