Dylan Peraic-Cullen made his professional debut in Central Coast Mariners’ 0-0 draw with Melbourne Victory in Friday night’s Isuzu UTE A-League opener.
New signing Adam Pavlesic had started both of Central Coast’s first two AFC Champions League Elite fixtures but after his red card in the continental defeat to Buriram United earlier this month, the two-time reigning champions turned to highly-rated Peraic-Cullen.
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The Subway Young Socceroos goalkeeper came in for his first professional appearance as the Mariners and Victory went head-to-head in a Grand Final rematch.
“It’s great. I didn’t really expect it maybe two or three weeks ago but making my debut, it feels great,” Peraic-Cullen told Paramount+ post-match.
“Happy with it. Obviously a win would’ve been better but everyone fought hard and that’s all we can ask for,” he added.
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Peraic-Cullen came into the XI at the expense of Pavlesic, with Jack Warshawsky on the bench.
“No problem with starting young players,” Mariners head coach Mark Jackson told Paramount+ pre-game. “Very confident we have a young man there who is ready to take his opportunity. That’s what we’re about on the Central Coast.
“I think the two keepers behind him, Jack and Pav, they’ve been working very hard but I have to make that decision. I’m fully confident in Dylan tonight that he can work behind that back four and give us a solid performance.”
Central Coast lost captain Danny Vukovic to retirement in the off-season. They now boast Pavlesic and fellow Olyroo Warshawsky in a youthful keeping brigade that also features 16-year-old Jai Ajanovic and Peraic-Cullen.
“Let’s be clear: We’ve got three really exciting young Australian goalkeepers who are really fighting out for that starting position, who are fighting every day to earn that number one spot.
“Whoever starts again (against Buriram), there’s no definite number one for me yet, I expect that to develop over the season as we go along – but not yet.”
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It caps a “rapid” rise for Peraic-Cullen, who signed a scholarship deal with Central Coast last year.
Peraic-Cullen first joined the Mariners before the 2023 NPLM NSW season, catching the eye during Central Coast’s trip to Canberra in the pre-season of 2022-23 in which he was just 16 at the time.
The teenager linked up with the Mariners Academy, having initially arrived on trial.
At the time of signing a scholarship deal, former Mariners head coach Nick Montgomery said: “Dylan is an exceptional talent and has massive potential.
“When we first saw him in Canberra (2022-23), myself and the rest of the staff were blown away by his profile at sixteen years of age.”
