Welcome to Total A-Leagues, where the hot topics from each round are discussed in a head-to-head debate. Catch the first episode of the brand new show, where Sydney Morning Herald sports reporter and host Vince Rugari is joined by former Socceroo Tommy Oar to talk all things from the round that was.
28-time Socceroo Tommy Oar has outlined what he believes could be a key factor in determining the careers of so many of the current young stars making their Isuzu UTE A-League debuts.
Whilst many eyes were trained on Brazilian star Douglas Costa and Spanish World Cup Winner Juan Mata in Round 1, plenty of young players were being handed their Isuzu UTE A-League debuts.
Among those to have shone on their first senior appearance were 18-year-old Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Dylan Periac-Cullen and 21-year-old Melbourne City shot-stopper Patrick Beach.
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Meanwhile, 16-year-old Mariners sensation Haine Eames and Western United’s 17-year-old defender Dylan Leonard also grabbed the headlines by becoming their respective club’s youngest-ever debutants.
In fact, eight clubs across the Isuzu UTE A-League gave some of their best young talent a go in the opening round of action, with 18 teenagers featuring overall – a new round one record for the league.
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“There’s a lot of credit (that) has to go to the coaches,” said Oar when speaking on the A-Leagues’ latest show, Total A-Leagues.
“There’s a lot of risk in putting a lot of young players in those, particularly defensive, positions but I think there’s been a fair bit of bravery from the coaches to give the players the opportunity and, largely, I feel like the players took the opportunity.”
Breaking through in 2008, Oar went on to make over 130 appearances for A-Leagues clubs Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners and Macarthur FC as well as starring on the national stage with the Socceroos.
Going on to enjoy stints overseas with the likes of Eredivisie side FC Utrecht and Cypriot powerhouse APOEL Nicosia after shining in Australia, Oar gave his thoughts on what he believes today’s young stars need to do if they’re to take the next steps in their careers.
“It is a challenge and I feel like it’s not one thing that will dictate whether you can kick on or go on to have a successful career once you breakthrough,” he said.
“The challenge that a lot of young Aussies face when they do breakthrough is that, typically, a lot of these players were always the best players in their teams growing up and the focus of the team’s tactics has always been around them.
He added: “But all of a sudden you go into a professional environment and you need to become a functioning part of a bigger team picture.
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“Overcoming that and accepting more on-field responsibilities and having the maturity to handle that – I feel like that’s the big challenge that a lot of young players struggle with.”
With A-Leagues teams receiving more than $20 million in outbound transfer fees in 2024, clubs are certainly being rewarded for putting their trust in youth prospects.
“I think that more A-League players now getting the opportunity to play at a younger age, I feel like is only going to benefit them because they’re going to be more experienced.
“We always talked about, from a national perspective, we’re not playing enough games young enough but I feel like that tide has definitely turned.
“I think the last few seasons with some of the hefty transfer sums that the A-Leagues has managed to get has been great and I feel like clubs are clueing onto that now.
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“It’s also that since the academies were established five or ten years ago I feel like we might be starting to get the fruit of that investment and it’s exciting times.”
Round Two of the Isuzu UTE A-League gets underway on Friday evening when table-toppers Macarthur FC host Newcastle Jets at Campelltown Sports Stadium.
Elsewhere, Adelaide United are in action for the first time this season when they face Central Coast Mariners on Saturday evening while Sydney FC travel to Auckland FC for the first time on Sunday afternoon.
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