Welcome to Wonderkid Watch: A weekly piece that keeps you up to date with the players and stories emerging from A-Leagues clubs playing at NPL level in Australia.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
BUY TICKETS TO THE NINJA A-LEAGUE!
*Brisbane Roar’s NPLM QLD match against Gold Coast United was postponed.
Son of a gun forging his own career in Perth as he eyes A-Leagues bow
Sebastian Despotovski. The surname rings a bell, doesn’t it?
Sebastian is the son of Perth Glory legend Bobby Despotovski, who won two NSL championships with the club before claiming the Johnny Warren Medal and 2005-06 Isuzu UTE A-League Golden Boot. He also spent five years in charge of Glory’s Ninja A-League team.
Now, Sebastian is forging his own path in Perth, where the 19-year-old forward is making an impact for Glory.
NPL WRAP: New era for proven A-Leagues pipeline begins with 17-minute scoring spree
Despotovski was at the double for high-flying and unbeaten Glory in their 4-0 rout of 10-man Floreat Athena at the Sam Kerr Football Centre in NPLM WA action.
His two-goal haul featured a stunning second-half free-kick, while Max Argent and Giovanni De Abreu were also on target for a Perth side who are second in the standings after four rounds.
WONDERKID WATCH: ‘Very intelligent’ No. 10 headlines Adelaide’s next teen stars in waiting
“He’s always watching the games and giving me feedback, normally critical feedback,” Despotovski told Glory of his father’s influence with a smile.
“Even if I score three goals, he will still tell me it’s not good enough and tell me what I can do better.”
Despotovski, who has called Glory home since the age of 12, has trained with David Zdrilic’s Isuzu UTE A-League squad on several occasions this season.
“I’m just trying to improve every day at training and showcase it in the games,” he said.
“Hopefully at the end of the season, I can get that call-up to the A-League.”
While Glory team-mate Adam Bugarija – part of the Isuzu UTE A-League setup – tops the NPLM WA Golden Boot charts with four goals, Despotovski is hot on his heels.
The Glory attacker has three goals to his name already in 2025.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
“I’ve been working with him since November now and his attitude has completely changed since then,” Glory academy head coach Joe Heath told aleagues.com.au.
“I think he realises that he has to be at it every time he turns up. He can’t pick and choose when he wants to turn it on because he is that talented.
“He’s that type of player where if they want to turn it on, they can. But I’m trying to get it into him that you’ve got to be like that every time, every training session, every game.
“He’s got the ability to create a goal out of anything and I feel the way he’s playing, he’s one of the leaders in the group this year.
“Seb is that type of character where sometimes you almost don’t have to coach them as much as other players. You don’t want to limit what he does. You just let him express himself.
“We’ve had conversations about having discipline out of possession, but when you’re in possession, going and expressing yourself and showing people what you can do.”
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
In NPLM SA, Adelaide United played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with MetroStars.
Brody Burkitt scored twice in 12 minutes for Adelaide, while Fabian Talladira also found the back of the net.
The Reds are second in the table after five games, adrift of MetroStars on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Adelaide’s reserves lost 5-2 to MetroStars with Chris Irakoze and Liam Stam the scorers.
Western United prospect ‘on the cusp of A-League exposure’
Is this the next Western United academy talent set to earn a taste of Isuzu UTE A-League football?
Victor Muhindo is certainly in the mix, according to the club’s academy director, amid his exploits in 2025.
The “dynamic winger” scored twice to help Western United blitz lowly Eastern Lions 6-0 in VPL1 over the weekend, which saw academy graduate Oli Lavale lead the way with a hat-trick. Shifa Ahmed also scored for the Green and Black in Tarneit.
Muhindo is flourishing at third-placed Western in Victoria’s second tier following his arrival from Melbourne Victory, where he had initially joined the club as a 14-year-old.
Western’s academy director Anthony Frost told aleagues.com.au: “Victor is a dynamic winger who is also comfortable operating inside (the pitch).
“He is dangerous when he’s able to isolate defenders 1v1 and has the quality to deliver threatening balls and shots in the final third.
“As he gets more consistent game time he is continuing to get better and better and is a player we anticipate to keep progressing and be on the cusp of A-League exposure in the near future.”
Over the weekend, young gun Alex Marmura made his first appearance for Western’s senior academy side this season.
With a league-high 10 goals in seven games in U23 VPL1, Marmura was rewarded with a move up to the senior academy team against Eastern Lions.
“Alex Marmura is a foundation academy player entering his third season with us and continues to make strong steps forward in our program having started in the U16s,” said Frost.
“Alex is an intelligent striker who makes smart runs, positioning himself in good areas to exploit attacks. Alex contributes really well in build up situations often linking with midfielders making him a really valuable player in possession.
“We’re pleased to see him make his senior football debut as he’s a player who works very diligently on and off the park to maximise his potential.”
Melbourne City continue to lead the way in VPL1 following their 3-1 win over Langwarrin.
Goals from Marcus Humbert, Arion Sulemani and Akeem Gerald in a devastating seven-minute period preserved City’s unbeaten record atop the standings, in which the club are two points clear.
At U23 level, Western United dropped points for the first time this season but they continue to top the table.
The Green and Black were held to a 2-2 draw by Eastern Lions despite a Tobias Servin brace, though they are still three points clear of rivals Melbourne City, who edged Langwarrin 1-0 thanks to Julian Recchia.
In NPLM VIC, Melbourne Victory were 3-2 winners over St Albans Saints.
Jordan Hoey scored the winning goal in the 77th minute at the Home of the Matildas, where Daniel Lazarevski and Patrick Wall also scored.
Victory’s third win of the season moved them up to sixth in the standings.
As for their U23 side, they were 7-0 victors against St Albans. Second-half substitute Mush Sawiz scored a hat-trick for Victory, who also had Lucas Alessi, James Houridis, Will McIntosh and Malik Olukhale on the scoresheet.
Phoenix stay perfect in New Zealand
Wellington Phoenix could not have asked for a better start to their Central League campaign.
Chris Greenacre’s academy outfit blitzed Island Bay United 5-1 away from home to make it two wins from two games in New Zealand.
Ryan Watson, Daniel Makowem, Luke Flowerdew, Luke Mitchell and Jack Perniskie were the goalscorers. Substitute Perniskie scored within three minutes of his introduction.
The Phoenix Under-18 women’s side also sit in first place in the Women’s Central League after routing Palmerston North United 12-0.
Katie Pugh’s hat-trick was the highlight. Maisy McDonald, Anahera Easton, Eliza Vincent and Phoebe Hawes also scored twice, with Bridie Christie on target.
In NPLW NSW, there were wins for Bulls FC Academy and Western Sydney Wanderers.
Isabella Coco-Di Sipio‘s goal guided Bulls FC Academy past Sydney University 1-0, while Olivia Vanderlaan led the Wanderers past APIA Leichhardt 1-0.
Newcastle Jets lost 4-3 to Macarthur Rams in a thriller.
Milan Hammond was at the double for the beaten Jets, while Claire Adams scored a free-kick.
In NPLM NSW, there was a Sydney Derby as Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC played out a 0-0 draw.
Central Coast Mariners lost 2-0 to St George FC.
At U20 level, second-placed Western Sydney beat Sydney FC 2-1 thanks to goals from Noah Peacock and Max Hately. Zinadein Ardiansyah scored for the Sky Blues.
The Mariners lost 3-1 to St George FC despite Fynn Sadler‘s early equaliser.
In Football NSW League One, Bulls FC Academy continued their surge up the table via a 3-1 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Sebastian Krslovic, Flynn Madden and Zane Helweh inspired Nicolai Muller’s in-form Bulls, who are now fourth in the standings and seven points adrift of top spot.
Newcastle Jets are third following their 2-2 draw with Mounties Wanderers in the second tier.
Alex Nunes and Oliver Cockle were the scorers in Newcastle.
In the U20 competition, the Bulls and Jets remain neck and neck atop the standings on 24 points apiece.
Stephen Varvaritis scored two goals in three minutes for the Bulls in their 7-0 rout of Bonnyrigg. Julian Rodriguez, Ali El-Sabeh and Gustavo Bigoto also scored before Leandro Carle‘s quick-fire double.
The Jets overcame Mounties Wanderers 3-1 via goals from Max Wettig, Tommy Edmonds and Shiwa Dul as they overturned a half-time deficit.
