Is Noah Maieroni the next academy talent set to crack the A-Leagues?
There are a host of A-Leagues prospects impressing within youth team setups around the country; some have already graduated to scholarship deals and professional debuts, including highly-rated Brisbane Roar young gun Lucas Herrington in 2024-25.
Maieroni is from that Roar setup and is one of those teenagers catching the eye at NPL level.
After four seasons away, the 19-year-old is back in Roar colours and wearing the captain’s armband in NPLM QLD this year.
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The talented teenager has already spent time training with Brisbane’s Isuzu UTE A-League side. Now, the midfielder is ready for the next step.
“It’s a huge goal of mine to be playing in the A-League next season,” Maieroni told aleagues.com.au following back-to-back wins for Brisbane in NPLM QLD. “I think I’m ready and close.
“Hopefully I can make my debut and then break into the first team. But I know I have to keep working hard, keep putting in good performances with the youth team.”
Maieroni – named among 70 schoolboy wonders by The Courier Mail in 2023 and described as “one of the very best we saw” – is no stranger to the Roar. The youngster played U13 and U14 football for the club’s youth team between 2018-19 before moving to Brisbane City.
During those two years with the Roar, he won the U13 and U14 National Youth Championships.
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“After being away from the Roar for a few years and getting a few seasons of men’s football under my belt, the thing that probably lured me back the most was being back in a professional environment and the chance to try and break into the first team in the A-League,” he reflected.
“I couldn’t turn down that opportunity.”
Returning to the Roar has also meant a reunion with former Brisbane City boss and current academy head coach Karl Dodd.
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“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Noah for the past couple of years and have seen considerable growth in his game,” Dodd told aleagues.com.au.
“He has this natural ability to unlock defences and is starting to become the complete midfielder.
“All his hard work is paying off and has spent the last couple of months being around the A-league training so I’m sure he is looking forward to being involved in the A-Leagues pre-season and showcase his qualities.”
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This is a player who has represented the Australian Schoolboys at U19 and U20 level in 2023 and 2024 respectively alongside Portsmouth’s Thomas Waddingham and Celtic’s Liam Bonetig. His performances abroad with the schoolboys team attracted overseas interest, while it also led to trials in Scotland and Denmark.
Now, Maieroni – inspired by Barcelona legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta growing up – is looking to follow in the footsteps of teammates Herrington and  James Durrington, who have come through Brisbane’s academy and played A-Leagues football this season.
“Seeing a lot of young boys that have come through the academy and doing well in the A-League and making a big impact this season, it’s huge motivation for not only me but a lot of the boys in the youth team,” he said.
“To see if we can perform and do well in the NPL, the opportunities re there for us to try to make our debuts and break into the first team.
“The big thing for me is to stay patient and keep working hard and hopefully that opportunity will come.”
