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.
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Adelaide youth guru’s insight into talented teens and Reds’ vision: ‘I have a lot of time for players like him‘
Adelaide United are renowned for their development of players and the club’s famed production line, so how are the new crop of prospects faring in 2025?
It was a successful weekend for Adelaide in NPLM SA across the senior men’s academy team and reserve outfit.
On Sunday, Adelaide’s senior side defeated Croydon Kings 3-2 thanks to a 92nd-minute winner to move level atop the standings on nine points from four games.
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Brody Burkitt‘s stoppage-time goal gave the Reds victory, while Alex Battistella and Joey Garuccio – the cousin of Western United captain – were also on target.
Head of Youth Football Airton Andrioli spoke to aleagues.com.au to give an update on Adelaide’s academy this season.
“We have very consistent messaging with the way we do things,” the youth guru said when asked about the senior academy side this year.
“As soon as players come in and get used to that, we try to provide them with a very clear understanding with the way we do things to help them because once everyone is on the same page, it’s easier for players to express themselves.
“I believe that the structure gives players the freedom to express themselves. If you don’t provide a foundation and structure, then players with good ability can be less or more effective. That’s what we do.
“The progress is good. We believe in setting up an environment where players can express themselves within those structures, then it’s up to them to show us what they have and don’t have for the future.”
Adelaide continue to reap the rewards of a youth program established by Andrioli 16 years ago which has resulted in a remarkable production line of talent, headlined by Panagiotis Kikianis, Ethan Alagich, Luka Jovanovic and Jonny Yull; Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, Al-Hassan Toure and Musa Toure before them.
Outside of the Isuzu UTE A-League, there is a fresh cohort looking to progress and make their mark at the professional level, like Harry Crawford and Ryan White have in 2024-25.
Garuccio is continuing to impress in NPLM SA this season. The 18-year-old attacker has scored twice so far.
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“Joey Garuccio is a very intelligent player,” Andrioli said.
“I have a lot of time for players like him. They understand the game. He reads the game quite well and he is also good technically. He has the fundamentals very well. He is a left-footer too.
“He can see a pass and score a goal. We’re relying on him at the moment to provide assists and score goals. Probably operating more as a 10 is a better role for him.
“He is coming along quite well.”
As for game-winning hero Burkitt, he has now scored two goals in four games at senior level this term after netting three times in pre-season.
“He can be a player who can create something out of nothing. Has good finishing instincts. Works really hard, so he has a good attitude which is very important for players,” Andrioli said.
“He obviously has some deficiencies but because he has a tremendous heart and is willing to work on those things, I see that as a positive because those players can still improve.”
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At reserve level, Adelaide are soaring in South Australia.
After a 7-0 rout a fortnight ago, the unbeaten Reds backed that up with a 7-2 win over Croydon to sit fourth in the table and four points off the pace.
Ali Mohtashami scored a hat-trick, while Chris Irakoze bagged a double with Mohammad Hassan and substitute Sebastian Tarasenko also on target.
Mohtashami’s 2025 tally now stands at five goals as Andrioli said: “Ali had a few injuries with us but he is definitely a player that has a bit of street smarts about him. He brings a bit of that.”
Irakoze, meanwhile, has three goals in four games.
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“Chris has a bit of an x-factor about him but obviously now he needs to learn to use that more effectively because the game becomes a bit more focused on the way you want to do things, a little bit of structure,” the Brazilian said.
“Just help the players be a bit more effective with their skills and their ability.”
Andrioli added: “They’re still very raw and making their way up – getting used to the pace of things, the way we do things here, we challenge the boys quite a lot here to put them out of their comfort zone.
“They’re adjusting to that but they’re both doing well. Players who have potential for the future.”
Late drama sees Jets soar to season first over rivals
Newcastle Jets have lift off in NPLW NSW and they did it in dramatic fashion.
The Jets celebrated their first win of the season via a 3-2 victory at the expense of Bulls FC Academy at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
After a loss in the opening round before their round-two fixture was rescheduled, Newcastle reigned supreme thanks to Alexis Collins‘ 91st-minute winner.
The Bulls hit the front over the weekend through Isabella Coco-Di Sipio in the 16th minute before Kate Heap restored parity for the home side.
But the Bulls went into half-time leading 2-1 after Ashlee Brodigan found the back of the net on the stroke of the interval.
The Jets refused to surrender, however, as Sophie Howarth equalised nine minutes into the second half before Collins made herself a hero at the death.
Elsewhere, Western Sydney Wanderers lost 3-1 away to Illawarra Stingrays.
Alyssa Mckenzie scored a late consolation goal for the Wanderers.
In NPLM NSW, it was a mixed bag for the A-Leagues teams.
Sydney FC ended their four-game winless run by edging Sydney Olympic 2-1.
The likes of Zachary De Jesus, Tiago Quintal, Jaiden Kucharski and Wataru Kamijo were in action for the Sky Blues, while first-half goals from Will Kennedy and Joe Lacey inspired the visitors on Saturday.
“Sydney Olympic are a heavyweight in this competition,” said Sydney FC head coach Jim van Weeren via Football NSW.
“Outside the A-League, that is as good a challenge as you are going to get. Despite the age of the boys (17,18,19 etc), we wanted to compete against the men in the right way.
“Tonight, they really showed that they were capable of that and we are really proud of them. It was good to see a result that matched the performance, and I am just really happy for the boys that they got a win.”
Central Coast Mariners went down 1-0 to Sutherland Sharks, while Western Sydney Wanderers lost 6-1 to APIA Leichhardt. Nicholas Badolato scored for Western Sydney.
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In the Under-20s, second-placed Western Sydney overcame APIA 2-1 thanks to quick-fire goals from Bryce Harrison and Tristan Arrarte.
The five-star Mariners – eighth in the standings – eased past Sutherland Sharks 5-0 as Fynn Sadler scored twice in a minute, while Xavier Dalpra, Jayden Jensen and Isaac Kwon also struck.
Junior Conde scored in 11th-placed Sydney FC’s 1-1 draw with Sydney Olympic.
In Football NSW League One, Bulls FC Academy drew 1-1 with fellow A-Leagues academy Newcastle Jets.
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Zane Helweh and Garang Arou traded goals in the Round 7 fixture.
As for the U20s, the Bulls beat the Jets 4-1.
Levi Sciuriaga was the double and Kye Cassar and Lachlan Sattout also scored after Newcastle’s Lucas Johnson had equalised prior to half-time.
Melbourne City still unbeaten
Alessandro Diamanti’s Melbourne City are yet to taste defeat in 2025 after their 2-2 draw with FC Melbourne Srbija in VPL1.
City raced out to a 2-0 lead inside 36 minutes after Peter Antoniou and Ben Dunbar struck for the home side.
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But Melbourne Srbija scored in the 83rd and 86th minutes to salvage a point, though City remain second – a point off the pace – and undefeated through seven games.
Rivals Western United were involved in a wild showdown in Victoria’s second tier on Friday night.
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It was an eight-goal shoot-out as third-placed Western drew 4-4 at Moreland City.
Mark Leonard – the older brother of A-Leagues star Dylan – scored twice, while Jake Najdovski and Luke Vickery were also on target for the visitors.
At U23 level, Western United and Melbourne City continue to lead the way.
Unbeaten league leaders Western made it seven wins from seven games with a 3-2 triumph over Moreland, where Oliver Dimovski, Erton Sallevski and Karl Leban scored.
As for second-placed City, they crushed Melbourne Srbija 13-0.
There were four-goal hauls for Jesse Langa and Ahmed Faraz Gulzari. Julian Recchia also scored twice, while Oliver O’Carroll, Farhad Behishti and Luke Becvinovski found the back of the net.
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In NPLM VIC, Melbourne Victory made it back-to-back wins by defeating Melbourne Knights 2-1.
Jack Mihailidis and Jesse Hoey were the goalscorers.
Victory’s league-leading U23 outfit trumped Knights 3-2 on Sunday as Aaron Bazenski scored two goals and Nikolas Cevizovic bagged the other.
In NPLM WA, Perth Glory preserved their 100% record with a 4-1 rout of Stirling Macedonia.
After their 5-0 win over Fremantle City, Perth soared once more thanks to an Adam Bugarija double and goals via Khoa Ngo and Joel Anasmo.
In NPLM QLD, Brisbane Roar lost 2-1 to Moreton City Excelsior following a two-week hiatus due to ex Cyclone Alfred.
Pearson Kasawaya scored for the Roar.
