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.
17yo makes his Melbourne Victory debut after stint abroad
Meet James Lackay. The 17-year-old prospect made his debut for Melbourne Victory’s senior academy team over the weekend.
While Victory went down 3-0 to NPLM VIC leaders Heidelberg United, who are led by former Western United assistant John Anastasiadis, it was a memorable outing for Lackay.
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The Australian teenager came off the bench as the ex-Green Gully junior made his NPLM VIC bow at the Home of the Matildas.
“It was great to see James make his senior competitive debut. He’s worked hard for his opportunity and we hope he can continue his upward trajectory,” Victory’s senior academy technical manager Boris Seroshtan told aleagues.com.au.
Lackay is a highly-rated attacker, who played for Bayern Munich in 2024.
He was part of the FC Bayern World Squad in the United States last year.
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The Class of 24, led by former Bayern striker Roy Makaay, featured two Australians – Lackay and Perth Glory’s Giovanni de Abreu.
Bayern’s World Squad faced Inter Miami and DC United on their American tour before facing the club’s U19 outfit in Germany.
At U23 level, Melbourne Victory continue to lead the way in the NPL.
While Victory are 10th in NPLM VIC, their U23 team top the standings through 15 rounds thanks to their 2-1 win over Heidelberg.
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Victory rallied past Heidelberg thanks to second-half goals from Phin Harbinson and Malik Olukhale.
A recruit from Bulleen Lions, Harbinson has scored six goals in his first season with Victory, including three in his past three matches.
In NPLM SA, Adelaide United edged Modbury Jets 1-0 courtesy of Brody Burkitt.
The Reds are second in the standings and six points off the pace through 11 games.
Their reserves are seventh, meanwhile, following a 4-2 loss at home to Modbury. Fabian Grelli and Giorgio Parhas scored for Adelaide.
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In NPLM WA, Perth Glory suffered their first defeat of the season after going down 1-0 to Olympic Kingsway.
Glory’s U23 team, though, were 2-0 winners thanks to an Oliver Evans brace.
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Can anyone stop Melbourne City this season?
That is the question in 2025 as Melbourne City soar to new heights in VPL1.
Alessandro Diamanti’s senior academy team are unbeaten and top of the ladder after 15 rounds of action in Victoria’s second tier.
City travelled to Kingston Heath Soccer Complex on Friday night and played out a 1-1 draw with high-flying Bentleigh Greens in their top-of-the-table showdown.
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Young gun Beckham Baker opened the scoring for visiting City – his fourth goal in nine matches this season.
City are now three points clear atop the table as they head towards promotion to NPLM VIC.
“It’s obviously been a very good start to the VPL1 season, the team has played some fantastic football highlighted by the positive results but more importantly the strong performances from a number of individuals,” senior academy manager Simon Zappia told aleagues.com.au.
“We currently have a really nice balance in the squad including players like 15-year-old Akeem Gerald and recently turned 16-year-old Matt Baker but also regular players who have now had A-League experience like Ben Dunbar and Mikey Ghossaini.
“Alessandro Diamanti has done a tremendous job in adding immense hunger and spirit within the group which are key elements as players transition into senior football. Anyone that has worked in the senior academy space understands it’s not easy to do with so many squad changes in training and games each week due to A-League requirements.
“Credit must also go to the staff in the whole academy with our U23s and U17s also performing well with players ready to step up at any moment. This is helped by a consistent brand of football across the whole club which allows for players to transition seamlessly.”
Zappia added: “Certainly no talk of promotion, this has never been a goal that is spoken about. Our full focus is on the development of the individuals within the program and setting them up to have success at higher levels.
“Of course, an important part of the players development (particularly within our older age groups) is the players getting an understanding of how to win so we are pleased with how we’ve been able to manage games this year – a big improvement on previous seasons.”
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A-Leagues rivals Western United, who have a game in hand, are seventh and 13 points off the pace following their thrilling 3-3 draw at Kingston City.
Oli Lavale was at the double for the Green and Black.
While Western are currently off the pace in VPL1, there is still plenty of time to make ground in pursuit of promotion. A new format this season means the top two will automatically be promoted, while teams from third to sixth will feature in the play-offs.
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In the VPL1 U23s, Western United remain undefeated and atop the summit.
With a game in hand, Western are three points clear of Melbourne City following their 5-1 rout of Kingston City.
Oscar Tanic and Christian Polyzoudis led the way with two goals apiece, while Marcus Tavolaro also scored.
As for City, they defeated Bentleigh 3-1 courtesy of leading goalscorer Luke Becvinovski, Jesse Langa and Daniel Matina.
Red-hot Wanderers stay unbeaten
Western Sydney Wanderers have emerged as the dominant force in the NPLW NSW U23 competition this season.
The young Wanderers are yet to lose in 2025 following 0-0 draw away to Northern Tigers on Saturday evening.
After 12 matches, Western Sydney are five points clear with 10 wins and two draws. In the process, the Wanderers have scored 30 goals while conceding just three goals.
Bulls FC Academy lost 3-1 to Gladesville Ravens, while Newcastle Jets were beaten 4-1 by Sydney University.
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In NPLW NSW, Western Sydney’s senior team lost 2-1 away to Northern Tigers despite a late Catalina Wyrzynski goal.
The weekend, though, was all about Amber Luchtmeijer‘s last-gasp heroics.
The 2024 NPLW NSW Golden Boot winner and Sydney FC young gun scored in the 88th and 91st minutes to lead Bulls FC Academy past Gladesville Ravens 3-2.
Elizabeth Grey sparked the incredible comeback in the 70th minute as the Bulls rallied from 2-0 down.
The red-hot Bulls have won five games in a row to sit sixth in the standings, ahead of ninth-placed Western Sydney and 12th-placed Newcastle Jets, who lost 4-0 to Sydney University.
In NPLM NSW, Western Sydney Wanderers celebrated an important 2-1 win over 10-man Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday night.
Awan Lual and Edmun Haddad propelled the Wanderers to victory and three points clear of the relegation zone.
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As for rivals Sydney FC, they had a mixed bag of results.
On Friday night, the Sky Blues snapped NWS Spirit’s winning streak by emerging 2-0 victors via Taye Headley and substitute Marin France.
“The boys edged the first half then we were good in the second half dealing with their balls over the top,” Sydney FC head coach Jimmy Van Weeren said via NPL NSW.
“Spirit are having a good season, so for our young boys to show positive performances and results is pleasing for us.”
Then on Tuesday night, Sydney FC went down 1-0 to St George FC.
In the U20s, the Sky Blues celebrated a pair of wins against NWS Spirit and St George City.
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Junior Conde, Zac Fowler and Oscar Gultekin fuelled the 3-0 victory against NWS Spirit before Jeremy Mifsud and Justin Cardozo inspired the 2-0 win away to St George City.
Sydney are eighth in the standings, 10 points behind second-placed Western Sydney – who are level on points with leaders Manly United.
Western Sydney’s U20 team did not play over the weekend, while Central Coast Mariners were in not in action across first grade and U20s.
In Football NSW League One, Bulls FC Academy maintained their unbeaten streak following a 1-1 draw at home to Northern Tigers.
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In-form young gun Zane Helweh‘s 80th-minute equaliser ensured the points were shared over the weekend.
For Helweh, it was his 12th goal of the season as he stayed within two goals of Golden Boot leader Kai Denton.
The Bulls are fourth in the standings amid a six-game undefeated streak – five points off the pace.
Newcastle Jets are seventh and five points further back after losing 1-0 to Inter Lions.
In the U20s, the Bulls and Jets continue to lead the way.
Bulls FC Academy are top and five points clear of Newcastle after crushing Northern Tigers 4-0. Julian Rodriguez starred with a double, while Levi Sciuriaga and Stephen Varvaritis also struck.
Newcastle overpowered Inter Lions 3-1 courtesy of a Tommy Edmonds double and an Archie Brideson goal.
In NPLM QLD, Brisbane Roar lost 1-0 to Brisbane Olympic.
Over in New Zealand, there was a mixed bag of results.
Wellington Phoenix’s men’s reserves drew 2-2 against Waterside Karori in the Central League. Daniel Makowem and Luke Brooke-Smith scored.
In the Central League, Wellington’s women’s U18s are still unbeaten after Katie Pugh’s 12th goal of the season saw the Phoenix edge Miramar.
Meanwhile, the women’s reserves were beaten for the first time after lost 2-1 to Miramar.
