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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Melbourne City on the verge of promotion
The VPL1 title and promotion race will go down to the final weekend and Alessandro Diamanti’s Melbourne City are at the heart of it.
Led by Italian icon Diamanti, City are second and just a point adrift of Bentleigh Greens with one round remaining following their 6-0 win over Kingston City.
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“Exciting” winger Roland Ballah, Marcus Humbert, “unique” New Zealand international Aaron Cartwright, Ryan Kalms, Angus Mackintosh and talented 16-year-old striker Luke Becvinovski – who has scored 21 goals this season, including 18 in the Under-23s – inspired the comprehensive triumph.
Kalms continues to be a “standout” for City in 2025 along with a number of his teammates.
Senior academy manager Simon Zappia told aleagues.com.au: “He has really embraced the defensive side of the game which has allowed his performances to go to the next level, including in the recent Australia Cup game where he was arguably the best player on the pitch.
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“Ryan has sacrificed more than most back and forth to training from Bendigo for close to five years before moving to Melbourne to finish off his VCE. He is a real role model for the rest of the Academy.”
On Humbert, Zappia said: “Marcus has captained the team superbly well this season. His goal on the weekend shows the technical quality he has which is certainly a strength of his.
“Another one who made a well-earned appearance in the recent Australia Cup fixture v APIA.”
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As for Mackintosh, Zappia added: “Angus is a fantastic player who is technically good on the ball and works extremely hard off the ball.
“He can play as a defensive midfielder or in a more advanced role where he got his goal on the weekend. Another one who was rewarded with a start in the recent Australia Cup fixture v APIA.”
The race to the title and automatic promotion is going right down to the wire. While City (+40) are within a point of leaders Bentleigh, they are only ahead of Caroline Springs George Cross (+34) on goal difference, with the top two teams securing automatic promotion to the first division.
If successful, it would represent the first time City’s academy have been promoted to the first tier in Victoria.
City will visit Brunswick City on Sunday as Bentleigh host Northcote City and Caroline Springs entertain Western United.
Teams ranked between third and sixth will be involved in a promotion play-off to determine the club that will be promoted to NPLM VIC.
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Western United are fourth following their 2-1 win over Langwarrin in Tarneit. Two goals inside the opening six minutes from Tobias Servin and Anthony Didulica got the job done.
At Under-23 level, the title race will be decided on the final weekend.
Western United’s 2-0 win over Langwarrin has the Green and Black a solitary point above rivals Melbourne City heading into the last game.
City are hot on the heels of Western having humbled Kingston City 10-1 on the back of five goals from Thomas Nasso, who sensationally completed his haul in just 20 minutes having only only recently celebrated his 15th birthday.
“Thomas is a great kid who works tirelessly to improve,” said Zappia. “He has always had a great eye for goal but this year he has put a lot of work into his hold up play as a nine which is now a real weapon.
“Thomas has only just turned 15 so to see him perform so well at this level is a credit to him.”
Ahmed Faraz Gulzari added a brace to go with goals via Dimitrios Vlanes, Nikola Djurovic and Daniel Matina.
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Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory were relegated from NPLM VIC despite a 2-1 win away at sixth-placed Hume City in the penultimate round. Damien Bozinovski and Patrick Wall scored but it was not enough for Victory, who needed Altona Magic to lose their remaining two games.
As for their second-placed U23s, a 4-0 rout of Hume City kept them within three points of leaders Dandenong City heading into the final round.
Five-goal Bulls sensation as ‘one of the best young players in Australia’ ignites Mariners
Talk about a day out. Lachlan Sattout had just that for Bulls FC Academy in their 14-0 demolition of Rydalmere Lions FC at Under-20 level in Football NSW League One.
Sattout put a show for the merciless Bulls, scoring five goals to inspire the landside victory on Saturday night.
The young gun completed his hat-trick in just 37 minutes while it took the academy prospect a total of just 49 minutes to score five goals on a memorable day.
It took Sattout’s season tally to a league-best 23 goals in 2025, having missed the entire 2024 campaign due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
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“He is very mature and dedicated and has great work ethic and character in the dressing room,” Macarthur’s head of academy Shaf Sagol told aleagues.com.au previously.
“He is technically gifted and sharp in tight areas finding solutions and composed in finishing. He has great ability to find space and timing of runs to hurt the opposition back line.”
Sattout was not the only hat-trick hero for the Bulls, with Leandro Carle also celebrating a three-goal haul to take his season tally to 10 goals this term. Gavrilo Ciric was also on target with a brace while Parris Bangweni, Prayaag Thapa, Bassam Sabbagh and Julian Rodriguez were among the scorers.
The result kept the Bulls atop the table by just a point ahead of Newcastle Jets in a nail-biting finish to the title with two rounds remaining.
Newcastle, who were deducted three points by Football NSW for compliance breaches in April, overcame SD Raiders 4-3 thanks to a Cooper Vimpani double. William Eick also found the back of the net after an own goal.
In first grade, Bulls FC Academy and Newcastle Jets both lost.
The Bulls went down 1-0 to Rydalmere Lions, while the Jets succumbed to SD Raiders 2-1 despite Lucas Scicluna‘s 46th-minute equaliser.
Meanwhile, there are big wraps on Logan Sambrook and the Aussie young gun opened his account for Central Coast Mariners’ academy over the weekend.
At the time of his arrival, Mariners head coach Mark Jackson said: “We are really excited to be able to sign a young attacking player with such high potential.
“Logan is someone who is extremely sought after in Australian football, with multiple clubs vying for his signature, so we are delighted to be able to have him join us on the Coast.
“He is a talented young footballer with huge potential who is well recognised in the Australian Junior National Team set up and we look forward to working with him to continue to help him unlock that potential.”
Playing for the Mariners’ Under-20 side on the weekend, Sambrook scored twice to fuel a 6-2 victory over St George City FA.
Sambrook netted two goals in 15 minutes as the sixth-placed Mariners proved too strong for their opponents, with Jayden Jensen, Ari Kum, Quinlan Barr and John Kassis also on target.
Elsewhere, second-placed Western Sydney Wanderers edged Blacktown City 2-1 thanks to Georgio Hassarati‘s 90th-minute winner after his stunning three-minute hat-trick last time out. Ewan Gasowski also scored for the Wanderers.
As for Sydney FC, highly-rated Zac Fowler found the back of the net again in a 1-1 draw with St George FC. The youngster has scored a joint league-best 17 goals in 2025.
Meanwhile in NPLM NSW first grade, Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners played out draws.
Akol Akon, who became Sydney’s youngest ever men’s player following his debut in the Australia Cup, scored in a 1-1 draw against St George FC as the Mariners were involved in a goalless stalemate against St George City FA.
The Wanderers lost 1-0 to Blacktown City.
Phoenix on cusp of maiden silverware, league-leading Glory win big in WA
Wellington Phoenix will feature in the Kate Sheppard Cup final after taking down Cashmere Technical 2-1.
There was no shortage of drama as Wellington women’s reserves emerged triumphant courtesy of Amber De Wit’s 90th-minute winner.
Against a Cashmere side featuring former ‘Nix captain Annalie Longo, Lara Wall, and Rebecca Lake, Wellington set the tone through Lily Brazendale before De Wit’s last-gasp strike setup a decider with Auckland United.
The Phoenix are now eyeing their first senior domestic silverware, with the September 7 final to be streamed live and free on FIFA+.
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In NPLW NSW, high-flying Bulls FC Academy were stunned 4-2 by Macarthur Rams. Isabella Coco-Di Sipio and Jynaya Dos Santos struck for the Bulls.
Western Sydney Wanderers rallied to draw 2-2 against Mt Druitt Town Rangers thanks to Olivia Vanderlaan‘s 92nd-minute equaliser. Nikkita Fazzari was also on the scoresheet.
Newcastle Jets lost 2-1 to UNSW despite Alexis Collins‘ equaliser.
In the U23s, Newcastle played out a wild 4-4 draw against UNSW as Makayla Clifton, Skyla Poole, Lainee Mcfadyen and Charlee Fahey scored.
Jade Guichon‘s two goals in 10 minutes guided Bulls FC Academy past Macarthur Rams 3-1, with Sophia Furia also on target.
Western Sydney Wanderers drew 0-0 against Mt Druitt Town.
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Perth Glory’s emerging talent continue to impress in Western Australia, where the U23 academy outfit remain at the summit on the back of a 10-1 demolition on the weekend.
Balcatta Etna FC were no watch for the league-leading Glory at U23 level in NPLM WA, where Perth scored 10 goals to stay top of the table.
Golden Boot leader Cristiano Farfan scored his 25th goal of the season, while scholarship signing Oliver Evans bagged a double for the rampant Glory.
Santiago Flores, Oliver Andrews, Louis Sollitt, Alfie Knight and Lewis Donnelly were also on the scoresheet.
Glory’s senior academy outfit are third in NPLM WA following their 4-1 triumph against Balcatta Etna.
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In NPLM QLD, Brisbane Roar drew 0-0 with St George Willawong while Adelaide United lost 5-0 in NPLM SA though the Reds are through to the Elimination Final.
Fabian Grelli‘s 92nd-minute penalty salvaged a 2-2 draw for Adelaide’s reserves against Modbury Jets. Mutsa Mupandawana also scored.
In New Zealand’s Northern Leagues, Auckland FC were beaten 2-1 by Western Springs.
