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.
Featured image: Newcastle Jets
‘I would pay to watch him’
Is Oli Cockle the next young gun set to take the Isuzu UTE A-League by storm?
The highly-rated Newcastle Jets prospect is flourishing in the club’s academy as evidenced by the 17-year-old being named the men’s Emerging Jet award winner for 2024-25.
Cockle has scored a team-high six goals in eight starts, since breaking into Newcastle’s youth team, following the weekend’s 2-2 draw against Blacktown Spartans in Football NSW League One – the second tier.
The teenager, who has been in the academy since Under-14s and already spent time training with the Isuzu UTE A-League outfit, opened the scoring for the Jets, who also had Ethan Debono among the goalscorers.
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“(He’s) on his way towards a scholarship if his form continues,” Jets academy head coach Damian Zane told aleagues.com.au.
“Amazing acceleration and an exciting dribbler who can score or create. Pushing Will Dobson for the best I’ve seen coming through.
“The most amazing change of direction I’ve seen whilst dribbling and doesn’t lose any speed whilst executing it.
“He has worked on his finishing with Clayton Zane and has added goals to his game.
“I would pay to watch him.”
The Jets are seventh in League One, nine points off top spot and seven points adrift of fourth-placed rivals Bulls FC Academy, who edged Canterbury Bankstown 1-0 via Harry Menham.
At U20 level, both the Jets and Bulls were big winners last week.
Lucas Johnson‘s four-goal haul fuelled Newcastle’s 8-0 humbling of Blacktown.
Johnson scored four goals in just 32 minutes, while William Thurlow, Cooper Vimpani, Kurtis White and Dash Baker also struck.
Newcastle are second and five points behind the rampant Bulls, who eased past Canterbury Bankstown 6-0.
Andre Parkes led the way with two goals and he was aided by Levi Sciuriaga, Julian Rodriguez, Ali El-Sabeh and Atiya Waraga.
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In NPLM NSW, Western Sydney Wanderers played out a 1-1 draw with Sydney Olympic. Awan Lual scored for the Wanderers.
Mathias Macallister and Junior Conde scored but 10-man Sydney FC went down 3-2 to Ante Juric’s Sydney United.
As for Central Coast Mariners, they were swept aside 5-0 by APA Leichhardt having been beaten 3-0 by Sydney Olympic during the week.
In the U20s, Western Sydney Wanderers lead the way after their 3-1 win over Sydney Olympic thanks to goals courtesy of Dallo Sandy, Tristan Arrarte and Luka Knezevic.
Muginga Mpota led Central Coast Mariners past APIA 1-0, while Sydney FC lost 3-0 to Sydney United.
In NPLW NSW, five-star Western Sydney Wanderers put Newcastle Jets to the sword in a 5-0 victory.
Two goals apiece from Miriam Zumaya and Amy Barker fuelled the Wanderers, who also had Olivia Vanderlaan on target.
Bulls FC Academy, meanwhile, drew 1-1 against APIA. Tamires Souza scored for the Bulls.
At U23 level, Western Sydney remain undefeated and top of the table following their 3-0 triumph against Newcastle Jets.
Three goals in 18 minutes from Ruby Betro (two) and Isabella Sultan inspired the Wanderers victory.
The young Bulls lost 4-0 to APIA.
Victory debutant makes history
While Melbourne Victory lost over the weekend, it was a special day for Malik Olukhale.
On a day that saw Victory beaten 4-2 by South Melbourne in NPLM VIC, Olukhale became the youngest player to make his senior debut for the club in the Victorian top flight.
The 16-year-old made history when he came off the bench in the second half of Sunday’s match at Lakeside Stadium, where Jordan Hoey and Jack Mihailidis were the scorers.
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His appearance came a day after playing a full 90 minutes for Victory’s U23s in their 3-1 loss to South Melbourne.
The skilful attacker, who has been at the club since the start of the 2023 academy season having previously played for Northcote City, also represented Victoria at last year’s National Championships and was part of the triumphant U15s squad.
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Olukhale – whose father represented the Kenya national team – has now played for the club across all six age group and has done so in the space of two years.
In VPL1, Western United returned to winning ways by seeing off Brunswick City 3-1 in Victoria’s second division.
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Tobias Servin, Jake Najdovski and Mark Leonard led the fifth-placed Green and Black in Tarneit.
In the 23s, Western drew 2-2 with Brunswick City.
Marcus Tavolaro and an own goal earned a share of the spoils for the league leaders.
Melbourne City were not in action over the weekend.
Glory in title contention
Perth Glory returned to winning ways in NPLM WA as they continue to keep pace with the leaders.
After losing last time out, third-placed Glory bounced back by defeating Balcatta Etna 3-1.
Max Naylor, Daniel Jankuloski and Adrian Pini were the goalscorers for Glory, who are five points off the pace through 10 rounds.
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At U23 level, Glory are top of the table having seen off the same opposition via Lucas Mura and Oliver Evans.
In NPLM SA, Adelaide United drew 0-0 with Adelaide Croatia Raiders.
The Reds’ reserves, meanwhile, played out a 2-2 draw. Mohammed Hassan and Sidiki Dukuly found the back of the net.
Over in NPLM QLD, Brisbane Roar lost 4-1 to Peninsula Power as Ivan Ozzi scored their solitary goal.
In New Zealand, Wellington Phoenix had a mixed bag of results.
In the Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup, the women’s reserves were 8-1 victors away to Palmerston North Marist. Lily Brazendale’s hat-trick was the headline, while Isla Cleall-Harding and Emily Humphrey bagged two goals apiece, with Ella McMillan scoring the other.
In the Central League, the U18 women’s team remain second after beating Moturoa AFC 3-0 thanks to goals via Bridie Christie, Maisy McDonald, and Isabella Temple.
With a number of youngsters away with New Zealand’s U20s, the men’s reserves lost 3-1 to Napier City Rovers in the Delivereasy Chatham Cup.
