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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Hat-trick hero fuels Western United’s big win
It was the Jake Najdovski show in Tarneit on Sunday.
The Young Socceroo flexed his muscles with a hat-trick as unbeaten VPL1 leaders Western United blitzed Manningham United 5-0 at Ironbark Fields, where Luke Vickery and Victor Muhindo were also on target.
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Najdovski’s three-goal haul means the 19-year-old striker has scored a league-high seven goals in just four matches. To put that into context, five goals is the next best in Victoria’s second tier.
Western teammate Najdovski is continuing to emerge at Western United.
Born and bred in the west and a product of the club’s academy, the teenager made his A-Leagues debut last season. He ended 2023-24 with six appearances and has already matched that amount this term.
“Jake has shown a really strong desire to improve and has progressed well over the past few years, particularly since signing his first professional contract,” Western’s academy director Anthony Frost told aleagues.com.au.
“Jake has elite-level finishing capabilities in and around the box which he’s been able to demonstrate in the last few NPL/VPL seasons.
“As he continues to develop and refine areas of development I’m confident he’ll be able to show his qualities in the A-Leagues as he gets more and more exposure with the first team.”
“This is a special story for us. We strive to give talented young players in the West the chance to represent our club and Jake has done everything right to earn his opportunities,” general manager of football Mal Impiombato said at the time of Najdovski’s re-signing in September 2023.
“His application and attitude have been exemplary ever since he joined the first team and his talent remains at a high level amongst our squad.
“We are eager to continue supporting Jake on his football journey and help him realise his potential at Western United.”
At Under-23 level, league-leading Western United blitzed Manningham 7-2 to stay atop of the standings.
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Shifa Ahmed scored a hat-trick, while Alex Marmura, Ethan Robinson, Oscar Tanic, Felipe Arrua were also among the goalscorers.
Shifa, 18, has now scored five goals in his last two games and six for the season in 2025.
“Shifa is a very unpredictable and dynamic winger that is his best when running at players,” Frost told aleagues.com.au.
“He is continuing to build physically and is getting stronger and stronger with each game he plays. He’s performed well in the past few weeks and if he continues along this vein of form he’ll see good exposure in the Senior VPL team.”
Elsewhere in VPL1, Melbourne City also enjoyed a big weekend of results in Victoria.
Alessandro Diamanti’s unbeaten senior academy side were merciless in their 8-1 demolition of Moreland City.
Beckham Baker, 16, scored a cracker for his second goal of the season, while Alessandro Lopane also netted a stunning goal to inspire City.
15-year-old sensation Akeem Gerald bagged his second of the campaign as Arion Sulemani and Mikey Ghossaini opened their 2025 accounts, with Roland Ballah, Ben Dunbar and Xavier Stella also on target.
With the result, City stayed within two points of Western United.
City’s U23 team also saw off Moreland City 5-1 to stay second behind Western as Julian Recchia, Joel Arena, Yaser Payendeh, Jesse Langa and Daniel Matina all scored.
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In NPLM VIC, Melbourne Victory lost 4-1 to high-flying leaders Avondale FC.
Jing Reec score for Victory against an Avondale side who made it four wins from four games to start the season.
Victory’s U23 side, meanwhile, were 3-1 victors against Avondale via goals from Patrick Wall and twins James Houridis and Alexi Houridis to remain a point clear at the summit.
Last-gasp equaliser gives Mariners first point of 2025
In the 95th minute, Central Coast Mariners needed a goal and up stepped Arthur De Lima on Saturday.
The 17-year-old got on the end of a Logan Sambrook cross to glance a last-gasp header into the back of the net and salvage a 2-2 draw for the Mariners against Wollongong Wolves in NPLM NSW.
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Central Coast were down 2-0 after quick-fire goals from Wollongong put the hosts in control before Ayouk Mow swiftly pulled a goal back approaching the half-hour nark.
Then, De Lima earned a share of the spoils in dramatic fashion as the bottom-placed Mariners claimed their first point of 2025.
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“We know that our last performances haven’t been good, but I think the results haven’t reflected how we’ve played in most of the games,” coach Lucas Vilela said via NPL NSW.
“They’re [the players] starting to understand that football is more than just the ball at their feet. And sometimes football is not fair.
“The past couple of weeks were really good. Sometimes people outside don’t see the work we put in everyday.”
Elsewhere, Sydney FC played out a 0-0 draw with Manly United while Western Sydney Wanderers lost 2-0 to Sydney United.
In the U20s, Max Miller guided the Mariners past Wollongong 1-0.
Sydney FC edged Manly 1-0 thanks to Zac Fowler as the Sky Blues celebrated their first win of the season, while Lachlan Henderson was on target as league-leading Western Sydney drew 1-1 against Sydney United.
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‘Exciting’ Jets youth international ‘pushing to make the next step’
Newcastle Jets returned to winning ways in Football NSW League One, as Ethan Debono continued his fine form since arriving in the Hunter region.
The Malta Under-19 international provided the assist for Oli Cockle in the second half before Debono scored a goal of his own minutes later.
Having previously played for Bulls FC Academy and Central Coast Mariners Academy, Debono has hit the ground running with Newcastle, scoring two goals and tallying two assists in 2025.
“Ethan has joined us this season and has fit in really well with the culture we are building both on and off the pitch in the academy,” said head coach Damian Zane in an interview with the Jets. “His work ethic in training is superb, and he is a good person away from it too.
“He’s an exciting player that has skill along with explosive speed and finishing, and is willing to work hard for the team. If he can maintain this form consistently over the season, then he will be pushing to make the next step.”
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Debono – who has also represented the Australian U18 Schoolboys – has already played international football after making his U19 debut for Malta in 2023.
“Representing Malta was probably one of the proudest moments, not just for me but my whole family,” the teenager told the Jets.
“It had been something I really wanted to do from a young age, and to finally have the opportunity to do so was amazing. For me, it was also a great experience going into a different environment to what I was used to, particularly the culture and playing style.”
Elsewhere in League One, 11th-placed Bulls FC Academy drew 2-2 at Macarthur Rams.
Levi Sciuriaga and Zane Helweh scored to give the Bulls a 2-0 lead before the Rams rallied on home soil.
At U20 level, goals from Bassam Sabbagh, Jeremiah Davids, Hamza Bangash and Atiya Waraga led the Bulls to a 4-0 rout of the Rams.
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The Jets crushed Hills United 6-1 courtesy of a Amos Okumu brace and goals from Tommy Edmonds, Lucas Johnson, Aleu Arou and Wil Southcombe.
Newcastle have a 100% record after four games to sit top, having scored 18 goals and conceded just four while the Bulls are third and three points off the pace.
In NPLM QLD, Brisbane Roar went down 3-0 to reigning champions Lions FC in Round 2.
In NPLM SA, Adelaide United conceded a 93rd-minute goal in their 1-0 loss away to Adelaide Comets.
As for the Reds’ reserve NPL side, Emerson Koenig and Ali Mohtashami scored in a 2-2 draw against the Comets.
In NPLM WA, Perth Glory were beaten 4-3 by Sorrento FC in their Night Series semi-final.
Khoa Ngo, Max Naylor and Sebastian Despotovski scored for Glory but it was not enough.
