Angus Thurgate is starring amid Western United’s impressive 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season. aleagues.com.au looks at the numbers behind the unheralded midfielder.
Goal scorers usually get the plaudits but there is an unsung hero who holds the key to the exciting Western United engine in 2024-25.
He may not be a flashy attacker like Hiroshi Ibusuki or Noah Botic, or even young guns Abel Walatee and Matt Grimaldi, but it is this “old school” midfielder who is unlocking the Green and Black this season.
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Thurgate – who actually made his debut as a striker – is in the midst of his best Isuzu UTE A-League season by far, and his form has coincided with the rise of John Aloisi’s youthful Western United ahead of Friday’s reunion with his former club Newcastle Jets.
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“Angus Thurgate has gone to another level for us this season,” Aloisi said recently.
“He’s been our best player. With the ball he’s positive, he goes forward .. and then he’s back defending in his own box.
“He’s that real old school box-to-box player which are becoming more prominent now in football.”
The proof is in the numbers for the 24-year-old, who recently became the youngest player in Isuzu UTE A-League history to reach 150 appearances. Even at his relatively young age, he has been a wise head among an exciting cohort of academy graduates at Ironbark Fields.
No player across the competition has played more minutes than Thurgate in 2024-25 (1,170, equal first with Filip Kurto, Luke Brattan and Matt Sutton).
His ability to go box-to-box, break up play and create chances has made him a priceless asset for Aloisi this term as the 2022 champions eye a return to the Finals Series for the first time since winning the Championship almost three years ago. Western sit fifth and only three points off the pace after 13 matches.
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The former Young Socceroos midfielder ranks first for possession won in the middle third (48) – level with Macarthur Bulls star and Socceroo Luke Brattan this season, while he is second for duels (169) and third for duels won (83), while he comes in at fifth for possession won (74).
Aside from his ball-winning exploits, Thurgate’s five through balls this season is only one short of the most in the Isuzu UTE A-League and equal fourth having supplied three assists.
Among midfielders, the 2021-22 Young Footballer of the Year is ninth for total carries (143) and carry directness (47.9) and 10th for total carry distance (1,387.3) as he covers an enormous amount of ground on the pitch.
And, there is still so much more upside to Thurgate, who was an A-Leagues All Star in 2024.
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“He is such a robust player in terms of his body seems to be able to hold. He does a hell of a lot of work and throws his body around,” said Aloisi after his milestone game last month.
“He’s improved so much since he’s been here too. He is one of those players who will give you everything, with and without the ball.
“He is becoming that player who is always going to give you a 7/10 and that’s very important to have. I congratulate him on 150 games but I know there’s more to come. Hopefully his career can keep growing and go to another level.”
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