Anthony Didulica is yet to play an Isuzu UTE A-League match but the Western United teenager is making a name for himself.
The 16-year-old played a key role for Australia at the ASEAN Under-16 Boys’ Championship in Indonesia earlier this month, earning a share of the Golden Boot as the Subway Joeys defeated Thailand on penalties to clinch a third title.
A Western academy star, Didulica scored six goals in four matches to help an Australia men’s national team win a piece of silverware for the first time since 2019.
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“I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life because I haven’t played for my country before,” he said in an interview with Western United. “It was amazing.
“I can’t explain in words how good it was.”
“Unexplainable,” he continued as the tournament left him wanting more at national team level. “When you walk into the changerooms and see the last name on your shirt, you can’t explain the feeling how good it is.”
It was a breakout tournament for Didulica, who joined Brisbane Roar’s Quinn MacNicol atop the goalscoring charts.
Didulica came off the bench to score four goals in a 12-0 thumping of Timor-Leste in Australia’s final group game before bagging a brace in the 5-3 semi-final win over hosts Indonesia.
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“Going into the tournament as a new player, I didn’t expect to do as well as I did,” he reflected.
“Being a new player, it was always going to be tough to get into the first team and get minutes because it was hard for a lot of players.
“But putting in 100% at training – we had a pre-camp in Jakarta – and in the practice matches there. After that, I took my opportunity.”
An electric attacking midfielder with a knack for scoring goals – “lethal around the penalty box” the player says himself – Didulica joined Western at the back end of 2023, initially in the U18s squad.
Heading into the tournament, he had scored eight goals in 16 matches at U23 level this season at Western.
John Aloisi’s Western have not been afraid to give debuts to academy graduates and Didulica could be the next in line in 2024-25.
There were 11 debutants for the club in 2023-24 – Max Bisetto (Australia Cup only), Lavale, Najdovski, Matthew Grimaldi, Zach Lisolajski, Jordan Lauton, James York, Charbel Shamoon, Vickery, Khoder Kaddour and Walatee.
Since last season, eight scholarship contracts have also been handed out to Grimaldi, Lavale, Michael Vonja, Vickery, Khoder Kaddour, Walatee, Luka Coveny and Dylan Leonard.
Five Academy players have signed their first pro contracts heading into next season.
“I love being here,” Didulica said. “The senior academy staff are all top coaches. Training is always high intensity.
“I’m learning a lot from training and games. That’s helped me get into the Joeys team.”
