History was made over the weekend as a record number of teenagers featured in the opening round of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
In fact, 18 teenage talents were on show in Round 1 – the most for any first round in the history of the Isuzu UTE A-League, per Andrew Howe.
The list includes 16-year-old Central Coast Mariners sensation Haine Eames and Western United’s 17-year-old defender Dylan Leonard, who became the youngest debutants in their respective club’s history.
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Perth Glory had the highest number of teenagers involved in week one with five, followed by Central Coast Mariners and Western United (both three). In total, eight clubs were represented.
These are the youngsters who were part of an historic weekend across Australia and New Zealand.
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Haine Eames (16 – Central Coast Mariners)
On Friday night, the academy graduate come off the bench to make his debut in Central Coast Mariners’ 0-0 draw with Melbourne Victory. It was a history-making bow for Eames, who became the youngest debutant in Central Coast’s history.
Dylan Leonard (17 – Western United)
There were seven Western United academy graduates involved involved in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Wellington Phoenix. The biggest storyline was Leonard’s debut as the highly-rated defender – who penned his first pro deal heading into 2024-25 – became the club’s youngest debutant after his second-half appearance.
Jayden Smith (17 – Wellington Phoenix)
The Wellington Phoenix academy graduate signed his first professional deal in the off-season. On Sunday, he came off the bench for his A-Leagues bow.
Will Dobson (17 – Newcastle Jets)
Dobson came off the bench and made his debut in the 1-0 loss to Melbourne City on Saturday. The teenager played a role in Newcastle’s historic unbeaten season in Football NSW’s League Two, scoring seven goals as the Jets clinched the title and promotion.
Dean Bosnjak (18 – Macarthur Bulls)
Sunday could not have gone any better for Macarthur Bulls, who were rampant in a 6-1 rout of Perth Glory. It also saw the debut of new signing Bosnjak. He was just six days off being Macarthur’s youngest ever debutant (Rhys Youlley).
Dylan Peraic-Cullen (18 – Central Coast Mariners)
The highly-rated goalkeeper got the nod over Adam Pavlesic and Jack Warshawsk for his first professional match in the Mariners’ goalless draw with Victory in their Grand Final rematch. An “exceptional talent”, Peraic-Cullen kept a clean sheet in the curtain-raiser.
Abdelelah Faisal (18 – Perth Glory)
Faisal returned to familiar surroundings for his first taste of Isuzu UTE A-League football on Sunday. While Perth were no match for his former club Macarthur Bulls, the talented midfielder started on debut in Campbelltown following an impressive pre-season.
Khoa Ngo (18 – Perth Glory)
A Glory product, Ngo signed his first scholarship deal in the off-season and Sunday saw the youngster make his third A-Leagues appearance – as a substitute – after featuring twice in 2023-24.
Andriano Lebib (18 – Perth Glory)
At the heart of Glory’s backline in New South Wales over the weekend was Lebib, who partnered Ecuadorian recruit Luis Canga. It was his first start in the Isuzu UTE A-League and just his second appearance.
Nathan Walker (18 – Wellington Phoenix)
The 18-year-old made an “unexpected” Isuzu UTE A-League debut as the ‘Nix welcomed Western United to Wellington. The academy player was thrust into the starting XI after Sam Sutton fell ill. Walker has been training with Giancarlo Italiano’s first team throughout pre-season and debuted in the Australia Cup but he is not one of the 25 contracted A-Leagues players.
Zach Lisolajski (19 – Perth Glory)
Lisolajski – described as an “absolute machine” – swapped Western United for David Zdrilic’s Glory at the end of 2023-24. Over the weekend, the talented defender started in the loss away to Macarthur – his seventh A-Leagues appearance but first for Perth.
Adam Bugarija (19 – Perth Glory)
Former Dinamo Zagreb youngster Bugarija joined the Glory this off-season from Western Sydney Wanderers. He came off the bench against the Bulls and scored for the visiting Glory in his league debut.
Bailey Brandtman (19 – Central Coast Mariners)
Brandtman played a key role in Central Coast’s senior academy team preserving their NPLM NSW status in 2024. After making his Isuzu UTE A-League debut last season, he was involved in Friday night’s stalemate in Gosford.
Thomas Waddingham (19 – Brisbane Roar)
Amid reported interest from Bayern Munich and Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham after a breakout season with the Roar, Waddingham led the line for Brisbane in their 2-0 defeat to debutants Auckland FC on Saturday. He is coming off a seven-goal season with the three-time champions.
Zane Schreiber (19 – Melbourne City)
The talented Australian youth international was a second-half substitute in City’s 1-0 victory over the Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Arion Sulemani (19 – Melbourne City)
It was very brief, but Sulemani made his long-awaited Isuzu UTE A-League debut in the Hunter region. The 19-year-old has been forced to wait a long time after One of club’s most “highly rated” prospects suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in February last year.
Oli Lavale (19 – Western United)
From fan to starter, another Western academy graduate was in the starting XI across the ditch in New Zealand. It was the attacker’s first start in the Isuzu UTE A-League after scoring once in four substitute appearances last term.
Jake Najdovski (19 – Western United)
As Western earned a point on the road, the 19-year-old forward played his seventh A-Leagues matches – all of those as a substitute. Najdovski was a standout at NPL level in 2024, while he has also been scoring for the Subway Young Socceroos.
