Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au brings you all the biggest talking points from each round of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Auckland FC remain top of the table after Round 9, but suffered a hefty 4-0 defeat to Western United – the first loss in the club’s history – in the shock result of the weekend, while Perth Glory won their first game of the campaign to avoid an unwanted league record.
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The Melbourne Derby ended all square, Western Sydney Wanderers notched a statement win over Wellington Phoenix, Macarthur Bulls and Central Coast Mariners shared points in a 1-1 draw and a Douglas Costa masterclass inspired Sydney FC to a dramatic draw with Adelaide United.
Read on for all the biggest talking points from Round 9, thanks to Mitre.
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16-year-old duo break records in special weekend for young talent
Luke Brooke-Smith and Haine Eames: remember the names.
In Round 9, the two 16-year-olds broke records at their respective clubs.
For Brooke-Smith, a debut for Wellington Phoenix against Western Sydney Wanderers made the young forward the youngest debutant in the club’s history, at 16 years and 200 days.
The New Zealand youth international is a highly rated talent with a fascinating backstory; an eight-time national age-group BMX champion, Brooke-Smith was playing in New Zealand’s regional leagues just five months ago.
Brooke-Smith is a graduate of the RH3 Football Academy, led by former Phoenix head coach Rickie Herbert. In a high school project this year, Brooke-Smith listed earning a scholarship contract at a professional club as one of his aims for 2025 – and has made that dream a reality before the turn of the New Year.
PHOENIX FALTER: Fast-starting Wanderers deal Phoenix third-straight defeat despite Wellington star’s bicycle stunner
The day after Brooke-Smith became Wellington’s youngest player in club history, Central Coast Mariners midfielder Eames broke two records at his club in a 1-1 draw with Macarthur Bulls on Monday night.
Already the club’s youngest-ever player, Eames became the youngest starter in Mariners history against the Bulls and, with his side trailing 1-0 in the second half of the Round 9 clash, also became the club’s youngest goalscorer with a sensational finish into the bottom-right corner – a goal that earned his side a point in the 1-1 draw.
In the process, Eames became the fourth-youngest goalscorer in Isuzu UTE A-League history:
- Mohamed Toure (15 years, 325 days)
- Nestory Irankunda (15 years, 355 days)
- Archie Goodwin (16 years, 215 days)
- Haine Eames (16 years, 300 days)
- Ryan Brownlie (16 years, 313 days)
EAMES MAKES HISTORY: ‘Can’t wait to see more of this kid’
After handing Eames his first Isuzu UTE A-League start, Mariners head coach Mark Jackson was asked to describe what made him feel confident to thrust the young midfielder into his starting XI for Monday’s meeting with the Bulls.
“I think I’ve shown before, I’ve got faith in Haine because he’s played in games and he’s played in (Asian) Champions League games as well.
“I started him today, he’s a fantastic young man, he’s a talented footballer and if we feel players are ready, we’ll put him in.
“He’s earned his chance today. Players that play that position as well. Let’s remember, he’s a central midfielder and we’re asking him to do – certainly out of position – a different job.
“In possession, a little bit more of a regular job for him receiving the ball in the pocket like a (number) 10. He did fantastically well in the game, I’m delighted for him to get the goal. But this is just the start for him, he’s a young man that works hard every day in training so he’ll get much better going forward as well.”
MATCH REPORT: 16yo Mariners gem makes history as Socceroos legend makes long-awaited comeback in Bulls draw
Glory avoid unwanted piece of A-Leagues history as Roar boss responds to job ‘pressure’
At long last, after 18 Isuzu UTE A-League games without a victory, Perth Glory’s winless run has come to an end.
Head coach David Zdrilic earned the first win of his tenure in Round 9, travelling to face Brisbane Roar without captain Adam Taggart (illness) and overseeing a much-needed 1-0 triumph at Suncorp Stadium, sealed by a second-half David Williams strike.
MATCH REPORT: Perth Glory avoid unwanted A-Leagues history in drought-breaking triumph
Defeating Brisbane on the road helped Glory avoid equalling the Isuzu UTE A-League’s longest-ever winless run (19 games) registered by both Melbourne Heart in 2013-14 and New Zealand Knights in 2005-06.
“We’re obviously very happy that we got our first win,” said Zdrilic.
“It was important. We’ve been through a tough start to the season so for us, to come away with the win against a team in a very similar position, pretty much the exact same position as us, it was good for the group and good for our confidence. Delighted with the win.
“The atmosphere has been good considering the situation. When you’re winning games, it’s a much different feeling, so winning this game has done a lot for the confidence of the group because they see we can win games.
“We’ve had some good results but weren’t able to get over the line – particularly Central Coast (a 0-0 draw), Adelaide (a 2-2 draw) and even Western United (a 3-1 loss) when we were in front and weren’t able to go on and get a win there.
“It was important we did it away from home. Last year, away from home and pretty much in previous years we’ve struggled away from home but we’ve actually got two draws and a win now away from home. I think the guys got rewarded for a really good mentality going into the game, to reset and go again.”
But as Zdrilic and Glory celebrated their first triumph of the season in Round 9, Brisbane Roar head coach Ruben Zadkovich was left to count the cost of defeat in a matchup between the only two winless teams heading into the weekend.
Glory have now left Brisbane adrift at the bottom of the table on just two points.
In his post-match press conference on Saturday, Zadkovich was asked how he’s faring under increasing pressure as Roar head coach.
“I’m fine under pressure,” he replied. “That’s what I signed up for.
“Let’s think back to when I came to this club (in) very difficult circumstances, yeah? They had lost seven of their last eight games when I came in as assistant to Ben (Cahn), and then he was gone a week later.
“I’m well aware of the difficulties the club is in, the circumstances the club is in, and the responsibilities on my shoulders to keep pushing and keep trying to get through this difficult period.
“We’re very clear that we are in a difficult period and we knew that from the start. What needs to remain clear is the focus and the vision for us to get out of this situation as a club.
“I’ve got the support of the people that I deal with in the club, and until I hear otherwise I’ll continue to try and do my best for this club.
“Let me give you the tip: I am doing everything. Everything. Every single day. And so are my staff, and so are my players.
“Sometimes, it’s the reality of the situation you’re in. It’s not where we want to be, it certainly hurts, but none more so for me because the responsibility is on my shoulders.
“I hear and feel the frustrations, especially from our fans and members, and they’re the most important ones. I’m hurting just the same as them, and I’m hurting for them. But, aside from all that emotion, we have to continue. And we have to continue to work hard and improve in every single facet of the club.”
‘MAYBE I DON’T KNOW THE RULES’: Auckland coach reacts to controversial goal and shock result
DERBY DRAW: Melbourne Victory’s post-Kisnorbo era begins with pulsating derby draw
Coach tips ‘one of the best players in the A-League’ to emerge as two midfielders praised
Western Sydney Wanderers rising star Dylan Scicluna and Western United midfielder Angus Thurgate both earned high praise from their respective coaches after dominant performances in Round 9.
Thurgate pulled the strings for Western United in a statement 4-0 win over previously unbeaten Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium on Saturday afternoon, while Scicluna bagged his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal in the Wanderers’ 4-1 domination of Wellington Phoenix at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
After both Round 9 fixtures, Western United head coach John Aloisi and Western Sydney boss Alen Stajcic were asked to summarise the impact of their key midfielders – and their answers were similar in nature.
While Stajcic claimed 20-year-old Scicluna was on the path to becoming one of the best players in the competition, Aloisi highlighted Thurgate as the most important player at Western United – and one of the most experienced, too, at just 24 years of age.
SCICLUNA’S HILARIOUS REFEREE PLEA: ‘You can’t do this to me!’
MATCH REPORT: Fast-starting Wanderers deal Phoenix third-straight defeat despite Wellington star’s bicycle stunner
“He’s obviously just starting out on his A-League journey,” said Stajcic on Scicluna, who is relishing a pivotal starting role at the Wanderers after spending his first season at the club on the fringes of the first team.
“He’s really just starting to cement a spot in the group, he hasn’t had that before and last year he played a couple of games, mainly off the bench and in different positions as well.
“But he’s becoming one of the key players in the league, I think. His attributes are good and I think I said in a press conference before: he’s got some things he needs to clean up in his game but his good attributes are really strong and powerful.
“If he keeps developing and progressing, in the next two or three years I think he’s going to be one of the best players in the A-League.”
Aloisi, meanwhile, praised Thurgate for taking his game to another level playing an “old-school” midfield role he believes is coming back into fashion in world football.
“It’s hard to judge on other teams, and I don’t want to speak on players from other clubs too much,” Aloisi said.
“But all I can say is Angus Thurgate has gone (to) another level for us this season.
“We saw it at the back of last season, and this season I just think he’s been outstanding. He’s been our best player. With the ball he’s positive, he goes forward. You saw with one of the goals we scored, his forward runs into the box, and then he’s back defending in his own box.
“He’s that real old-school box-to-box player who is becoming more prominent in football. There’s so much more upside to Angus.
“He’s still only 24, he leads by example. I think he’s relished being one of the older players, because he is. He’s one of the more experienced players. And he’s taken his game to another level.
“I expect him to keep going, he’s been our most consistent and best player so far.”
MATCH REPORT: Western end Black Knights’ historic run in rout
‘A sour taste in my mouth’: Auckland FC make history again – but for all the wrong reasons
Auckland FC have shattered records through the early weeks of the club’s first Isuzu UTE A-League season, and in Round 9 it was no different – but this time, Steve Corica’s side collected an unwanted piece of history.
In Round 7 against Wellington, Auckland finally conceded their first-ever goal after going 532 minutes without being scored against – breaking an Australian men’s national league record held by Preston Makedonia since 1986.
Auckland began the 2024-25 campaign with six wins from six games – the best start to a club’s inaugural season in Australian men’s national league history.
But after a 2-2 draw with Melbourne City in Round 8, the wheels fell off Auckland’s wagon in a 4-0 thumping at home to Western United.
According to Opta, Auckland’s 4-0 loss was the biggest margin in an Isuzu UTE A-League club’s first loss in the competition. The previous record was held by Wellington Phoenix whose first defeat was by three goals to nil against Central Coast Mariners in 2007.
Auckland had let in just three goals in seven games prior to their Round 9 clash with Western but on Saturday afternoon, Steve Corica’s side conceded three times in a display described as “terrible” by the Auckland head coach after the game.
“Disappointing, it wasn’t what we expected,” Corica said.
“The first half, it was just terrible, let’s face it. The boys didn’t turn up for the first half and you can’t allow a good team like that moments in games. We didn’t compete, we didn’t win the second ball and that’s what got us in trouble in the first place. And it’s a long way back from 3-0 down at half-time.
“We’ve had a good run,” he added. “At some stage – we didn’t want it to be this week, especially at home – the fans turned up to support us and they were amazing throughout the whole game, but we disappointed them in the first half, and that’s really disappointing from my side of things as well, that we actually did that.
“When you’re on a good run, (with) good momentum, you want to make the most of it and little things like that can turn sour. That’s a sour taste in my mouth actually, today.”
REACTION: Auckland FC head coach’s take on controversial goal in shock A-Leagues result
