These are the key talking points from the 26th and final round of the Isuzu UTE A-League regular season as Melbourne City clinched a top-six berth, while the Premiership remains up in the air.
FINALS SERIES SCHEDULE: Isuzu UTE A-League top six locked in after dramatic final weekend
Roar boss asked about Postecoglou amid transfer speculation
What does the future hold for Brisbane Roar’s teenage sensation Thomas Waddingham?
The 18-year-old has been linked with Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham in the Premier League and German giants Bayern Munich, where Australian young gun Nestory Irankunda is set to join countryman Anthony Pavlesic next season.
Waddingham finished equal top goalscorer for the Roar this season after scoring in Friday night’s 4-3 loss to Adelaide United – his seven goals level alongside Brisbane teammates Henry Hore and Jay O’Shea.
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Roar head coach Ruben Zadkovich was asked what he would do if former Brisbane boss Postecoglou called asking for Waddingham and he told reporters: “If Ange rang us and said he wants Tommy Waddingham? It would be nice to hear from Ange, actually – that would be good.
“I don’t think it works like that but he is generating interest from some big teams. and it’s warranted. We know we’ve got a very, very good young player on our hands and also a very good young person.
“We have to be strategic with what we do with Tommy – but my focus, to be honest, as a coach is to develop the player. I’ve been working on it over the last few months and it’s nice to see him really taking on that information and growing.”
It has been a rapid rise for Waddingham in 2023-24.
One minute, he was playing NPL football. The next he was making history in the Australia Cup final.
Waddingham scored four goals in as many games, including finding the back of the net in October’s decider against Sydney FC, becoming the youngest cup final scorer since the tournament recommenced in 2014.
He went on to score seven goals for the Roar in the A-Leagues.
“I’ve said it a few times: he’s a fantastic young man, and he’s a fantastic young player,” Zadkovich added. “It was on show tonight quite clearly; his skillset, he’s very unique.
“There (are) not many number nines like him in the country, he can kind of do everything. He can hold the ball up, loop people in mid-third, he’s very dynamic in the box, his movement is very subtle but very clever.
“There’s a lot of intricacies to his game – and that interest is warranted, because he started the season as a teenager, straight out of the NPL with no break and led the line for Brisbane Roar.
“At 18 years old at the start of the season, it’s a massive thing to ask of someone that age, especially when you’re playing in that position.”
Why Chiefy is ‘pleasantly surprised’ by his Phoenix
Whether or not Wellington Phoenix get their hands on a maiden Premiership remains to be seen, but it has been an historic season for Giancarlo Italiano and the New Zealand-based club.
Central Coast Mariners will play Adelaide United in their rescheduled fixture on Wednesday night and a result midweek will see the defending champions clinch the Premiers’ Plate.
However, the Phoenix have made history throughout 2023-24 as they prepare for a two-legged Semi-Final.
In Italiano’s first season as a senior head coach in the A-Leagues, he has guided Wellington to their best ever finish and points total among other things.
“I probably reflected on this last week,” Italiano said when asked if he was satisfied with the Phoenix’s season after Saturday’s 3-0 win over Macarthur FC.
“I saw picture on the A-Leagues website about the most points, least goals conceded, wins at home or something like that and I was like wow. I’m not a big stat person. I don’t play into that. I like just going into games thinking I have a game plan and we work off that.
“If you’re stats orientated, you kind of lose sight of what the game actually gives you. But I’ve never sat down and had a look at that. I was quite surprised. More pleasantly surprised, we’ve done quite well. If this was another team I was observing in another league, I’d go they’ve had a good season.
“Again, this probably won’t sink in for a while. This is a new learning experience for me. I’m very proud of everyone who’s worked here. From day one, we’ve had big obstacles placed in front of us. We have a good club structure, good people. We’ve just got on with it. It’s been no-nonsense and the fact we’ve come so far is a testament to everyone.”
Jets coach hints at ownership deal: ‘I feel good’
Newcastle Jets closed out their season with an F3 Derby defeat, but head coach Rob Stanton was still smiling.
Why? He is confident a takeover deal to acquire the Jets is close to completion.
There has been ongoing speculation over Newcastle’s ownership but after Saturdays’ 3-1 loss to rivals Central Coast Mariners at McDonald Jones Stadium, it appears as though the matter could be resolved soon.
“I don’t want to say it’s done until you actually see a piece of paper and it’s signed. But I’m pretty confident something is happening. I don’t want to say it’s done until it’s actually done,” Stanton told reporters.
“I feel good. Everyone’s feeling good. It would be nice to have it announced soon.
“These things take time. Everyone wants things done but you need to do your due-diligence on things and make sure it’s right for the people and the right people to come in too.
“These things don’t happen overnight. We’ve had to be patient and endure it this season but the benefit of that, the players and club have showed they can remain focused on the football side of things.
“I’d prefer to not have to deal with that and worry about the coaching. But hopefully it will get done.”
Stanton added: “I only want the best for the club. When you talk past players and people from the region, everyone has a really strong opinion of what it looks like.
“I’ve just tried to come in, understand it, build it with the resources I have, I understood the limitations, I understood I’d feel uncomfortable. I feel like I’ve got through that phase at the moment.
“The lingering on of it has delayed the next steps but we’ve done lots and lots work in the background. A lot of people understand what we’re trying to do.
“Winning might take a bit more time so we have to win in other areas. We have to show things on the park that fans can connect with.”
“It’s sustainable which is what I’d like to see in my time. And whoever comes after me, can take it further,” he continued.
“It has a lot of potential. You see the crowd tonight, if you’re winning, that crowd can add another 6-7,000 if you’re doing well.”
‘We have only scratched the surface’
Western Sydney Wanderers prevailed in a seven-goal thriller away to Melbourne Victory, but not even that was enough to clinch a top-six berth.
An 87th-minute goal from youngster Oscar Priestman saw the Wanderers twice come from behind to stun Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park and momentarily leapfrog Melbourne City for a spot in the finals, though the latter edged Western United to qualify for the Finals Series.
Western Sydney were rescued by four goalscorers with an average age of 21.5; Nicolas Milanovic and Lachlan Brook, two Olyroos. Aydan Hammond and Priestman, two first-time A-Leagues goalscorers.
“It means a lot. They’re really good kids,” Rudan reflected in a press conference.
“Aydan Hammond got his first goal, Nathanael Blair… Zac Sapsford led the line, we had a young team. Oscar Priestman, another one who we keep talking about (as) the classic eight, gets up and down, full of energy but he needs to get rewarded with some goals.
“The start of that is hitting targets. He used to miss the goal left, right, over the top, pigeons were hit, all sorts of stuff.
“So I’m really happy that he actually – a slight deflection, okay – but you get rewarded when you actually try and hit the target. So I’m really, really pleased for him as well.”
At the time of Saturday’s press conference, Western Sydney were in the top six before Melbourne City edged Western United on Sunday evening.
Rudan was still able to reflect on 2023-24 and why he is optimistic about the future in the west of Sydney.
“We have only scratched the surface as far as I’m concerned,” Rudan added.
“There is a big turn that’s happening. I’m very excited by what the future looks like.”
Stajcic lifts lid on ‘unusual period’ for Glory
It was another forgettable weekend for bottom side Perth Glory, who closed out their campaign with a 7-1 demolition at the hands of fourth-placed Sydney FC on Sunday.
Consigned to the wooden spoon after a 4-2 loss at home to Western United in Round 25, the Glory were already wounded by the history-making 8-0 rout at the hands of Melbourne City in Round 24.
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Perth were on the receiving end of another heavy defeat at Allianz Stadium, where Glory captain Adam Taggart all but secured the Golden Boot.
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For head coach Alen Stajcic, who felt Perth did not play that badly – he tried to explain why the results have turned in recent weeks after a change in ownership in February.
“In the last eight weeks since the new ownership came in, there’s been a lot of contract talks,” he revealed.
“It’s an usual period for that to happen in a football team. That usually happens in the off-season or December/January leading into the transfer window. We’ve had to do that in the last eight weeks.
“Obviously a lot on the plate for the players – whether they are going to stay or move on. It’s an usual period.
“Probably something no other club’s had to deal with in the volume – maybe the odd player in that position but we’ve probably had 80% of our squad in that boat.
“Not knowing what their future will be at the club or knowing that they’re staying or moving on. We had a large contingent due to the circumstances. I’m not making that as an excuse, it’s just factual. It obviously makes it more difficult to focus on the week to week of playing.”
Aloisi dismisses rumours while fielding questions about his Western assistant
Western United boss John Aloisi poured cold water over speculation regarding his future, though he did endorse his assistant Hayden Foxe for a head coaching role.
Before Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Melbourne City, Aloisi’s name had emerged as a possible candidate to replace Alen Stajcic at Perth Glory amid rumours over his future in Western Australia.
However, the Socceroos legend insisted he will be at Tarneit in 2024-25.
“Someone was telling me there was interest elsewhere but I don’t know where that came from. I’m here another year,” Aloisi said post-match.
“I’d be silly to leave after going through what we’ve gone through this season. I don’t want other people to reap the rewards we’ve worked for. I want to reap those rewards.
“Someone just said to me that they enjoyed this season more than they enjoyed the Championship-winning season. He was a neutral so I don’t take that. I’d rather win a Championship again.
“But what he was trying to say was seeing all those young players and the football we were playing… I want to be part of that and I’ll definitely be part of it next season.”
Aloisi’s assistant Foxe has also been linked with a move away from Western United.
The former Australia international is reportedly in the mix to take on a head coaching role.
Asked about Foxe, Aloisi told reporters: “He hasn’t indicated he wants to move. I’m sure if a head coaching role comes about, he’ll ask me my opinion is of that club, the way they want to move forward.
“I’d never hold him back or any staff member back if they want to leave and progress their career.
“At the moment, there’s been no approach from anyone.”
Asked if Foxe is ready to make the step up, Aloisi replied: “He’s been ready 10 years ago. Hayden could be a head coach no problem. If it’s a right opportunity for him, I’m sure he’ll do an amazing job wherever he goes.”
City counterpart Aurelio Vidmar and his future was also the topic of discussion post-match.
Vidmar replaced Rado Vidosic in November on an interim basis until the end of the season and he guided the club to another finals appearance.
Next up for City is an Elimination Final against rivals Melbourne Victory.
“There’s been some discussions. I’m really happy here,” Vidmar said when asked if he wanted to stay on as coach.
“I have some really great synergy. Not just with management, but our staff, football department, medical staff, high-performance staff. We just have a really good group. Everyone working in the right direction.
“I’m really happy with everyone. Lets see where it goes.”
