Archie Goodwin and Noah Botic are two young, Australian strikers lighting up the Isuzu UTE A-League this season, with their respective eight-goal hauls bringing the exciting duo to within one goal of the top of the Golden Boot leaderboard.
But which player is better placed to push for Socceroos selection on current form?
Goodwin has taken just 15 games in his first season at Adelaide United to eclipse his seven-goal tally accrued through four seasons and 44 games at Newcastle Jets.
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Having put an injury-ravaged start to his professional career behind him, the 20-year-old is leading the line in an exciting Reds outfit and producing match-winning moments aplenty as he fires Adelaide into Premiership contention.
Goodwin’s form for the Reds has been all the more impressive considering the perceived risk involved with Adelaide electing to replace their two top scorers from last season in Hiroshi Ibusuki and Nestory Irankunda with Goodwin who, along with fellow teenager Luka Jovanovic, is a young and relatively inexperienced player coming off the back of four seasons at the Jets in which he struggled to get on the park for consistent minutes.
Those minutes are coming now, and it’s leading to excitement about what Goodwin, along with Western’s Botic, could provide in the final third for the Socceroos in the years to come.
“I’m excited possibly more by Archie Goodwin,” said Rugari.
“I just think he’s got maybe some more strings to his bow. He’s certainly heading in the right direction… for Newcastle, he had nine goals in 47 games in all competitions. At Adelaide, he has already got eight in 15, which shows (it was) a great move by him, and also the club as well.
“We talk a lot about moves like that and selling players and all that sort of stuff. And that’s a real bit of genius, potentially by Adelaide there. Because not only have they got an impactful striker in the league right now, if he finishes the season as strongly as he has, and does it again next season, someone will come in for him.
“And when you’re looking at the fact that Ariath Piol is being sold for $800,00, you’re asking for a minimum of $1.5 (million), if not way more, for Archie Goodwin.”
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“And I think that what’s not often spoken about is Carl Veart is very underappreciated in the work he’s doing with these young Australian players,” Oar added.
“Obviously he was a fantastic striker himself, so there’s probably not many better places for him (Goodwin) to be to learn his trade. He’s taking it to another level this season. I’m sure that overseas clubs already are looking at him, but I think the same question will be they want to see him make a long run of games and kind of shake off the injury doubts that people do have about him.
“But for sure, he’s an exciting and huge talent, and can’t wait to see how he evolves for the rest of this season.”
Botic, meanwhile, is flying for Western United, having scored five of his eight goals this season in his last five appearances – a run of form that saw him collect the Isuzu UTE A-League’s Shark Player of the Month award in January.
The 23-year-old has received the support of Western head coach and Socceroos great John Aloisi to break into the national team squad of late, with his performances undoubtedly catching the eye of Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic, who attended 11 league games in 16 days in January on a scouting mission of local talent.
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WEEKEND PREVIEW: What you need to know for Round 19 of the Isuzu UTE A-League
With the Socceroos’ next in action against Malaysia and China in late March, Rugari and Oar assessed the selection chances of both Botic and Goodwin who have been firing on all cylinders in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
“He’s (Botic) got eight and four assists this season,” Rugari said. “The other one, in terms of impressive Australian strikers at the moment, is Archie Goodwin. He’s got eight as well… who, at the moment, from those two who has got their nose in front in terms of possible Socceroos selection at the moment?”
“I think Botic does,” Oar replied. “I think that there’s still question marks around Goodwin’s health and how his body’s got to handle playing football week in week out. He still doesn’t often last the 90 minutes. I think that’s kind of the next important stepping stone for him: is to play 90 minutes week in week out.
“We’ve already seen how good he is when he does play, but we’ve also seen with many other young Australian footballers, if they don’t get their bodies right, it can be costly going forward. So for me, I think Botic probably is slightly ahead of him.
“But at the same time their goal return, and just their genuine contribution to both of their sides in attack has been immense this season.
“If both of them continue on this trajectory, there’s no reason they can’t be considered for Socceroos spots.”
Botic is far from alone in capturing attention at Western United as a young player this season, with Aloisi’s fourth-placed side surging up the table thanks to a combination of experienced pros and rising stars.
Teenage centre-back Dylan Leonard is impressing in his first season in the Isuzu UTE A-League, while Matthew Grimaldi (21), Jordan Lauton (21), Rhys Bozinovski (20), Jake Najdovski (19) and Luke Vickery (19) have all had their moments to help Western put a rough start to the season in the rearview mirror and fly up the table.
But then, there’s Abel Walatee, the 20-year-old attacker who added a fourth goal to his lengthening Isuzu UTE A-League highlight reel in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Macarthur Bulls.
Walatee is an exciting product of the club’s academy who is quickly becoming a key figure in Western’s attack. A player with a big bag of tricks and a clinical finish, Walatee has built off a three-game debut season to have a greater impact in season 2024-25 and has captured the attention of both Rugari and Oar who are predicting great things in Walatee’s future at Western.
“I really like the way Abel Walatee took that goal,” said Rugari, reflecting on the 20-year-old’s neat footwork and bullet finish against the Bulls.
“I think he’s becoming a super, super player. I’m really excited to see what happens for him the next 18-24 months of his career.
“He’s only just come onto the scene, but the close control and the ability to keep your head in that situation. We’re so used to seeing Aussie players blast it wide or somehow not even get a shot off in that situation. He’s carved out that space really well for himself.”
Oar added: “Absolutely, and I think that’s the impressive thing about him. We all know how powerful he is, and how explosive and dangerous he can be making those runs in behind but the way he protects the ball and can manoeuvre the ball, he’s a pretty rounded player for his age.
“I think he is definitely one of the most exciting talents in the league. He’s already got four goals this season, and I think he’s a fantastic asset for them.”
WEEKEND PREVIEW: What you need to know for Round 19 of the Isuzu UTE A-League
