Four young Australian strikers responded to their respective omissions from Friday’s Subway Socceroos squad reveal by showing head coach Tony Popovic what he’s missing with standout performances in the Isuzu UTE A-League this weekend.
Noah Botic, Adrian Segecic, Archie Goodwin and Nicolas Milanovic are all enjoying spectacular seasons for their respective club sides in 2024-25, with the quartet of emerging forwards all featuring prominently in the Golden Boot race.
Despite playing for four separate clubs, each of the young forwards came into Round 23 of the Isuzu UTE A-League season with a shared point to prove to Socceroos boss Popovic after being overlooked for selection in the 26-player squad picked for this month’s crucial 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China.
FULL SQUAD: TEN A-Leagues stars selected for Socceroos duty ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers
HISTORY MADE: All-time A-Leagues record toppled in ridiculous goalscoring weekend
All four players scored on the weekend, leading to an assortment of statement goal celebrations from the young strikers eager to prove that they’re genuine candidates for international selection.
Western Sydney Wanderers attacker Nicolas Milanovic bagged his ninth goal of the season in a pulsating 4-2 win over Melbourne Victory on Saturday night and, after taking off his shirt in celebration, lifted it aloft with his name and number there for all to see.
THRILLER IN WANDERLAND: Western Sydney Wanderers complete great escape in dramatic comeback
Sydney FC’s Adrian Segecic and Western United striker Noah Botic both scored in separate games on Sunday; both chose to mark the moment with a phone call celebration.
Botic currently leads the Golden Boot race with 11 goals, while Segecic, Goodwin and Milanovic all have an equal-share of second place on the scoring leaderboard with nine goals apiece.
READ MORE: Golden Boot leader sends message to Socceroos after call-up snub
STATEMENT MADE: Jets crushed by shock Premiership contenders as Golden Boot leader sends Socceroos message
Segecic was the last of the four players to score in Round 23, and on Network 10’s coverage of Sydney’s 1-1 draw, the trend of statements being made by the competition’s most in-form young Australian forwards was too hard to ignore for commentary duo Simon Hill and Andy Harper.
“Nine goals for the season, it’s a really amazing return for the amount of game time he (Segecic) has had,” Harper said.
“And in keeping with another theme of the weekend, gesticulates to the watching camera: I’m waiting for the phone call too. Everyone seems to be waiting for the phone call!
Hill replied: “Tony Popovic’s phone bill is going to be through the roof!”
“It’s a rare story in the history of the competition, maybe it’s come about through necessity because of the financial issues of many of the clubs, but Tony Popovic, even though he might be fed up with the phone calls, he can only be the beneficiary.”
CARDS, CHAOS & CARNAGE: Sydney & Wellington deliver fitting end to bonkers A-Leagues weekend
