Nick D’Agostino always had the talent – but performances over the past year show he has come of age and is ready for the biggest test in Norway, writes Tom Smithies
Before he gets on the plane to Norway, Nick D’Agostino might want to send a couple of notes of thanks for the opportunity he gets now in European football.
At 24, it has taken the striker until this point to show all the facets necessary to make it to the top, on and off the field, but finally it is all falling into place.
Those notes of thanks should go to Tony Popovic and Graham Arnold as the significant figures on that journey, driving and encouraging him in equal measure but most of all giving D’Agostino the sense that they believed in his talent.
That talent has long been there. Former Socceroo Craig Moore saw it in 2008 when D’Agostino played in a schools match against his own son, even playing in midfield. Moore has advised D’Agostino along the way, watching his protégé earn selection for the Australian U17 and U23 sides.
His goals for the latter in an Asian qualifying tournament under Arnold really put D’Agostino in the spotlight for the first time, and 10 months later his three goals in a subsequent qualifying tournament helped Australia reach the Olympics. His full international debut followed last year.
Yet the progress hasn’t been entirely smooth. In four years at Brisbane D’Agostino was only granted 13 starts, and a series of niggly injuries – even tonsillitis – seemed to stymie his progress at every turn. When he did play it was often out of position.
After Popovic took D’Agostino to Perth in 2019 and slowly gave him starting XI opportunities, the then-Glory boss gave his player an almighty and public spray for coming back from lockdown overweight and unfit.
Last year much was made of Popovic taking D’Agostino to Victory and the opportunities that beckoned, but the striker couldn’t seem to nail down the No 9 role – he’d play two or three games but then be benched for Francesco Margiotta. This year, though, there have been 10 starts in 12 games and three excellent goals in a struggling side.
D’Agostino believes he has matured, and now has the application to underpin his talent. His goals over the past couple of years show the array of tools at his disposal – he has the ability to be an old-fashioned No 9 in the air and bully centrebacks, but can equally well let fly from distance.
Now he’s leaving the security of a competition that has allowed him the time to grow, and aims to prove he can cut it in Europe. With an Asian Cup on the horizon, and then another World Cup qualifying cycle to follow, whoever is at the helm for the Socceroos going forward will be watching with interest.
