“I think we’ve got the best No 9 in the country.”
Even by the standards of coaches promoting their players, Adelaide United boss Carl Veart’s claim about Tomi Juric was a bold claim for Match Week One.
The eyebrows of Melbourne City’s prolific marksman Jamie Maclaren might well have shot up in response, but there are several strikers around the A-League who are likely to believe they deserve that title… or will do soon.
Juric added succour to Veart’s claim with his first goal back in Adelaide’s colours against Melbourne City in Match Week Two, reflecting afterwards on “a rough couple of years” thanks to injury.
A fit and firing Juric will be a welcome sight for Socceroos boss Graham Arnold, who hasn’t picked the 29-year-old since November 2018.
But once Australia’s World Cup qualification path resumes – whenever that is possible thanks to the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic – it won’t just be Juric aiming to catch Arnold’s eye from the A-League.
Maclaren recorded four goals in his past two games for his country, and – thanks to a prolific record in the A-League – was very much the man in possession before international football had to be suspended early last year.
Andrew Nabbout also has an international pedigree to point to, having impressed Bert van Marwijk enough to earn selection at the 2018 World Cup leading Australia’s line. Despite a hamstring injury sustained at the start of this season, Nabbout should benefit from playing alongside Maclaren once he is fit to resume.
Then there is the Olympic generation, strikers vying for a starting spot in Tokyo and a full international starting berth beyond.
Nick D’Agostino and Al-Hassan Toure can point to success at U23 level, while Ben Folami, Trent Buhagiar and Dylan Wenzel-Halls are all seriously in contention for the Olympics later this year – assuming they go ahead.
We know the A-League can be a launchpad for Australian strikers to head overseas, as almost all of Arnold’s foreign-based options cut their teeth in the competition – including Adam Taggart, Mitchell Duke, Mathew Leckie and Nikita Rukavytsya.
Now the new wave have the chance to earn their place in the spotlight… and challenge Veart’s view of Juric.
“We saw at the end of last season, the amount of younger players getting an opportunity – a lot of it had to do with the whole COVID situation,” said former Socceroos striker John Aloisi.
“So that was positive in and of itself, especially for Graham Arnold as the national team head coach and with the Olyroos.
“Seeing young boys coming through and getting minutes, and we all know they need minutes, is a massive boost.”
