Trent Buhagiar was this week’s special guest on the Official A-Leagues Podcast. Listen below, or via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts. Here are some of the highlights from the show, including a surprising trend around goalkeepers this season.
Buhagiar, the Maltese international?
He’s the former Olyroos flyer aspiring to one day represent the Socceroos – but Sydney FC’s Trent Buhagiar has been urged to consider making the most of his Maltese roots for the betterment of his club career.
Buhagiar, 24, was a prominent member of the Australia U23 squad across back-to-back AFC U23 Asian Championship campaigns in 2018 and 2020, making three appearances in each tournament respectively.
The Sky Blues speedster looked set to compete for a place in Graham Arnold’s Tokyo 2020 Olyroos squad before tearing an adductor muscle in May, 2021, putting an end to his Olympic dream and U23 eligibility.
Buhagiar was the special guest on this week’s episode of The Official A-Leagues Podcast, after scoring a brilliant brace in his side’s 3-2 Sydney Derby win over Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday night.
Speaking to Daniel Garb and Robbie Cornthwaite, Buhagiar was asked about his Maltese heritage, and whether the 24-year-old forward had considered following in the footsteps of the likes of former A-Leagues players Manny Muscat and John Hutchinson and declaring to play for Malta in the future.
“I am eligible to play for them,” Buhagiar said. “They contacted me a few years ago, but I said for now I’m happy to represent Australia, and in the future I want to represent Australia – but we’ll see how that goes.
“It’s something I’d look to in the future, but obviously for now my mindset is set on Australia. If it comes to that, at the end of the day I’m sure I’ll think about that later on in life, but for now I’m certainly trying to get into that Socceroos team.”
Cornthwaite, however, pondered whether electing to represent Malta sooner, rather than later, would benefit Buhagiar’s career in the long run.
“The way I look at this for Trent is: if you go and play for Malta and put in a couple of good performances in a European qualifier or something like that… you’re in the European window,” Cornthwaite said.
“You could potentially get yourself a move – I’m not saying to the English Premier League – but you could definitely get yourself a move to Europe. With his pace that’s something that’s going to attract a lot of attention.
“I think from a career perspective, going to play for Malta would actually be a much better move for his football career.”
Pavlesic adds name to record list of A-League keepers as young custodians seize their chance
He’s the latest player on a growing list of Isuzu UTE A-League goalkeepers breaking records in 2021/22.
Adam Pavlesic (19) wouldn’t have dreamt he’d get a look-in this season at Sydney FC – but in COVID times, surprise call-ups have not been hard to come by.
Third in line behind both Andrew Redmayne and Thomas Heward-Belle in Sydney FC’s goalkeeping brigade, Pavlesic was thrown into the deep end when Redmayne contracted the virus upon his return from International duty, with Heward-Belle ruled out due to concussion.
His debut fixture? The Sydney Derby on Saturday night.
Western Sydney would go on to score twice in the game – one fewer than the Sky Blues, handing Pavlesic a derby win on his Isuzu UTE A-League debut.
In doing so, he became the 27th goalkeeper to take to the field this season – an all-time record in the Isuzu UTE A-League, with the next best figure of 22 notched on two prior occasions.
Speaking on this week’s episode of The Official A-Leagues podcast, Amy Chapman lauded Pavlesic as the latest in a line of young goalkeeping talents stepping up to seize the moment in the Isuzu UTE A-League this season.
“It’s always tricky for these keepers to step up in big games like this,” Chapman said. “I’m always fascinated by a role of a third keeper, I understand often when they’re young, and trying to bide their time, but I think this season of any, they’ve been given so many opportunities across every team.
“It was a great moment for him, putting (himself) in line to potentially be signing for another team and getting a bit more first-team football. I think it was a good performance.”
Pavlesic isn’t the first young stopper to impress on debut this season.
Take Adelaide United’s Steven Hall (17) for example, who similarly to Pavlesic began the campaign as third in line but has received multiple opportunities due to the periodical absence of experienced glovemen Joe Gauci and James Delianov to deputise for the Reds.
And Alex Paulsen (19) whose heroics for Wellington in a penalty shootout win over Melbourne City in the FFA Cup Quarter Finals flung the teenager into the spotlight. He’s made four appearance in the Isuzu UTE A-League this season.
At 17 years of age, Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Lawrence Caruso was thrown into the deep end to replace the injured Yaren Sözer at the 23-minute mark of his side’s clash with Macarthur FC in December.
Caruso conceded just one goal in the 1-0 defeat: a wicked deflection off his captain old Botanic which was set to be saved with ease without the intervention.
It was the first time in Australian men’s national league history two goalkeepers made their league debuts for the same team in the same game.
Above statistic collated by Andrew Howe
Chances presented, and chances taken. This season’s record cohort of stoppers is made up of bona fide stars and up-and-comers, proving the goalkeeping talent runs deep in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
GOALKEEPERS USED (SINGLE SEASON)
- 27: 2021/22
- 22: 2010/11, 2011/12
- 21: 2016/17, 2019/20, 2020/21
- 20: 2012/13, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18
- 19: 2006/07, 2009/10, 2018/19
- 18: 2007/08, 2013/14
- 17: 2008/09
- 14: 2005/06
