Central Coast Mariners have a star on their hands. 16-year-old Tiana Fuller is only two substitute appearances into her A-Leagues career – and she’s already scored two goals.
Tiana Fuller: remember the name.
The 16-year-old Central Coast Mariners sensation has played just two games in the Ninja A-League, but has two goals to her name: one against Canberra United on debut, and another in the Mariners’ 2-1 loss to Brisbane Roar in Round 6.
Despite being listed as a 17-year-old on multiple online resources, Pellizzeri confirmed on Dub Zone that the 2008-born midfielder is just 16 years of age.
Already regarded as one of the brightest young prospects to watch in Australian football, the Junior Matildas regular has wasted no time announcing herself in the Ninja A-League and her early scoring stats stack up impressively against some of the competition’s best-ever players.
“Tiana Fuller, don’t believe the data websites!” Pellizzeri said. “She is 2008-born, not 2007. She’s 16.
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“She’s scored two in two games. To put that in context: Sam Kerr had two as a 15-year-old by game 10. Princess Ibini had two goals at a younger age than Fuller but it took her 18 games. Even someone like Kyah Simon had two goals in her first two games but she was 17.
“This is rare territory for a youngster like this.”
Fuller is considered one of the most promising young midfielders in Australia, joining the Mariners having been a key part of NSW Metro U16’s victory at the National Football Championships, where she scored in the final.
She played 25 matches for the Football NSW Institute last term, starting 20 of them, scoring five goals across the season as she helped her side finish the year with their most wins since 2019.
“I am so excited to be part of this club. When Emily reached out to me, I was speechless, it just feels right to have joined the Mariners for my first season in the A-League,” Fuller said in October as her signing was announced.
“The culture seemed from the outside to be really nice and positive and having been here now with the girls for a little bit I can tell that that is the case. I am grateful for the opportunity to be here on the Coast, and I can’t wait to get started.”
In 54 minutes of Ninja A-League football, Fuller has taken 26 touches of the ball, two of those were goals. That is quite extraordinary.
