Perth Glory have continued their off-season trend of securing young talent, with 22-year-old creative midfielder Giordano Colli signing on for a further two years after a breakout Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
Colli, a former captain of the club’s academy first team, made his league debut in Round 4, going on to make 20 appearances (13 starts) in a trying campaign for the club which provided opportunities aplenty for academy products to show their wares.
Colli capped off the season by winning the club’s U23 Player of the Year award.
Speaking to club media after extending his stay at his boyhood club, Colli expressed his determination to improve not only his own form but the team’s success, as last season’s wooden spooners gun to compete for a spot in the finals in 2022-23.
“I’m delighted to sign again with the club that I supported and used to go and watch as a little kid,” Colli said.
“I’m confident that (head coach) Ruben Zadkovich and the rest of the coaching team will have us pushing towards where we should be next season and that’s playing Finals football.
“The circumstances were difficult for the club last season, but on a personal note, I was very happy to play 20 games and now I’m looking to build on that, help the team and mature even more as a player.
“I want to grow more as a player in the team and in the league.”
Colli is the latest in a string of young Glory players to re-commit to the club in recent weeks, joining Luke Bodnar, Cameron Cook and Joseph Forde in signing a fresh contract.
Stefan Colakovski, Matt Hatch and Keegan Jelacic are all emerging talents who have joined Perth from rival A-Leagues clubs in recent weeks.
Head coach Zadkovich says Colli is an “exciting prospect” for the future, making clear his eagerness to continue to help him develop across the duration of his extended contract.
“This contract is a reward for all the effort Gio has put in,” he said, “and I’m really happy for him.
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen nothing but hard work and commitment from him and last season he took the opportunity he was given.
“Gio shares the right mentality in terms of how hard we all need to work in order to take this club to where it needs to be.
“There is plenty of room for improvement in his game and that’s what makes him such an exciting prospect.”
As Colli extended with Perth, central defender Nick Ansell signed on for two more seasons at Adelaide United.
Ansell’s debut campaign at the Reds was cut short by an Achilles tendon rupture suffered in training in December, 2021. He’s since made strong progress through rehabilitation, and says he’s eager to be a part of a team on the up across the next two seasons.
“To sign a new contract with Adelaide United and stay here at this Club, I’m over the moon,” he said.
“Ever since I arrived, the culture here has been fantastic and I’ve felt right at home.
“For the club to put their faith in me after my Achilles injury for the next two seasons means a lot and I’m working really hard to get back to where I was before it.
“I’m really looking forward to the upcoming season in particular and continuing to work with Carl (Veart) and the boys because we’re building something very promising and it’s exciting to be part of it.”
Meantime Western Sydney Wanderers academy graduate Jarrod Carluccio signed a fresh two-season deal with the club he’s been a part of since the age of 15 in 2015.
One of the club’s inaugural academy members, Carluccio made his A-League Men’s debut in 2020 before becoming a more prominent member of the first team under head coach Mark Rudan in 2021-22.
Carluccio says it was an easy decision to sign on with the club.
“My journey started here coming in when the Academy was founded. I came in as a 15-year-old and took each step from there. A few years ago, I signed my first scholarship deal with the Wanderers and now we’re here,” said Carluccio.
“I wanted to stay here and this has been my club going on seven years. I love the club, I love the direction we are going in and I am happy to be here with the boss and the staff wanting me here.
“I’m from Western Sydney, I grew up in the Liverpool and Fairfield area. I was born and bred here, I’m so proud to be here.
“From having a season to where I didn’t see the pitch at all, to then getting consistent minutes and a chance under the new Boss, I think that was the point where I was like I’ve come through a really tough time mentally and I’ve gotten through that emotional rollercoaster now I get to see the other side.
“I think that made me want to do more and everything I can do to stay, to continue to elevate my game at the Wanderers.
“I want to say thank you to the members and fans for the last season, we need you there this coming season to push on for better results and better things.”
