Reaching the Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series is the expectation for Western United head coach John Aloisi, who believes “we can beat everyone”.
The 2024-25 season is here and with it comes renewed optimism and hope for fans as Aloisi’s Western prepare for a showdown against 2023-24 Semi-Finalists Wellington Phoenix at Sky Stadium on Sunday.
Since winning their maiden Championship two years ago, Western have missed the past two Finals Series. However, this new campaign is different. For the first time in their history, the Tarneit-based club will play out of their Ironbark Fields facility from the start of the season having moved in at the backend of last term.
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“Expectations always have to be that we want to be in Finals. That has to be the expectation,” Aloisi told reporters on Thursday.
“Then during the season, things might happen or whatever, and things might change. But we believe at our best, we can beat everyone. We really believe that.
“We have a good side. We have good young players coming through. The experienced ones, they know, they’ve been there and done that.
“That pre-season has shown we we’re ready to go and ready to compete with everyone. Of course it’s a long season and you don’t know how that’s going to go, we just want to get off to a good start but we feel we can compete.”
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There will be a notable absentee in Western’s dugout when the 2021-22 champions kick-off their season in Wellington after assistant coach Hayden Foxe joined Tony Popovic’s Subway Socceroos coaching staff.
Foxe’s departure has opened the door for senior NPL head coach Diogo Ferreira and A-Leagues legend Andrew Durante to step up and work more closely with Aloisi.
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“We’re excited about that,” Aloisi said. “Diogo Ferreira has been here a few years already, coaching the NPL team. Virtually been with the first team since he’s been here. He knows exactly the football we want to play, the style we want to play. He knows our principles and structures. It’s going to be an easy step.
“And for Durante as well. Dura has been here for a long period, first as a player and now as a coach. I think they’re ready to take the next step. So far it’s been seamless.”
Sunday’s showdown with the Phoenix will pit Socceroos legend Aloisi against one of brightest up-and-coming coaches in the A-Leagues – Giancarlo ‘Chiefy’ Italiano.
It comes amid a new generation of “exciting” coaches in the competition, including new Perth Glory head coach David Zdrilic and Sydney FC’s Ufuk Talay.
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“I wouldn’t say the level has gone up, new coaches are coming through still,” Aloisi said.
“I was around when I was coaching against Graham Arnold (Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC), Ange Postecoglou (Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory) and Tony Popovic (Western Sydney Wanderers, Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory). The level was there and it’s been there for a long period.
“We have a number of good coaches. That’s exciting. I know other countries that are looking towards or who have signed coaches from elsewhere. I don’t think we need to do that. We have coaches, not only here in the A-League but overseas – in Asia and Europe who are doing really well.
“That’s a credit to everyone that’s made that next step. You’ll see some good tactical battles this season because we have some really good coaches and good players with the A-League.”
One of the names mentioned by Aloisi – Popovic, has gone on to become the coach of the Socceroos.
Popovic has overseen two matches since replacing Graham Arnold following his Victory exit at the end of 2023-24.
His first international window yielded four points, including a gutsy draw away to Japan. It also featured some selection shocks with Victory duo Nishan Velupillay and Jason Geria called up, as well as Macarthur FC’s Luke Brattan.
Velupillay capped his debut with a goal, while Brattan became the oldest Socceroos debutant since 1963 after starting against Japan on Tuesday night.
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“Popa has shown, in the A-League he won’t be afraid to select players,” said Aloisi.
“I don’t think anyone would’ve thought Velupillay was going to get an opportunity but he selected him and obviously scored on debut.
“Then you have Brattsy at 34 that he ended up throwing in.
“It’s really good, not only for our players but everyone in the A-League. If they perform, Popa’s been here for a long period and knows the A-League really well, they’ll get an opportunity.
“I don’t think any of our players should be thinking about that. They should be thinking about performing well and if they do well for us and we get good results, then they’ll be on the radar.”
A big theme of Wellington’s pre-season has been evolution – a tactical fluidity.
It is a new-look Phoenix after some big-name departures and the arrival of two Japanese stars from the J.League.
While announcing the arrivals of Kazuki Nagasawa and Hideki Ishige, Italiano highlighted the pair’s positional versatility. It signals somewhat of a new era for the Phoenix – the next stage of Wellington’s tactical evolution as they look more closely aligned to how the second-year coach wants his teams to play.
What does Aloisi make of it heading into their Round 1 battle?
“I think the personnel plays a part,” Aloisi responded. “I know Giancarlo has spoken about it, that last year he felt they had to defend more and defend deeper. Because of the personnel he had, he thought he was best on counter-attacking football.
“This season with the Japanese players, they’ll be good on the ball as you expect. They have some good players who can get on the ball in midfield with (Alex) Rufer and (Paulo) Retre.
“You expect them to be a little bit different. I wouldn’t say it’s tactically something we won’t have seen before. I think it will be similar to what we’ve seen, not just with Wellington but other sides.
“It will be a good test for us. We’ve played against Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City in the last few friendly games and in build-up, it’s pretty much the same as what I know of Wellington in build-up, what I’ve seen. Different when they press, I think they press a little bit different Wellington, what I’ve seen and heard.
“It’s difficult in Round 1 to know exactly because you’re going off a little bit of research you can do and trying to get games they have played.
“But I don’t think it will be anything that will surprise us that we go ‘oh wow, I didn’t see that coming’.”
There were 11 debutants for the Western in 2023-24 – Max Bisetto (Australia Cup only), Oli Lavale, Jake Najdovski, Matt Grimaldi, Zach Lisolajski, Jordan Lauton, James York, Charbel Shamoon, Luke Vickery, Khoder Kaddour and Abel Walatee.
Since last season, nine scholarship contracts have also been handed out to Grimaldi, Lavale, Michael Vonja, Vickery, Kaddour, Walatee, Luka Coveny, Leonard and Charbel Shamoon.
Academy graduate Grimaldi, who scored five goals in a breakout season that resulted in a three-year contract extension, tipped one youngster to catch the eye in 2024-25 and push for selection.
“I think all of them are standing out but if I had to pick one, I’d have to pick the youngest one – Dylan Leonard (17),” Grimaldi said.
“Such a young player but he looks so confident on the ball, especially for a centre-back at that age. You don’t really see that a lot.
“I think fans can expect him to start breaking into the team.”
