Hero Scouts Tim Cahill and Amy Duggan have revealed their three players to watch from each club for the upcoming season.
Now, watch the sizzle reels and choose which heroes will step up for your club in the Hyundai A-League Season 2018/19.
FIND OUT MORE: Where Heroes Are Made
LEADING THE CHARGE: Cahill and Duggan sign up as Hero Scouts
Adelaide United Hero Scout Highlights Reel
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5844719910001
Mirko Boland
Age: 31
Position: Central midfielder
Nationality: German
Hero fact: Streetwise midfield general Mirko Boland featured in more than 400 games in all competitions in Germany before making his way to South Australia this off-season to add steel to the Reds’ ranks.
Craig Goodwin
Age: 26
Position: Left-sided attacker
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: Hometown hero Craig Goodwin helped United lift the Hyundai A-League title in 2016 before departing for Sparta Rotterdam in the Dutch Eredivisie. After two years in the Netherlands, he’s back and hungry for more glory.
Isaias
Age: 31
Position: Defensive midfielder
Nationality: Spanish
Hero fact: Spanish schemer Isaias has racked up more than 130 games for the Reds since he arrived Down Under in 2013 and his presence was rewarded by being made captain in 2017/18.
Brisbane Roar Hero Scout Highlights Reel
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5844733351001
Adam Taggart
Age: 25
Position: Striker
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: A natural-born poacher, off-season signing Adam Taggart scored 39 goals in 63 Hyundai A-League starts during his previous spells at Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets.
Stefan Mauk
Age: 22
Position: Attacking midfielder
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: Young dynamo Stefan Mauk climbed the Australian national team ranks, starring for Australia at Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 level. He returns from two years in the Netherlands ready to impress.
Jamie Young
Age: 33
Position: Goalkeeper
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: After 11 years honing his craft in England, rock-steady net-minder Jamie Young established himself as the Roar’s reliable number 1 in 2014 and has gone on to make 74 Hyundai A-League appearances.
Central Coast Mariners Hero Scout Highlights Reel
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5844728756001
Kalifa Cisse
Age: 34
Position: Central defender
Nationality: Malian
Hero fact: The powerful defensive blockade Kalifa Cisse made 22 appearances, and scored 1 goal, while mixing it in the English Premier League for Reading in 2007.
Jordan Murray
Age: 23
Position: Striker
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: Exciting young striker Jordan Murray turned heads in the NPL NSW by netting 23 goals in 19 games to smash a league record and earn his big break with the Mariners.
Matt Simon
Age: 32
Position: Striker
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: The Hyundai A-League’s ninth all-time top goalscorer Matt Simon returns to where it all began after clocking up 185 Hyundai A-League games in 12 years.
Melbourne City Hero Scout Highlights Reel
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5844723527001
Bruno Fornaroli
Age: 31
Position: Striker
Nationality: Uruguayan
Hero fact: Former Golden Boot winner Bruno Fornaroli has scored 48 goals in 66 Hyundai A-League games since arriving at City in 2015, shooting him up to eighth on the competition’s list of all-time top scorers.
Riley McGree
Age: 19
Position: Attacking midfielder
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: Riley McGree became a teen sensation when his ‘scorpion kick’ goal stunned the world, earning him a nomination for the prestigious Puskas Award at the ‘The Best’ FIFA Football Awards 2018.
Bart Schenkeveld
Age: 27
Position: Central defender
Nationality: Dutch
Hero fact: Tough-tackling Bart Schenkeveld overcame three anterior cruciate ligament tears while still a teenager, battling back from an 18-month injury layoff before he graduated from the famed Feyenoord academy.
Melbourne Victory Hero Scout Highlights Reel
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5844727082001
Kosta Barbarouses
Age: 28
Position: Right-sided attacker
Nationality: New Zealander
Hero fact: Three times a Hyundai A-League Champion, Kosta Barbarouses wrote himself into Victory folklore by scoring the winning goal in the 2018 Grand Final, becoming only the third player to score in multiple deciders.
Keisuke Honda
Age: 32
Position: Attacking midfielder
Nationality: Japanese
Hero fact: A genuine superstar of world football, 96-cap Japan international Keisuke Honda has played at three FIFA World Cups™ and won an AFC Asian Cup – not to mention he lifted an Italian Super Cup with AC Milan to add to his Russian title and two Russian Cups with CSKA Moscow.
Lawrence Thomas
Age: 26
Position: Goalkeeper
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: Lawrence Thomas took the gloves full-time for Victory in 2016 after serving as Danny Vukovic’s back-up and earned the Joe Marston Medal for being the best player in the Hyundai A-League 2018 Grand Final.
Newcastle Jets Hero Scout Highlights Reel
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5844723526001
Nigel Boogaard
Age: 32
Position: Central defender
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: Newcastle captain Nigel Boogaard has been patrolling Hyundai A-League defences since 2005, has stacked up 195 domestic appearances and added another 13 games in the AFC Champions League.
Dimi Petratos
Age: 25
Position: Attacking midfielder
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: A teenage Dimi Petratos announced himself to the Hyundai A-League in 2011 by scoring a double for Sydney FC’s against the Central Coast Mariners, and made his Caltex Socceroos bow in March 2018.
Ronald Vargas
Age: 31
Position: Attacking midfielder
Nationality: Venezuelan
Hero fact: Ronald Vargas has lifted the Belgian league title three times as an RSC Anderlecht player, adding to the success he had with hometown team Caracas FC in Venezuela.
Perth Glory Hero Scout Highlights Reel
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5844727720001
Diego Castro
Age: 36
Position: Attacking midfielder
Nationality: Spanish
Hero fact: Chief playmaker Diego Castro amassed over 200 appearances in La Liga prior to his switch to Perth Glory, which has led to the Johnny Warren Medal in 2016 and an excellent return of 33 goals in 75 matches.
Andy Keogh
Age: 32
Position: Striker
Nationality: Irish
Hero fact: Spearhead and captain Andy Keogh has been an outstanding contributor across his two spells in Perth, with the 30-time Republic of Ireland international burying 40 goals in four seasons.
Neil Kilkenny
Age: 32
Position: Defensive midfielder
Nationality: English-Australian
Hero fact: Once a team-mate of Cesc Fabregas in Arsenal’s youth setup, tenacious midfielder Neil Kilkenny represented England at Under-20 level before definitively switching allegiance to Australia in time for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
Sydney FC Hero Scout Highlights Reel
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5844729565001
Josh Brillante
Age: 25
Position: Central midfielder
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: Versatile workhorse Josh Brillante, twice on the cusp of FIFA World Cup™ selection for the Caltex Socceroos, has been a fixture in the successful Sydney FC side of recent seasons, having returned to the Hyundai A-League in 2016 following a stint in Italy.
Alex Brosque
Age: 34
Position: Attacking midfielder
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: Sydney FC skipper Alex Brosque has been playing at the top level since 2001, journeying to the Netherlands, Belgium, Japan and the UAE in a career that included a share of the inaugural Hyundai A-League Golden Boot.
Milos Ninkovic
Age: 33
Position: Attacking midfielder
Nationality: Serbian
Hero fact: One of the finest imports to grace the Hyundai A-League, the classy Milos Ninkovic squared off against Australia at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and has since become a Johnny Warren Medal Winner and Grand Final victor.
Wellington Phoenix Hero Scout Highlights Reel
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5844729566001
Roy Krishna
Age: 31
Position: Striker
Nationality: Fijian
Hero fact: Blessed with lightning pace, Roy Krishna has developed into a trusted attacking weapon for Wellington and memorably scored Fiji’s first ever goal at the Olympic Games in 2016.
Sarpreet Singh
Age: 19
Position: Attacking midfielder
Nationality: New Zealander
Hero fact: With an eye for a pass like few other teenagers, the silky Sarpreet Singh debuted for Phoenix two days prior to his 18th birthday and is considered one of New Zealand’s brightest prospects.
Steven Taylor
Age: 32
Position: Central defender
Nationality: English
Hero fact: No-nonsense centre-back Steven Taylor was handed his professional debut for hometown club Newcastle United by the legendary Sir Bobby Robson, kick-starting a 13-year stay with the Magpies that led to two senior England call-ups.
Western Sydney Wanderers Hero Scout Highlights Reel
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5844728757001
Vedran Janjetovic
Age: 31
Position: Goalkeeper
Nationality: Croatian-Australian
Hero fact: After breaking through at Sydney FC in 2012, Vedran Janjetovic played 100 Hyundai A-League games before swapping sky blue for red and black. He’s turned out 44 times between the posts for Wanderers.
Oriol Riera
Age: 32
Position: Striker
Nationality: Spanish
Hero fact: Oriol Riera made his professional debut for FC Barcelona as a 17-year-old alongside Ronaldinho, Xavi, Carles Puyol and Marc Overmars, and used to travel and room with fellow youth teamer Lionel Messi.
Josh Risdon
Age: 26
Position: Right full-back
Nationality: Australian
Hero fact: Josh Risdon, who has 11 caps for the Caltex Socceroos and was part of Australia’s FIFA World Cup™ squad in 2018, has played each of his 160 career league games in the Hyundai A-League.
Search ‘Where Heroes Are Made’ for more information.
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