We select our Top 10 best A-League players under the age of 23 ahead of the A-League season.
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10) Stefan Mauk (Melbourne City)
His progression stalled under former coach John Aloisi, but the re-arrival of John van’t Schip gave the youngster an extended run in the middle of the park last season, and he looked the goods.
Blessed with a soft first touch and good vision, the 18-year-old may find it tough to start in a midfield containing the likes of Robert Koren, Damien Duff, Massimo Murdocca and Aaron Mooy, but there’s no doubt he’s a talent.
9) Nick Ansell (Melbourne Victory)
Ansell looked calm and collected at in the Victory defence last season, with many fans now wanting the 20-year-old to partner French veteran Mathieu Delpierre in the back this season rather than former captain Adrian Leijer.
Potentially a future Socceroo centre-back, Ansell must get game time under his belt this season.
8) Osama Malik (Adelaide United)
Malik had a tough start to his career with the now-defunct North Queensland Fury, but the 23-year-old has flourished under Spanish manager Josep Gombau.
His form was so good last season there were calls for him to be selected in Ange Postecoglou’s 23-man World Cup squad.
Though it never came about, his physical presence combined with excellent technical ability could take him to Russia 2018.
7) Dimitri Petratos (Brisbane Roar)
An unceremonious exit from Sydney FC two seasons ago left the winger’s career at the crossroads, but Petratos has looked a complete different player since his arrival at the Roar.
He has looked at home playing in Brisbane’s possession-based style of play and is also blessed with the ability to beat his marker.
6) Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United)
Goodwin put in a man-of-the-match performance in his A-League debut in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the Melbourne Derby back in 2011, leaving Australian football fans to believe he was the man to fill the Socceroos’ issues at left-back.
It hasn’t quite worked out that way, with his move to a struggling Newcastle Jets seemingly stalling his career.
Technically superb and with an excellent engine, Goodwin is hoping to revive his career with Adelaide United this season.
5) Aaron Mooy (Melbourne City)
There’s no doubt Mooy’s form dropped off last season after an excellent first year at the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Mooy has now moved across to Melbourne City and will be aiming to again show his technical class in an attempt to force his way into the national team squad for the upcoming Asian Cup.
4) Awer Mabil (Adelaide United)
An excitement machine, Awer Mabil is very raw but his ability to beat more battled-hardened defenders at such a tender age shows a boy with a lot of potential.
Mabil has refined his game under Josep Gombau, but there’s no doubt the Kenyan-born Aussie’s strengths lie in his speed and trickery.
The Adelaide United winger is one of Australia’s brightest young talents.
3) Terry Antonis (Sydney FC)
Injuries have hurt the early stages of his career, but Antonis has shown his class when fit.
A move to Serie A club Parma fell through last season due to transfer fee complications, but there’s no doubt he’ll get another shot a European career.
Antonis possesses sublime vision and an excellent first touch and looks to be a future Socceroos midfielder if he can stay relatively injury-free.
2) Daniel de Silva (Perth Glory)
The highly-rated attacking midfielder starred at the FIFA U/20 World Cup in Turkey in 2013, so much so that Serie A giants Roma paid $2.5 million to lock him in to the club when he turns 18.
His short-stature means he has the knack of being able to slalom his way though defences, but it’s his incisive angled through-balls that caught the attention of most.
The kid is a star, but Perth manager Kenny Lowe needs to give him more game time.
1) Tomi Juric (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Likened to former Premier League star Mark Viduka, Juric combines excellent technical ability with pure physicality.
Once he refines his finishing and cools his at times short-temper, a career in Europe beckons.
He became the focal point of the Wanderers attack last season, and has now been capped by Australia and could be the answer to Australia’s goal-scoring issues.
Tim Cahill can only shoulder the load for so long and its time for Juric to step up.
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