Season 13 of the Hyundai A-League is only days away.
While big name foreign players like Ross McCormack, Leroy George and Massimo Maccarone have stolen the headlines, there is a plethora of young Australian talent on show this season who will be looking to put their name in lights this year.
Anthony Kalik – Sydney FC
There was much fanfare when at the age of 15 Anthony Kalik became the youngest Australian to earn a professional contract in the A-League at the Central Coast Mariners in 2014.
The attacking midfielder was purchased by Croation giants Hajduk Split in 2015 and after some stellar performances in the youth side, has come to quench his thirst for first team football back at home.
Sydney FC have loaned in Kalik to add to their already impressive engine room in midfield.
As an explosive and creative midfielder, the 19-year old has plenty of competition with Johnny Warren Medallist Milos Ninkovic in the driver’s seat, while Alex Brosque and David Carney also vie for starting spots in midfield. The youngster can also play deeper in midfield.
The Asian Champions League and the backlog of fixtures at the turn of the year will be the time for Kalik to shine as he’ll find the majority of his first team football during the group stages of the Champions League.
“Anthony is a talented young attacking midfielder who I expect to thrive in our environment,” Sydney FC boss Graham Arnold said.
He is fast, creative and can make a dramatic impact when needed.
Ben Garuccio – Adelaide United
Ben Garuccio was the better of a bad bunch for Adelaide last season.
After joining the A-League champions the left-back knew that it was a tradition for United to begin the season slowly. The kick into gear never came as a late season rally saved Adelaide from humiliation as they finished second from bottom.
Professional Footballers Australia 2016-17 A-League released its report last month which showed Garuccio made 27 appearances, the most amount of games for a young A-League player.
The 22-year old stood out however providing three assists in the A-League and more importantly, three contributions for Adelaide in their Asian Champions’ League group stage.
A hard tackler, competent dribbler and confident attacking full-back, Garuccio has all the tools to fly under the tutelage of head coach Marco Kurz, a former Bundesliga first and second division defender for 14 years who spent most of his early career in the left-back position.
Garuccio has the technique, determination and confidence of his first season behind him to tackle the new year and look beyond the A-League come 2018.
Stefan Mauk – Melbourne City
Stefan Mauk had a rather meteoric rise in the 2016-17 season in the A-League.
A fresh faced 20-year old took to the field in the Melbourne derby early in the season. A man of the match performance and more to boot saw him become a lynchpin for eventual champions Adelaide United in central midfield who snatched him in January.
The robust midfielder earned a special move to Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen. However, after being hauled off after his first 45 minutes of professional European football, Mauk was frozen out, told to work on his less preferred defensive side of his game.
Nijmegen were relegated and loaned Mauk back out to Melbourne City for this season.
Under new coach Warren Joyce, the 21-year old must prove his worth amongst a clustered roster that possesses Luke Brattan, Neil Kilkenny, Marcin Budzinski and Marcelo Carrusca all in a predicetd three-man midfield.
From what we’ve seen of Mauk already, he has what it takes to break into the first team and prove to us once again his power on the park at and prove his Dutch doubters wrong.
Daniel De Silva – Central Coast Mariners
If there was anyone on this list that we didn’t want to see back in Australia; it’s Danny De Silva.
At the age of 16 the youthful De Silva made his professional debut for Perth Glory. Going on to make 33 appearances for the club he secured the deal of the century reportedly by Serie A giants AS Roma. A two—year loan deal in the Dutch top flight with Roda JC went sour as it was terminated with a year to run.
Since November of last year De Silva has been out in the wilderness. One of Australia’s rising stars was falling and falling fast.
That was until Paul Okon swept the 20-year old off his feet and landed him in Gosford. The opportunity with a two-year deal to make his mark once again will give De Silva the much-needed chance to verify his future star status.
Reported to be deployed in his favoured No.10 role, De Silva has no excuses not to be the main man on the coast and has the ability to draw the crowds in. At least 14 contributions would suffice for him and his fans.
The 20-year old mustn’t linger, it’s time for him to truly make his mark.
Thomas Deng – Melbourne Victory
A promising defender and in my opinion a certain future Socceroo, Thomas Deng has returned from the holy grail of youth football in Holland to show Australia what he can do.
At the age of 18 last year Deng was sent out on loan to historical Dutch club PSV Eidenhoven, former stomping ground of former Socceroo Jason Culina.
Deng made five appearances for the youth team in the Dutch Second Division. Appearances aside, he has had the experience of a lifetime training and playing in and around the first team and youth teams in Holland.
The 19-year old worked under Dennis Haar, former youth team coach at AZ Alkmaar who is familiar with Australian talent having pledged his work with Eli Babalj and worked with former Socceroo Brett Holman.
Deng is returning to his familiar environment in Melbourne under Kevin Muscat and with the experienced head of Rhys Williams next to him and Olyroo teammate Jason Geria alongside, it’ll be a big year for him and Melbourne Victory who in my opinion have what it takes to seriously make waves in the Asian Champions League this season.
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