- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Opinion
Finding favour ahead of the club captain in the starting line-up is no easy feat. Indeed, Jordan Bos, at 20 years of age, managed just that, starting 26 games in season that has been littered with individual highlights.
A City academy product, A-League fans have witnessed the rise of Jordan Bos with approval. His strong stature, intelligent play, and clean skills have value-added to a Melbourne City already stacked with capability.
First arriving on the scene as a leaner, teenager version of his current self, Bos has blossomed wonderfully in a manner all clubs dream for their youth.
Such has been the rise and dominance of Bos at left-back that the omission of captain Scott Jamieson needed to be addressed:
“He’s just been a little bit unfortunate with Jordy’s performances being so strong,” commented Melbourne City manager, Rado Vidosic, in January.
Fast-forward to this past week, fans’ predictions were confirmed correct as Bos signed a league transfer-fee record with Belgium’s KVC Westerlo.
For many, the real pleasure is in the knowledge that Bos has decided that minutes on the pitch are of greater value than the magnitude of the club. With examples in the past of European moves transpiring poorly, Bos appears to have made an informed decision with a view to taking the patient road.
But there is another pleasantry in the midst of City’s first-choice left-back moving abroad: Bos does not appear alone in his promising trajectory.
A subtle surge in youth quality appears to be gaining momentum within the A-League. Young players are finally competing and garnering the attention that Aussie football fans have yearned for.
(Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
The likes of Riley McGree, Denis Genreau, Conor Metcalfe, and Keanu Baccus are themselves A-League graduates who have moved on to cement their starting roles in Europe.
A justifiable and commonly shared complaint shared by football fans in the past is that the A-League resembled something of a “retirement league”. Indeed, most clubs could be found guilty of having signed players nearing 40, namely marquee signings.
With most A-League clubs now having firmly established their respective academies, and player quality such as the aforementioned holding themselves respectfully abroad, it appears that a youth takeover may finally come to fruition.
Nestory Irankunda, Calem Nieuwenhof, and Keegan Jelacic are just such of the names that continue to bring spectators through the gates and it can be attributed to no less than the brilliance of their football.
This is a welcomed change.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.