This is the human side to the pursuit of team success. The sacrifice, the commitment, the gamble on an opportunity. Moving interstate, moving abroad. Jumping from youth team to first team. Meeting new team-mates, welcoming new coaches, creating new culture.
Two teams progress to Saturday night’s Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final as a concoction of individuals in pursuit of a common goal: becoming champions.
These are the stories transcending the importance of team success, of what it means to the players who could impact Saturday night’s title decider.
Featured image credit: Rachel Bach @bythewhiteline.
SECURE YOUR TICKETS TO THE GRAND FINAL!
MATCH DETAILS
Melbourne City v Western United
AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEST
Broadcast: Network 10, Paramount+
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MELBOURNE CITY
Tom Glover
Junior club: Sutherland Sharks
A developing goalkeeper copping more than his fair share of criticism in 2021-22 for a series of individual errors which put his spot in the City XI under the microscope. Glover did make way for stand-in stopper Matthew Sutton in March, spending two games away from the spotlight, before head coach Patrick Kisnorbo thrust him back into the thick of the action.
Glover has been culpable for the concession of City goals since his return – but Kisnorbo has kept the faith in his No. 1, who will don the gloves in his third consecutive Grand Final. Glover has excelled on the biggest stage in the past – and could prove the match-winner should he do so again on Saturday.
Carl Jenkinson
Junior club: Charlton Athletic
From the bright lights of The Emirates Stadium to the A-Leagues, City full-back Carl Jenkinson is no stranger to the big occasion. The former Arsenal defender arrived at City in January and has since become a mainstay in Kisnorbo’s side. The early-season departure of Nathaniel Atkinson to Scottish outfit Hearts left Kisnorbo the task of replacing a player of immense quality; Jenkinson has been responsible for filling the void.
Nuno Reis
Junior club: Sporting CP
When Nuno Reis signed a contract extension in May, his reasoning was simple: “I have to stay longer.”
The Portuguese central defender is loving life Down Under, and could end his second season in Australia with consecutive champions medals; his impact alongside Curtis Good in the heart of City’s defence has been paramount to his side’s success since his arrival in January, 2021. It’s only fitting that Australian life has seemingly impacted him equally.
Curtis Good
Junior club: Nunawading City
You just can’t help but root for Curtis Good. A player who has endured a torrid run of injuries throughout a career of great potential, is finally reaping the rewards of consistency at City.
In the off-season, Good made his Socceroos return, 2,651 days after his first cap in green and gold. That return came off the back of a 24-game season in City colours last campaign. He’s backed that up with 22 to date in 2021-22. A composed figure in defence, and an occasional goalscorer, don’t write off the chance of a Grand Final goal for the City centre-back.
Scott Jamieson
Junior club: Kings Langley
Two seasons ago, City captain Scott Jamieson missed City’s push to a club-first Grand Final, putting family over football as the birth of his first child coincided with a COVID-enforced bubble.
The following season, Jamieson was a goalscorer in his side’s maiden Championship triumph with his son, Cooper, watching along at AAMI Park. Now, he’s on the cusp of glory in consecutive seasons. Jamieson’s second child was born in the hours preceding City’s second leg semi-final win over Adelaide United; he would love nothing more than to cap off an unforgettable week in his family life by becoming the first player to ever captain a team to back-to-back Premiership and Championship doubles.
Taras Gomulka
Junior club: Adelaide City
In the absence of the injured Aiden O’Neill, Taras Gomulka has made a spot in City’s starting XI his own. The 20-year-old has made three consecutive starts heading into the Grand Final, brushing off his boyhood club Adelaide United in the process. Last season he rode the bench as City edged Sydney FC in the title decider; now he’s odds on to start on Saturday night.
Connor Metcalfe
Junior club: South Cardiff SC
One last hurrah for Connor Metcalfe before a move to FC St Pauli – and it comes in the A-League Men’s Grand Final.
His recent graduation from the Olyroos to Socceroos and collection of the 2021-22 Alex Tobin Medal confirms exactly why the German side was after his signature; he’s one of the brightest young talents in the Australian game – and has one last opportunity to show his wares before his European move.
Florin Berenguer
The fabulous Frenchman is enjoying his best season to date in a City shirt. His four-year stint in the A-League has coincided with City’s rise to power; fifth in season one, second the next, then two first-place finishes in a row, and now the chance to secure back-to-back Premiership and Championship doubles.
Jamie Maclaren
Junior club: Sunbury United
Jamie Maclaren’s A-Leagues domination rolled on in 2021-22, winning his third consecutive Golden Boot and fourth in total with a 15-goal haul. It’s a number far lower than the norm for Maclaren, who scored 48 goals in 48 games across the two seasons prior. But this season he’s learned to live with a new neighbour on his left; Mathew Leckie, who like Andrew Nabbout brings his own hunger for a share of the spoils to City’s fearsome front three.
After City booked a spot in the Grand Final, Maclaren boldly stated City had created a dynasty. Some may wonder whether that claim remains true if his side fail to claim victory over Western on Saturday.
Andrew Nabbout
Junior club: Sunbury United
It’s become a common sight this season: Andrew Nabbout out on the pitch post-game with two-year-old son Rio in tow.
Nabbout introduced Rio to AAMI Park in 2019, as a Melbourne Victory star.
Now, after two seasons at City, his son beats the Melbourne City drums.
Nabbout will hope Rio can clutch at blue confetti on the AAMI Park turf in the afterglow of Saturday’s Grand Final.
Mathew Leckie
Junior club: Brimbank SC
Mathew Leckie arrived at City in the off-season to much fanfare, and after a seven-game goalless run to start the season, even more scrutiny.
The Socceroos winger has since turned it all around. Nine goals in 10 games silenced the critics; but without a goal or assist to his name in five games, Leckie will hope to break that mini drought to complete his transition from questionable City signing to irreplaceable starter in a champion side.
Stefan Colakovski
Junior club: Pascoe Vale
City’s very own academy kid, who grew up a fan of the formerly-named Melbourne Heart only to go on and represent the club in their current form.
Last season, Colakovski played a crucial role in sending City to the Grand Final. A goal and assist in the semis sunk Macarthur FC and sent City on the way to the decider, in which Colakovski started in the absence of Socceroo Jamie Maclaren and Nabbout, who came off the bench due to injury.
This season he’s back on the fringes of the starting side – but as a City boy through and through who knows exactly what it means to represent the club, you can never discount Colakovski from making a statement off the bench in the clutch moments on Saturday night.
Marco Tilio
Junior club: Sydney Olympic
Marco Tilio, like City team-mate Metcalfe, is a shining light in the Socceroos’ future. His five goals and five assists this season amount to 10 goal contributions, an increase on his tally of seven in 2020-21 as Tilio experiences a continuation of his improvement that has coincided with an increase in minutes played (1,377 in 2021-22 v 1,020 in 2020-21).
In Sunday’s second leg of City’s semi-final clash with Adelaide United, Tilio came off the bench and scored the all-important equaliser to help send City through to the Grand Final. Prepare for the possibility of Tilio entering Saturday’s decider in the second half in an attempt to clinch the Championship for City.
Rostyn Griffiths
Junior club: ECU Joondalup
Rostyn Griffiths is City’s “Mr. Fix It”. Kisnorbo can plug him in holes in central defence and central midfield; they are dual duties Griffiths has performed in the City squad throughout his four-season stay.
Born in Stoke, England, Griffiths put the journeyman lifestyle behind him upon signing for City in 2018, and has since been a mainstay in and around the playing squad. He’ll come off the bench on Saturday night if needed by Kisnorbo for a role in the spine of the side, as a leader with the calmest of heads on his shoulders.
Scott Galloway
Junior club: Gosnells City
Scott Galloway began last season as an alternative right-back to Nathaniel Atkinson. A serious injury to the young defender opened the door for Galloway to make the spot his own; he performed so well that come grand final day Kisnorbo had no choice but to play the both of them. Atkinson won the Joe Marston Medal, and Galloway scored the game-sealing goal to make it 3-1 at the death.
Galloway has been sighted on far fewer occasions this season, but memories of an excellent final day in 2020-21 will spur the full-back on to create new memories should he be called upon by Kisnorbo on Saturday night.
WESTERN UNITED
Jamie Young
Junior club: Eastern Suburbs Soccer Club
Is Jamie Young the signing of the season? Prior to kick-off to the 2021-22 campaign, very few would have muttered the phrase. But the 36-year-old’s sensational season for Western United puts him in the conversation – and on the cusp of Grand Final glory.
Young leads the league in saves (109). He kept 11 clean sheets along the way to the grand final, beaten just twice across two legs in the semi-finals by a pair of Jake Brimmer stunners. He also pulled off one of the saves of the season, and undeniably one of the finest of his career when it mattered most. Western’s progression to the Grand Final has been impacted enormously by their custodian’s individual form.
Leo Lacroix
Signed in the off-season, Western’s Swiss giant Leo Lacroix has made quite the impression in his maiden A-League Men’s season. The former Saint-Etienne, FC Basel and Hamburg defender has dominated in the heart of Western’s defence, using his towering presence to great advantage on his way to becoming an A-Leagues All Star.
Tomoki Imai
Junior club: Ichikawa KIFC
Tomoki Imai’s Western career began with the Japanese defender exceeding all expectations. Imai arrived in Australia for two weeks of training at the club that month, with the intention to spectate a Western fixture and then await word from Western. His impact was instantaneous; Western offered Imai a contract after one week, and he went on to make his debut against Brisbane Roar on February 16 – the game he was supposed to attend as a spectator.
Two-and-a-half seasons later, Imai is one of the most dependable figures in Western’s squad, and set to play a key role in Western’s defence on Grand Final day.
Josh Risdon
Junior club: Bunbury United Soccer Club
A syndesmosis injury halted Josh Risdon’s season in March – but the Western full-back returned in time for finals – and what a crucial return it was, with injuries mounting in his side’s defensive unit.
Risdon made his comeback against Wellington off the bench in week one of the finals, proceeding to play 90 minutes in both of his side’s semi-final legs against Melbourne Victory.
Risdon, a member of Western’s inaugural squad in 2019-20, admitted this week that after his first Grand Final loss in 2012 – playing for Perth Glory against Brisbane Roar – that the emotions of defeat didn’t linger; he felt another similar opportunity would be just around the bend. He hasn’t been back to a Grand Final since. The 29-year-old is eager to ensure this weekend isn’t an opportunity that slips easily out of his hands.
Ben Garuccio
Junior club: Adelaide City FC
Western’s ‘Scorpion King’ wrote headlines around the world for a goal which he’s unlikely to ever eclipse in his footballing career. But, the former City full-back isn’t just a one-trick pony. Garuccio’s season has been sublime, two goals and six assists complimenting the 10 clean sheets he’s contributed to since switching from City blue to green and black.
Jerry Skotadis
Junior club: Mascot Kings Soccer Club
In the absence of the injured Steven Lustica has come Jerry Skotadis, the 22-year-old central midfielder who has made four of his five starts for the season in succession on the way to the Grand Final.
Skotadis knows the club back to front having joined the expansion side for their inaugural campaign in 2019-20. Then 19, and now 22, Skotadis has made the most of the opportunity to show his wares to Aloisi, and the Western head coach has responded with instilling faith in his 22-year-old to fire in the finals.
Neil Kilkenny
Junior club: St Catherine’s United FC Brisbane
It’s been a testing season for Neil Kilkenny, the veteran midfielder who joined Western from Perth Glory ahead of the new campaign.
Kilkenny travelled to Victoria to begin the season with his new team; with difficulties travelling across state borders this season due to the COVID pandemic, Kilkenny estimates he’s seen his family for three weeks out of 10 months. Add in a two-week trip to the UK to support his partner through the death of her father, and it’s understandable why at the final whistle of every big Western win in the finals, Kilkenny has let his emotions flow.
One more win on Saturday night, and Kilkenny may find tears in eyes once again, but this time with a medal draped around his neck.
Lachlan Wales
Junior Club: Terrigal United FC
Lachlan Wales has enjoyed a dream campaign in green and black. His four goals and six assists for 10 score involvements is his best attacking output to date across six A-League Men’s seasons; six seasons spent vastly on the fringes.
Two at Central Coast came before another two at City, where Wales would start just 37 times out of 64 games. Last season he started 14 times from 24 games at new club Western – this season he’s played 28 of his 29 games from the off. Wales scored the game-breaking goal which decided Western’s semi-final triumph over Melbourne Victory, and riding high off a wave of confidence the 24-year-old will look to star against his former side on Grand Final day.
Dylan Wenzel-Halls
Junior club: Ipswich Knights Soccer Club
Queensland native Dylan Wenzel-Halls took a deliberate step out of his comfort zone in the off-season, departing Brisbane Roar to link up with head coach John Aloisi in Victoria. His start to life at Western was far from productive, making just seven starts in his first 22 games and scoring three goals.
But, the 24-year-old has suddenly found himself central to Aloisi’s plans. He’s made four starts in a row, scoring two goals and notching one assist. His last-gasp semi-final goal put the final nail in Victory’s coffin, sent the Western bench, fans in the stands and players on the park into raptures at AAMI Park, and cemented Wenzel-Halls as a genuine X-factor ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final.
Connor Pain
Junior club: Malvern City
At the end of the 2020-21 season, Connor Pain was Western’s starting wing-back on the left-hand side of a back five. Aloisi’s arrival led to a change of formation to a defensive four, with Ben Garuccio brought over from City to start at left-back.
Aloisi assured Pain he was a crucial part of the club’s future, reverting Pain to his traditional position on the left of an attacking three. It has been a move which has paid dividends. Pain, like many Western players this season, is in the form of his career and flying toward the grand final.
Aleksandar Prijović
Junior club: FC St. Gallen
Jamie Young and Aleksandar Prijović: two Western recruits at either end of the park with genuine claims of the title of signing of the A-League Men’s season.
The Serbian striker has 12 goals and six assists to his name from 26 appearances for Western. He’s come alive in the finals, scoring the solitary goal in his side’s elimination final win over Wellington before notching two goals and an assist in Western’s phenomenal second leg turnaround against Victory in the semi-finals.
The prolific spearhead has enjoyed a fruitful career in Europe, scoring goals in both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, winning two Polish titles with Legia Warsaw and a Greek Super League title with PAOKi. Saturday’s Grand Final is just another game for a player of Prijović’s calibre; should he be in the mood for goals, City’s defence will be under severe threat.
Dylan Pierias
Stuck to the fringes of this Western starting XI, Dylan Pierias has returned from an ankle injury sustained on the verge of the finals series to play 10 minutes in the first leg of his side’s semi-final tie with Victory.
Pierias was an unused sub in leg two, but heading toward the Grand Final looms as a genuine threat at Aloisi’s disposal to alter proceedings with his speed and direct play late in the game.
Pierias, like Western winger Wales, is a former City player who departed the club at the conclusion of his scholarship contract in 2019.
Steven Lustica
In late April, Steven Lustica suffered a calf injury; the initial prognosis was a three to four week layoff, but the 31-year-old returned to the bench to face Victory in leg two of the semi-finals.
Lustica came on to replace Skotadis in midfield in the 65th minute, but was withdrawn in the 90th minute. His fitness will be a point of interest heading into this weekend’s title decider. Lustica has scored five goals this season, his equal-best output since the 2014-15 season with Brisbane Roar.
