Prepare yourselves for an A-League Men season like no other – chiefly because, for the first time, there’s a World Cup smack bang in the middle of it.
The timing of Qatar 2022 – which, instead of the usual mid-year scheduling, has been pushed back to November to avoid the worst of the searing Middle Eastern heat – sets up a six-week domestic audition for a host of players seeking to retain their Socceroos jerseys, or to impress Graham Arnold enough to force themselves into his plans.
Graham Arnold wanted selection headaches – and he’s got plenty.Credit:Getty
Arnold recently joked he wanted Panadol as a personal sponsor because of how many selection headaches he was facing. He doesn’t have to name his 26-man squad until the November 14 deadline, eight days before Australia’s opening Group D match against France in Doha. Before that, he has to provide FIFA a list of 55 players (which won’t be made public), from which his final squad must be chosen from, by October 21.
That still leaves plenty of time for the pecking order to change, be it through good form, bad, or – touch wood – injury. So as the A-League campaign kicks off with a grand final rematch on Friday night between Melbourne City and Western United, here are 10 players Arnold will be keeping a close eye on … and you should too.
Can Andrew Redmayne lock in his spot?Credit:Getty
Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC)
The “Grey Wiggle” was the hero of Australia’s World Cup qualifying win over Peru, but it’s easy to forget his club form prior to that unforgettable penalty shootout wasn’t particularly great. For so long one of the A-League’s best shot-stoppers, Redmayne briefly lost his starting spot at Sydney FC last season to young teammate Tom Heward-Belle when he came back from international duty, and was responsible for a few uncharacteristic individual errors. With Danny Vukovic now pressing his Socceroos case up the road at the Mariners, Redmayne needs to start well to confirm his spot on the plane.
Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC)
It’s more likely than not that this Sydney FC legend’s days in green and gold are over, but you never say never in football – and particularly with Nathaniel Atkinson and Fran Karacic not making the right-back position their own, the door remains ever so slightly ajar. Grant wasn’t always at his best last season, but a lot of that had to do with a bout of COVID. If injury strikes any of his other options, Arnold might just look to one of his most reliable old charges to join the squad in Qatar.
Jake Brimmer (Melbouurne Victory)
Melbourne Victory’s Jake Brimmer was named the best player in the A-League Men competition last season.Credit:Getty Images
Brimmer became just the second Australian since 2008 to win the Johnny Warren Medal as the A-League’s best player last season, and the fact he hasn’t been more prominently discussed as a Socceroos option has more to do with the nation’s fantastic depth in midfield, rather than any comment on his ability. The 24-year-old Melbourne Victory star is entering the prime of his career and he has an improved attack in front of him this season, led by marquee star Luis Nani. If Brimmer can pick up exactly where he left off, who knows?
Daniel Arzani (Macarthur FC)
The breakout star of Australia’s last World Cup campaign, it’s been pretty much downhill ever since. Having joined Macarthur FC this season after a sour end to his four-year stint at Manchester City, spent entirely on loan to other European clubs, the early signs from him are extremely positive. The 23-year-old has matured on and off the field, his fitness base has improved, and all the things that made him such an eye-catching talent are still there. Coach Dwight Yorke reckons there’s “no question” Arnold should take him to Qatar. Will Arzani force him to find room?
Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United)
Craig Goodwin offers something different to Australia’s other wide options.Credit:Getty
Often flies under the radar, at least on the eastern seaboard, but ask any Adelaide United fan if Goodwin should be in Australia’s World Cup squad, and they’d probably be offended by the premise of the question. The 30-year-old is in his prime, and as a naturally left-footed winger adept with set pieces, he offers something different to other wide options in the Socceroos’ ranks. He could also pinch-hit at left-back if required. Goodwin wasn’t selected for last month’s friendlies against New Zealand, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of the picture.
Garang Kuol (Central Coast Mariners)
The man of the moment. If anyone had suggested 12 months ago that we’d be talking about a player who has come off the bench half a dozen times for the Central Coast Mariners, and not even started an A-League match yet, as one of the Socceroos’ best attacking options at a World Cup … well, that person would be immediately put in a straitjacket. But that was before Kuol came from the clouds, almost scored twice against Barcelona, dazzled on debut for Australia, and then landed a deal with English Premier League side Newcastle United. It’s been a whirlwind for the 18-year-old, who has a handful of games for the Mariners to show Arnold what he can do – he will miss the Mariners’ round-two clash with Wellington Phoenix – and could be at long odds to feature in their following match against Perth Glory due to travel demands – after he was selected for the Young Socceroos, who will play three crucial qualifiers abroad for the 2023 U-20 Asian Cup against Iraq, India and Kuwait between October 14-18. Can he prove himself as a starter in that time?
Marco Tilio (Melbourne City)
Game time is critical for Marco Tilio at this stage of his young career.Credit:Getty
Another reason to be excited about the future of the Socceroos. Tilio, 21, needs to start seeing more regular football – at any other A-League team he’d be a nailed-on starter but at Melbourne City, he’s fighting the likes of Mathew Leckie, Andrew Nabbout, new import Richard van de Venne and some of the country’s best up-and-coming youngsters for a spot. Last season, he only started 13 of 25 games for City, and in Australia’s friendly against New Zealand in Auckland, his lack of sharpness told in a shocking miss in front of an empty net. Still worthy of a World Cup squad berth regardless, but he’s due to break through at City and take his game up a notch.
Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City)
One of the Socceroos’ most loyal servants for the past decade, Leckie is nearing the end of a career that, frankly, has been grossly under-appreciated by most fans here. But like any other long-time national team players, his spot should not be guaranteed – and it has been a while since he truly dominated a game for Australia. Awer Mabil and Martin Boyle seem to be Arnold’s preferred starting wingers, and players like Kuol and Tilio are arguably better options off the bench. The 31-year-old’s versatility means he can play up front, too, giving him extra utility in the squad – but it’d be great if Leckie can end any debate before it has a chance to really start with a cracking run of form for Melbourne City.
Jason Cummings (Central Coast Mariners)
The class clown of Scottish football has become a cult hero within the Australian game, and quickly. Now it’s a question of whether he can take the next step and become a key player for the Socceroos. The early signs from his goal on debut last month were pretty good, but Arnold will be looking for more consistency and improved fitness from the heavily tattooed marksman to justify picking him, given the other strike options at his disposal. With a nickname deemed too crude to print here, Cummings came to the A-League to reinvent himself and last season was scoring a goal every other game for the Mariners. Needs to keep that going.
Jamie Maclaren (Melbourne City)
Far and away the best Australian striker in the A-League – and for some time, too – Maclaren is surely a lock for Arnold’s final squad, or very close to it. His phenomenally consistent form for Melbourne City hasn’t always translated to the national team, which rarely sets up to maximise his strengths – and sometimes can’t, based on the opposition. There is extra pressure on the incumbent strikers from Kuol, who can play centrally, and Cummings. Maclaren will probably go to Qatar anyway, but ideally the extra competition means it’ll be the best version of him that goes.
Honourable mentions: Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), Lawrence Thomas (Western Sydney Wanderers), Nick D’Agostino (Melbourne Victory), Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney Wanderers), Andrew Nabbout (Melbourne City), Chris Ikonomidis (Melbourne Victory), Bruno Fornaroli (Perth Glory), Ben Folami (Melbourne Victory), Lachie Wales (Western United).
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