The world of football loves potential, and young players capture the imaginations of football fans and power-hungry agents with the suggestion of future world-beater status. Within the A-League itself, young talent has an extra level of importance as smaller clubs look to sell talent abroad to stay profitable. Outside90 takes a look at this season’s breakout youngsters, players under the age of 21 who started to pay back some of their potential with strong involvement in their clubs’ campaigns.
Brandon Borello – Brisbane Roar
The 19-year-old has finally come into his own at Suncorp Stadium, cementing a place on the right wing as the Roar rebuilt their attack following the departure of Besart Berisha. Borello made a total of 21 appearances for the club during the campaign, including 15 starting appearances after making only a total of six appearances, all off the bench, in the 2013-14 season.
The attacker scored his first senior goal in November against Melbourne City and would go on to score three more in the A-League, as well as notching up three assists. However, it was in the Asian Champions League were Borello showed his growing importance to the Roar, starting all six of their group stages matches. The youngster would score the winning goal against Urawa Reds in matchday two, as well as scoring the opener in his side’s thrilling 3-all draw with Suwon Bluewings.
Connor Chapman – Melbourne City
The central defender was deemed ineligible for the NAB Young Footballer of the Year after receiving a red card towards the end of the season, but it was a lone smudge on an otherwise impressive first season with City. Having captained the under-17 national team, Chapman exhibited similar leadership qualities throughout the A-League season alongside Patrick Kisnorbo in the heart of defence.
Despite missing the first eight rounds of the season through injury, and despite serving a four-game ban for his red card still managed 15 appearances during the campaign, only one as a substitute. Chapman completed 81% of his passes, a crucial stat for defenders in modern football and did not produce any errors leading to goals or attempts on goal during the season. With more time to develop his understanding with Kisnorbo and the rest of the defence, Chapman can only grow as a player if he can avoid any further misdemeanours.
Jamie MacLaren – Perth Glory
Although MacLaren spent less time on the pitch this season than during the 2013-14 campaign, the 21-year-old striker progressed in leaps and bounds. After only scoring two goals last season, the attacker scored nine goals in 2014-15 from seven starts and thirteen substitute appearances. MacLaren’s goals per 90 minutes ratio of 0.94 far exceeded those of big-name strikers Marc Janko (0.83), Nathan Burns (0.61) and teammate Andy Keogh (0.44).
The next step for the Perth Glory striker then is to secure regular playing time. Keogh is undoubtedly the main man at NIB Stadium, and a move elsewhere has been touted for some time. A move to Melbourne City and MacLaren’s hometown would undoubtedly suit all parties, but at present the Glory have refused to release the striker from the final year of his contract. MacLaren’s career is reaching a crucial stage of development and with the right amount of playing time he can develop into one of the league’s foremost attacking weapons.
Alex Gersbach – Sydney FC
Every season there is at least one player who breaks into the competition while still in high school and this season it was Alex Gersbach. When the talented left-footer was signed by Graham Arnold, many would have expected at most a few appearances off the bench for the AIS graduate. However plans to sign an extra left back fell through, and once Ali Abbas went down with a season-ending injury, Gersbach suddenly became a key member of the squad. The 18-year-old would end up making 22 appearances and 17 starts for the Sky Blues and is looking to the nail down the position for years to come at the Allianz Stadium.
Gersbach has the capabilities of a modern fullback – a reliable defender as well as possessing the ability to go forward and supplement attacks. He made four assists over the course of the season, the equal highest in the squad alongside Milos Dimitrijevic and has shown he has the stamina to run up and down the touchline for ninety minutes. Graham Arnold may have preferred centre back Nikola Petkovic in the left back position towards the end of the season, but Gersbach should be given the chance to make the position his own next season.
Nick Ansell – Melbourne Victory
No doubt the Victory had one of the best attacking lineups in the competition, but it is impossible to win a competition without a good defence. Former VfB Stuttgart defender Matthieu Delpierre was the old hand that guided the ship, but he was ably assisted by Nick Ansell in the heart of defence. The defender missed the start of the season, but would end up starting the final 19 matches of the campaign. First covering for the injured Delpierre, Ansell then replaced Adrian Leijer when the club legend made a move to China in February.
Ansell has proved himself capable on the ball, completing 85% of his passes throughout the season and achieved a respectable 56% tackle success rate. Having been part of the club since he was 16, Ansell can continue to build his reputation at his hometown club for years to come under the tutelage of Kevin Muscat.
[interaction id=”55701f2784caec334b31e28b”]
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
