In response to their unexpected exclusions from the Subway Socceroos squad revealed on Friday, four promising young Australian strikers delivered eye-catching performances this weekend in the Isuzu UTE A-League, demonstrating to head coach Tony Popovic exactly what he’s been missing.
Noah Botic, Adrian Segecic, Archie Goodwin, and Nicolas Milanovic are all experiencing exceptional seasons with their respective clubs in the 2024-25 campaign, with these emerging forwards prominently challenging for the Golden Boot.
Although these four players represent different clubs, they all entered Round 23 of the Isuzu UTE A-League determined to make their point to Socceroos manager Popovic after being overlooked for the 26-player squad chosen for this month’s vital 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China.
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This weekend, all four players found the back of the net, each celebrating with exuberant displays to signal their intentions to be considered for national selection.
Nicolas Milanovic from the Western Sydney Wanderers scored his ninth of the season during a thrilling 4-2 victory over Melbourne Victory on Saturday night, lifting his shirt high to showcase his name and number for all to see in celebration.
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Both Adrian Segecic of Sydney FC and Noah Botic from Western United found the net in separate fixtures on Sunday, opting for a joint phone call celebration to mark their goals.
Botic is currently leading the race for the Golden Boot with 11 goals, while Segecic, Goodwin, and Milanovic each hold equal second place on the scoring charts with nine goals each.
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Segecic was the final player among the four to score in Round 23, and during Network 10’s coverage of Sydney’s 1-1 draw, the commentary team of Simon Hill and Andy Harper couldn’t help but comment on the impressive performances of the league’s most in-form young strikers.
“Nine goals this season is a fantastic return for the limited game time he (Segecic) has had,” Harper remarked.
“And in line with the weekend’s theme, he gestures to the camera: I’m also waiting for that phone call! Everyone seems to be anticipating the call!”
Hill responded: “Tony Popovic’s phone bill is likely to soar!”
“This is a rare narrative in the league’s history; it might stem from the financial struggles of many clubs. Still, Tony Popovic could emerge as the ultimate beneficiary, even if he’s a bit overwhelmed by all the calls.”
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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