Haine Eames has made a significant impact during his debut season in the Isuzu UTE A-League, and the Central Coast Mariners teenager is set to keep impressing. Let’s delve into the numbers that highlight the prowess of this emerging midfielder.
To put it in perspective, Eames just celebrated his 17th birthday last month. Take a moment to absorb that.
His ascent in the football world has been swift, and the exciting part is, there’s still a lot more to emerge from the Central Coast Mariners prodigy, who has set numerous records in his inaugural season.
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Eames signed a scholarship deal ahead of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season and has quickly made his mark by becoming Central Coast’s youngest scorer, debutant, and starting player.
This is all before considering that he is the youngest player to ever don the captain’s armband in AFC Champions League history, having briefly led the Mariners at just 16 during their ACL Elite clash against the four-time Japanese champions, Kawasaki Frontale, back in February.
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Mariners head coach Mark Jackson mentioned on the Total A-Leagues podcast, “When I first came to the club, I often watched the academy in action.”
“I was with Matt Simon, who said, ‘Look, this kid here, he’s just 15, yet every time he’s pushed up an age group or faced a challenge, he rises to the occasion’.”
“So, as the last season wrapped up, I thought it was time to test him with the A-League. He seamlessly integrated into our game style. Physically, he’s developed considerably in a short time, even though he still appears quite young.
“But he’s really taken everything on board, and with every training session and match, he becomes stronger and stronger. He’s a grounded and level-headed young man.”
“He possesses abundant talent and potential.”
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Despite a tough season for the two-time defending champions after losing key players post their Championship victory, including Josh Nisbet (Ross County), Max Balard (NAC Breda), and Jacob Farrell (Portsmouth), Eames has had a standout year. He has logged 1,168 minutes of game time across all competitions, giving Central Coast’s youth valuable exposure to senior football, both nationally and internationally.
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Eames has proven himself as a genuine talent, showcasing maturity on the ball that belies his youth.
“He’s a very grounded young man who handles everything well,” Jackson noted.
“Watching him start early matches and perform in the Champions League is amazing for us, for him, and for Australian football overall.”
Recently, the talented teen was recognised in the top ten Under-20 players for assists and secondary assists globally by the CIES Football Observatory.
He ranked equal sixth for assists per 90 minutes among U20 players across the 45 non-big-five European leagues (with a minimum of 630 domestic minutes played).
Focusing on his performance in the Isuzu UTE A-League, Eames is leading the way among players 18 or younger (minimum five games played) for passing accuracy in the final third (86.4%). He ranks second for possession won in the final third (five) and assists, while securing third for possession won in the middle third (20) as well as successful passes and passes ending in the final third.
In addition, Eames ranks among the top four for possession won in the defensive third (17), total carries (100), and total carry distance (975.4 metres).
If we look at players aged 19 or under (with a minimum of five matches played) throughout the competition’s 20-year history, Eames is positioned second for passing accuracy and passing accuracy in the final third, and fourth for assists.
He trails only Nestory Irankunda, Luka Jovanovic, Max Caputo, Daniel Bennie, and Thomas Waddingham for chances created, with a total of 10, and features in the top ten for successful passes that end in the final third (76).
“I’m excited to witness more of this young talent,” remarked former A-Leagues star Erik Paartalu earlier this season.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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