Last year we tipped Michael Zullo as one of the 10 best players outside the A-League. Check out who made the list this year after we scoured the state leagues and junior competitions last summer...
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Editor's Note - This article was published three months ago in the May edition of FourFourTwo before the State League season began. Subsequently some of the players have already been picked up by A-League clubs for the upcoming season
Tallan Martin
Age 25
Club Marconi Stallions
League NSW Premier League
Position Striker
Tallan Martin – it seems to be a name that’s been on the radar for years, even though the striker is still only 25. In a nomadic career, Martin has had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus. Newcastle United in 2001 was followed by stints with other NSL clubs Wollongong and the Football Kingz.
He’s also plied his trade for four NSW Premier League clubs. However, a brief stint with Sydney FC in January 2007 showed that the striker was still on the A-League radar.
Martin’s better known these days as a NSW Premier League sharpshooter. He joined Marconi from Bankstown City after last season in which the former Westfield Sports High, NSWIS and AIS student was City’s top scorer with 11 goals.
At Marconi, with the likes of former A-League players Tolgay Ozbey and Vuko Tomasevic, as well as former Southampton youth player Jay Lucas, the goal poacher should benefit from coach David Barrett’s mentoring and a quality squad.
The forward, who cites Gary Lineker, Raul and Alan Shearer as his role models, has been on the periphery of the A-League since it began. His constant moving and untimely injuries have not helped his cause but there’s no doubt he has a goal poacher’s instinct.
“I’m at a good age and I’ve matured as a striker,” Martin tells FourFourTwo. “ I’ve had to deal with disappointments in my career which have made me stronger as well.”
“My plan is to break into the A-League for at least one full season or possibly two then maybe look to move overseas.
Perhaps in the Scandinavian or Asian markets – if not, stick with the A-League.”
Martin still has youth on his side and considerable experience. If he can stay at one club for a good spell he could develop into an A-League goal scorer of some note.
Aidan Ormond
Tommy Oar
Age 16
Club Queensland Academy of Sport
Position Winger
Watch this space. 16-year-old Tommy Oar has been widely tipped as a star of the future, in Australia, for Australia and abroad – big accolades for a kid who was only born in the 1990s.
After nabbing a scholarship at the Queensland Academy of Sport last year, the Gold Coast Palm Beach junior has caused a stir among industry insiders with his rapid improvement.
Head of football at the QAS Mike Mulvey is unwavering in his belief that the young left-footer could one day become a household name, admitting that he was hopeful that the winger’s style of play would see a resurgence in the future of Australian football.
“He’s clever, skilful and a traditional winger which is something that I’d like to see more of in the game – there’s no doubt he could play in the A-League one day, no doubt whatsoever,” Mulvey tells FourFourTwo.
“He can beat players in very tight areas, deliver dangerous crosses and can also score goals. In the last seven months at the QAS, Tommy has learned an awful lot about the game and improved out of sight. If he shows that level of improvement in the next 12 months, then I have no doubts that we have a serious footballer on our hands.
“We saw with Michael Zullo and Robbie Kruse at the Roar this season, how exciting it is when young players run at people and Tommy does it very well – he’s capable of playing for Australia right now at under-20 level and that’s his immediate goal.”
And who would his two favourite players at Queensland Roar happen to be? Yes, that’s right, it’s Frank Farina’s stellar young attacking duo.
“Robbie Kruse and Michael Zullo are probably my favourite players at the Roar. They’ve been really exciting this season and they are local boys as well,” Oar says of the pair. Queenslanders should cross their fingers.
Michelle Fowler
Tallan Martin
Age 25
Club Marconi Stallions
League NSW Premier League
Position Striker
Tallan Martin – it seems to be a name that’s been on the radar for years, even though the striker is still only 25. In a nomadic career, Martin has had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus. Newcastle United in 2001 was followed by stints with other NSL clubs Wollongong and the Football Kingz.
He’s also plied his trade for four NSW Premier League clubs. However, a brief stint with Sydney FC in January 2007 showed that the striker was still on the A-League radar.
Martin’s better known these days as a NSW Premier League sharpshooter. He joined Marconi from Bankstown City after last season in which the former Westfield Sports High, NSWIS and AIS student was City’s top scorer with 11 goals.
At Marconi, with the likes of former A-League players Tolgay Ozbey and Vuko Tomasevic, as well as former Southampton youth player Jay Lucas, the goal poacher should benefit from coach David Barrett’s mentoring and a quality squad.
The forward, who cites Gary Lineker, Raul and Alan Shearer as his role models, has been on the periphery of the A-League since it began. His constant moving and untimely injuries have not helped his cause but there’s no doubt he has a goal poacher’s instinct.
“I’m at a good age and I’ve matured as a striker,” Martin tells FourFourTwo. “ I’ve had to deal with disappointments in my career which have made me stronger as well.”
“My plan is to break into the A-League for at least one full season or possibly two then maybe look to move overseas.
Perhaps in the Scandinavian or Asian markets – if not, stick with the A-League.”
Martin still has youth on his side and considerable experience. If he can stay at one club for a good spell he could develop into an A-League goal scorer of some note.
Aidan Ormond
Tommy Oar
Age 16
Club Queensland Academy of Sport
Position Winger
Watch this space. 16-year-old Tommy Oar has been widely tipped as a star of the future, in Australia, for Australia and abroad – big accolades for a kid who was only born in the 1990s.
After nabbing a scholarship at the Queensland Academy of Sport last year, the Gold Coast Palm Beach junior has caused a stir among industry insiders with his rapid improvement.
Head of football at the QAS Mike Mulvey is unwavering in his belief that the young left-footer could one day become a household name, admitting that he was hopeful that the winger’s style of play would see a resurgence in the future of Australian football.
“He’s clever, skilful and a traditional winger which is something that I’d like to see more of in the game – there’s no doubt he could play in the A-League one day, no doubt whatsoever,” Mulvey tells FourFourTwo.
“He can beat players in very tight areas, deliver dangerous crosses and can also score goals. In the last seven months at the QAS, Tommy has learned an awful lot about the game and improved out of sight. If he shows that level of improvement in the next 12 months, then I have no doubts that we have a serious footballer on our hands.
“We saw with Michael Zullo and Robbie Kruse at the Roar this season, how exciting it is when young players run at people and Tommy does it very well – he’s capable of playing for Australia right now at under-20 level and that’s his immediate goal.”
And who would his two favourite players at Queensland Roar happen to be? Yes, that’s right, it’s Frank Farina’s stellar young attacking duo.
“Robbie Kruse and Michael Zullo are probably my favourite players at the Roar. They’ve been really exciting this season and they are local boys as well,” Oar says of the pair. Queenslanders should cross their fingers.
Michelle Fowler
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