After winning the Nike Chance tournament in 2010 – a worldwide talent finding competition for unsigned players around the globe – Rogic had six months at the Nike Academy in England in 2011.

During this time, the teenager from Canberra with the Futsal background caught the eye of the English club.

The Royals saw his talent and desperately wanted the elegant playmaker for a three year deal after he trained with the club.

But work permit red tape got in the way. The club subsequently fought for him when the case went to a hearing last December 14.

Just days later the young star returned to Australia, devastated the permit didn’t come through but in great shape 5kg lighter than when he left and desperate to prove himself.

It was timely for the Mariners who picked up the Rogic from under the noses of their rivals for a short term deal to include the ACL.

The club cemented the relationship a year earlier allowing the player to train with them prior to his trip to the UK in January 2011, where he was one of the eight players from around the globe who won a contract with the Nike Academy.

And while it’s unclear where Rogic will be after this stint with the Mariners, Rogic Snr is delighted how things have turned out.

“We’re very proud of him. He’s worked very hard to get to where he is. Sometimes when one door closes, another opens,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“Tom’s dream is to make it to the top.He was working very hard [at the UK Nike Academy] training every day. Sometimes twice a day. It was a huge thing for his career to go over there.

"He was shattered that he was knocked back on the work permit visa. We spoke with him. And we were shattered for him.

“It was a big deal.It ended up going to a hearing and they appointed solicitors. It was very, very disappointing for Tom.

“But as Tom said, the Mariners were always there and as soon as he came back to Australia they were in touch.”

Rogic Snr watched the Victory game on TV and nearly jumped out of his seat when his son stole centre stage with a stunning early goal at AAMI Park.

“I watched the game on TV," he said. "The reaction when he scored was so, so good."

Rogic now has a chance to impress with the A-League finals and the ACL coming up in the next couple of months.

Meanwhile, there is still no news on the Mariners ownership situation.

The club’s potential owners from Russia are said to be in town but negotiations are now believed to be at a sensitive final stage, with neither the Mariners nor the FFA wanting to comment on the prospective deal.

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