Brandon Vella

Marconi Stallions

Age: 20

Position: midfield

When you get selected for the Young Socceroos while playing in the NPL, that says a lot.

Vella was picked in Ufuk Talay’s 23-man squad in September 2016 for the AFF U19 Championship in Vietnam.

Vella has built his career at the former NSL powerhouse.

He was part of the Marconi side that popped up on the FFA Cup radar in 2016 against Hume City. And again in 2018 against Avondale.

He’s become a mainstay of the side in recent times and has matured under wily boss Peter Tsekenis.

But that elusive A-League move has eluded him. But perhaps not for much longer.

He’s bossed it this season.

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Leroy Jennings

Blacktown City

Age: 21

Position: forward

Fiji is very much the flavour of the month in the A-League courtesy of Roy Krishna 

But there’s another Fijian lurking, and he has a fascinating background. 

Back in 2016, John Davidson reported that the former Fiji U-20 international is the cousin of NRL players Michael, George and Robert Jennings, and comes from strong rugby league and rugby union stock.

Jennings first popped up on FTBL’s radar three years ago when he returned to search for an A-League contract after two years with Wrexham and, bizarrely, a spell with LA Galaxy as a junior.

He was picked up for Newcastle Jets’ youth side in 2016 but has remained outside the pro ranks since with the Sharks and Blacktown.

That A-League dream could still happen.

And with Fiji very much in focus, it’d be a big story.