Brisbane Roar

2018/19 A-League Minutes for Players 21 and Under: 5,938 (Second in A-League)

Home Ground: AJ Kelly Park

Head Coach: Chris Grossman

Squad: Nathan Foster, Jack Warshawsky, Liam McArthur, Hassan Ramazani, Jackson Simpkin, Emlyn Wellsmore, Eli Adams, Keegan Jelacic, Dauntae Mariner, Cooper McCormack, Brandon McMorrow, Oliver Plusnin, Harry Talbot, Oscar Woods, Braydon Doolan, Mirza Muratovic, Cai Tipaldo, Marquez Walters, Solomon Weldermariam

2018/19 Season: Champions. First in Conference A. Five wins, one draw, two losses and a goal difference of +11

Best Y-League Result: Champions (2018/19)

Young Player to watch: Mirza Muratovic

Muratovic, 19, played an important attacking for Roar’s title-winning side in 2018/19, finding the back of the net five-times across the regular season and adding a 61st-minute sealer to make it 3-0 and put the Grand Final against Western Sydney Wanderers to bed.

The youngster was then able to continue that momentum into the 2019 NPL QLD season, firing home 13 times in 21 appearances.

With Zach Duncan, Daniel Leck and Shannon Brady all departing the defending champions, Muratovic will play a key role in shouldering the attacking load up in Queensland across the coming season and impressive performances, should Roar’s A-League side remain blunt in front of goal in 2019/20, could see him push for senior selection sooner rather than later.

Lachlan Brook

Adelaide United

2018/19 A-League Minutes for Players 21 and Under: 1,625 (Sixth in A-League)

Home Ground: Marden Sports Complex

Head Coach: Paul Pezos

Squad: Al Hassan Toure, Yengi Kusini, Pacifique Niyongabire, Louis D’Arrigo, Carlo Armiento, Cameron Cook, Dakota Oschsenham, Jackson Walls, Yared Abetew, Cooper Nunn, Alexander Popovic, Noah Smith, Adam Leombruno, Jai King, Jason Konstandopoulos, Daniel Bressan, Binyam Kebede, Michael Cittadini, Taras Gomulka, Mohamed Toure, Panashe Madanha, Lachlan Brook

2018/19 Season: Fourth in Conference A. Three wins, one draw, four losses and a goal difference of -2.

Best Y-League Result: Champions (2008/09)

Young Player to watch: Lachlan Brook

18-years-old, Brook already has a 45-minute A-League cameo to his name in 2019/20 – in Adelaide’s round two loss to Melbourne City – but the young midfielder-cum-attacker has the potential to increase those minutes significantly in the season ahead.

Having represented the Joeys in the past, Brook now appears to have established himself firmly as a stalwart in Young Socceroos Head Coach Gary van Egmond’s plans; scoring the winning goal in the AFF U18 Championship final and playing a key role as Australia booked its place in the 2020 AFC U19 Championships in recent qualifiers in Chinese Taipei.

A former futsal star in his native South Australia, Brook made his senior Reds debut against Jiangsu Suning on the final matchday of the 2017 AFC Champions League group stage and had his A-League introduction against Sydney FC in round 16 of the 2018/19 season.

PLUS...

Y-League returns as vital reform looms

The nation’s premier junior competition, the Y-League returns to action this weekend for its twelfth season, with the subject of Australia’s youth development, pathways to senior football and philosophical approach to development a hot topic amongst the footballing public.

Perth Glory

2018/19 A-League Minutes for Players 21 and Under: 865 (Eighth in A-League)

Home Ground: Dorrien Gardens

Head Coach: Richard Garcia

Squad: Jackson Lee, Joshua Langdon, Alessandro Circati, Zayd Farah, Nick McDonald, Nick Walsh, Mason Tatafu, Daniel Walsh, Luca Bodnar, Josh Samson, Jordan Abrahams, Jayden Leader, Gio Colli, Albert Fullard, Trent Ostler, Josh Rawlins, Charlie Leech, Ciaran Bramwell, Bryce Bafford, Gabriel Popovic

2018/19 Season: Third in Conference A. Three wins, two draws, three losses and a goal difference of 0.

Best Y-League Result: Runners Up (2009/10)

Young Player to watch: Daniel Walsh

A member of Australia’s U17 World Cup squad, Walsh’s towering figure belies his tender age; the 17-year-old centre-back already measuring in at an impressive 193cm tall.

On the bench for the Glory’s FFA Cup Round of 32 defeat at the hands of Western Sydney Wanderers earlier this year, Walsh made 12 appearances for Glory’s NPL WA side during the 2019 campaign and will look to continue his push for first-team minutes under Tony Popovic in the months ahead.