NPL NSW: 30 rising young football stars of the men’s and women’s competitions
The NSW NPL has long been a breeding ground for the best Australian football talents. Check out 30 of the best young talents coming through the ranks of the men’s and women’s competitions.
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The NSW NPL is full of emerging talent set to be the next A-League, Socceroos and Matildas stars.
Academy teams such as Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers, Central Coast Mariners and Bulls FC Academy provide a direct pathway to the national stage, but association clubs have just as much potential at their disposal.
Check out 30 of the most exciting rising talents making their way through the ranks of the NSW NPL.
WOMEN
Amber Luchtmeijer - Bulls FC Academy
Amber Luchtmeijer has easily been one of the most impressive young players to watch this season. Moving to Bulls FC Academy’s first team from the youth league with Blacktown Spartans, Luchtmeijer took first grade by storm. She currently leads the golden boot standings with 20 goals so far this season and her impressive run has earned her a A-League contract with Sydney FC.
Allyssa Ng Saad - Blacktown Spartans
Ng Saad has been a standout performer for the Spartans this season, scoring eight goals in 18 games so far. The back half of the season has been stilted after Ng Saad was called into a Junior Matildas camp, and she also represented Football NSW Country at the National Youth Championships. The 16-year-old was selected as part of the first Sydney FC Junior Development Squad at the end of last year.
Baylee Broomhead - Sydney Uni SFC
Broomhead has been with Sydney Uni for the past five season but made her first grade debut this year, with her performance in round six earning her a place in the Team of the Week. The 17-year-old keeper has since gone on to start in five first grade matches and has impressed across the league.
Caoimhe Bray - Emerging Jets
Whether you’re a football fan or a cricket fan, remember the name Caoimhe Bray. The 15-year-old goalkeeper is a talent playing well above her years as a starting goalkeeper for the Emerging Jets first grade team and is also a rising Junior Matildas player. Bray is a dual athlete, recently winning the Brewer Shield with Greater Hunter Central Coast.
Amelia Cassar - Football NSW Institute
Amelia Cassar is one of the biggest stars in the league not to have been picked up by an A-League club. The 16-year-old is a Junior Matilda, a national champion with Football NSW and one of the most exciting young prospects in the league. She trained with Sydney FC as part of their Female Development Squad late last year.
Saffron Grass - Northern Tigers
Grass’ move to the Tigers from the Emerging Jets this season has been a game changer and has allowed her to come into her own. Her performances this season have earned her multiple Team of the Week mentions.
Ella Abdul-Massih - NWS Spirit FC
Despite only being 18-years-old, Abdul-Massih has three A-League seasons under her belt with Western Sydney Wanderers, and is a star of the NSW NPL. Since going back to the Spirit in round nine, Abdul-Massih has recorded 10 goals across 16 games and will be key for the side’s late push for the finals.
Sienna Saveska - Illawarra Stingrays
Saveska is a graduate of the Football NSW Institute, joining the Stingrays midway through the current season. The 17-year-old rejoined the NPL after her first season in the A-League, where she made four appearances for Sydney FC in their Championship-winning campaign.
Maya Lobo - Macarthur Rams
Lobo has been a consistent face with the Macarthur Rams in recent years, earning herself a call-up to the A-League Women where she made two appearances for the Central Coast Mariners. She was recently released from her scholarship contract but she will hopefully be back on the national stage soon.
Chantelle Maniti - Blacktown Spartans
Maniti has been having a solid season with the Spartans, starting nearly every match except one after picking up a red card in round 14. Maniti has been part of training camps for the Philippines national team since 2022 and has 10 caps to her name.
Mona Walker - APIA Leichhardt
Mona Walker moved to APIA Leichhardt from the Northern Tigers, after impressing coach Brad Attard at last year’s Sapphire Cup final. She’s since become a mainstay in APIA’s starting side and has really found her form this season.
Ruby Jones - Emerging Jets
Ruby Jones is running away with the Reserve Grade golden boot, with an impressive 26 goals in 24 games. The striker has been honing her craft in the reserves and it will be exciting to see what she can do with a first grade call up.
Adelaide Wyrzynski - Football NSW Institute
Wyrzynski was promoted to the first team full time this season and has been leading the scoring for the Institute with 10 goals in 19 games. She’s shown huge improvements since last season and is an exciting future prospect.
Mikayla Duong - Football NSW Institute
Duong is one of the most consistent players in the league, earning her call-ups for the Junior Matildas and to represent NSW at the National Youth Championships. This season, she has been leading the Institute from the front, starting nearly every game except when she’s off on national team duty.
Lola Sossai - Macarthur Rams
Lola Sossai came out of retirement with a bang and has been one of the surprise standouts of 2024. The 19-year-old jumped straight into the first team and hasn’t looked back, earning a few Team of the Week honours and scoring one goal in 24 matches.
MEN
Niko Alfaro - Sydney FC
Despite only being 16-years-old, Niko Alfaro is playing well above his age. Alfaro has been a regular feature for Sydney’s U20s side but has also been given a first grade call up five times, one of which he started. Alfaro was a key part of NSW Metro Sky’s U16 national title-winning campaign, as well as the U16 Joeys’ ASEAN championship win. He made his Sydney FC debut in their Australia Cup loss to Oakleigh Cannons.
Taiga Harper - Western Sydney Wanderers
The young goalkeeper has been one of the positives for a Wanderers side struggling in the back half of the season. The 19-year-old secured a scholarship contract with the Wanderers in January and was brought into the A-League side as an injury replacement but has been honing his craft in the NPL.
Haine Eames - Central Coast Mariners
It’s been a big year for the 16-year-old, who recently earned a scholarship contract with the Mariners and was part of the title-winning Joeys team earlier this year. Eames has been a regular feature in the U20s side and has featured in the first grade team, and with more training with the A-League side, Eames is one to watch for the future.
Jai Ajanovic - Central Coast Mariners
Ajanovic is another player benefiting from the Mariners system of giving younger players a chance in the big leagues. The goalkeeper was part of the ASEAN U16 championship-winning side alongside Eames and has been gaining experience across the Mariners’ U18, U20 and first grade teams.
Jacob Maniti - Blacktown City FC
Maniti joined Blacktown City for the 2024 season after a stint with Danish club Hobro IK and has been a mainstay in the first team. The 21-year-old has also represented the Philippines national team at the U23 level and is the brother of Blacktown Spartan’s Chantelle Maniti.
Noah Peacock - NWS Spirit FC
Peacock has been given more first grade minutes this season and has been stepping up to the challenge. He has 22 goals across first grade and the U20s and if his consistent form continues, he’s likely to receive more regular call-ups to the first team.
Jordan Graoroski - Sutherland Sharks FC
Graoroski has been spending his time mainly in the U20s team but at 16-years-old, he’s also been getting minutes with the Sharks’ first grade side. He was one of the only players in the Joeys’ U16 team that was not part of an A-League academy and his faith in his club will likely open more doors in the future.
Tyler Williams - Sydney FC
Tyler Williams has been a regular starter for Sydney’s first grade side this season, despite being just 17-years-old. Williams has been away with the Young Socceroos for the ASEAN U19 Championships, where the team took home the bronze medal. With such an impressive resume at such a young age, Williams is one to keep an eye on.
Akol Akon - Western Sydney Wanderers
Akol Akon is yet to break into the Wanderers’ first grade side but his star is certainly on the rise. Akon has been a consistent player for the club’s U16, U18 and U20 side, starting in 21 games. He was also a key feature for NSW Sky at the U16 nationals and was recently named in the U17 Joeys squad for the Pacific tour.
Lachlan Middleton - Sydney FC
Middleton is a hugely impressive talent at just 18-years-old and is already a consistent starter for Sydney’s first grade team. His performances this season earned him a call-up to the A-League side, starting in the 3-1 Australia Cup loss to Oakleigh Cannons.
Max Anastasio - Marconi Stallions FC
The 16-year-old has been a consistent performer in the Youth League and was impressive as part of the title-winning NSW Metro side at the national championships. He was recently named in the U17 Joeys squad for the upcoming Pacific tour.
Mathias Macallister - Sydney FC Academy
Macallister has some big shoes to fill as the son of former player Dylan Macallister. He’s definitely been living up to the hype, breaking into Sydney’s first team at just 17-years-old and being named as part of the Team of the Week. His pathway with Sydney FC will likely see him continue to develop with a A-League nod in the near future.
Luka Smyth - Central Coast Mariners
Smyth has been leading the Mariners for goals with 10 so far this season after moving from the Sydney FC Academy for 2024. His consistency has allowed him a regular spot in the starting side and could potentially lead to an A-League berth in the near future.
Arthur De Lima - Central Coast Mariners
Arthur De Lima was hugely impressive in the first half of the season with the Mariners’ U20 side, earning him a place in first grade in round 18. He’s gone on to be one of the best on field in the competition, earning him a few Team of the Week nods.
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Originally published as NPL NSW: 30 rising young football stars of the men’s and women’s competitions
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