NPL Victoria is chock full of exciting young talents, check out our 45 players to watch
NPL Victoria is chock full of exciting young talent. The 14 club coaches share their pick of the young guns to watch in 2024.
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If NPL Victoria is the best state league outside the A-League, it’s no surprise you can find some of the best young talent in Australia.
The competition’s 14 club coaches have made their pick of the top young guns to watch in 2024.
From former and current youth internationals to state league players of the year and rising stars.
Every NPL club has exciting talent that scouts should be watching closely.
Check out all the promising talents below.
Moonib Adus (Oakleigh Cannons)
The former Melbourne City youth played one A-League game for Newcastle Jets. He’ll look to bring his speed and evasiveness to Jack Edwards Reserve in 2024. The Cannons hope he can provide plenty of assists from the left wing and maybe even net a few goals himself.
Yusef Ahmed (Avondale)
Brought across from South Australian club Salisbury United and has already impressed coach Zoran Markovski with his pre-season work. Helped United claim the State League 2 premiership and promotion to State League 1 last season.
John Apostolopoulos (Heidelberg United)
Heads to Heidelberg after spending 2023 with Northcote City. The reliable full-back is still only 20 and will be looking to cement his place in John Anastasiadis’ first-choice line-up.
Eren Arslan (Hume City)
Spent last year as City’s No.2 behind Zac Bowling and Jacson Riley but the club is confident the promising young gloveman can compete to take on the No.1 mantle this season.
Brodie Boyce (Oakleigh Cannons)
The 21-year-old defender is already one of the best in NPL Victoria after arriving from Queensland last season. Played all 28 matches last season as the Cannons made it to a preliminary final. Captained Australia’s under-15s in 2017.
Kyan Bryant (Dandenong City)
The 19-year-old is a new arrival at City, moving south from Sunshine Coast Wanderers in Queensland. An attacking midfielder by trade but can also play up front or on a wing.
Lucas Byrnes (Port Melbourne)
The young gun steps out of the Western United Academy and will look to cement himself at Port Melbourne. Bryns made 15 appearances for United’s VPL2 squad last season.
Diego Cuba (Moreland City)
The younger brother of 2023 breakout star Cian Cuba. Diego moves south from Queensland, where he played for Eastern Suburbs, playing 22 NPL games and scoring five goals. Moreland will hope he can replicate his brother’s maiden NPL Victoria performances.
Ben Davine (Heidelberg United)
The youngster steps up to the top-flight after an impressive campaign with Bulleen Lions’ under-21s last year. The promising forward netted 24 goals in 27 appearances and also earnt 11 senior matches. Also scored 13 goals in 21 under-21 matches in 2022.
Ajak Deu (Oakleigh Cannons)
The promising young centre back stepped out of the Western United system mid-season last year to play for St Albans but will call Jack Edwards Reserve home in 2024. Adds another quality defender to the Cannons squad as they look to compete for silverware on several fronts.
Liston Diaz (Avondale)
Already a known quantity as a star goalscorer at Avondale but still just 23. Scored eight goals in 28 appearances last season as the Avengers conquered it all with a premiership and championship double.
Nathan Dib (Manningham United)
Came through the ranks at Western United and was a member of the club’s inaugural NPL squad. Arrives from Preston Lions and the Blues hope he can be a creative force and well as sound defensively with his pace and creativity.
Ben Djiba (Dandenong Thunder)
A key piece in South Melbourne’s dominant sides of the past two seasons. The star full-back was part of Hellas’ premiership win in 2022 and back-to-back grand final appearances in 2022-23. One of Dandenong Thunder’s biggest off-season additions.
Rhys Dufton (Manningham United)
The former Melbourne City under-21 captain will look to step into senior football in one of the hardest environments – at a newly promoted club. Manningham’s defence will be tested weekly in the NPL and Dufton will look to prove himself as a promising young centre back.
Matthew Giofkou (Dandenong City)
Was still playing under-18s last season as well as VPL1 under-21s for City. The central midfielder will look to add fresh energy and youth to the VPL1 championship-winning squad and is one of the club’s up-and-coming players.
Alex Gust (Altona Magic)
A key member of Melbourne Victory’s NPL promotion-winning season in VPL2 last year. The youngster is sound defensively and offensively and will hope to become a key part of the Magic’s midfield this season. The left-footed midfielder has elite endurance.
Seb Hernando (South Melbourne)
Starred in Manningham United’s promotion-winning season last year, winning the club’s best-and-fairest and Players’ Player award. However, the 21-year-old Queenslander has been poached by South Melbourne for 2023 and will look to take his game to a new level at the NPL powerhouse.
Noah Holmes (Oakleigh Cannons)
Arrives at Oakleigh via Western United. The 21-year-old South Australian is a strong central midfielder who can pick a pass as well as intercept. Cannons coach Chris Taylor has been impressed by his displays in pre-season.
Gianluca Ianucci (Green Gully)
One of Green Gully’s first picked after an impressive 2023 that saw him score two goals and supply plenty more. A former Australia under-20 international who has gone through both Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City’s youth systems and made his professional debut in Victory’s Asian Champions League match against Beijing Sinobo Guoan in 2020.
Damian Iosifidis (Altona Magic)
The Magic hope the 19-year-old can take the big step from under-21 gun to senior footballer in 2024. Iosifidis captained Altona’s under-21s last season and scored 14 goals in 23 appearances, third most in the competition. Can he be the club’s next Jonas Markovski or Cian Cuba?
Filip Jovcevski (Altona Magic)
The 18-year-old’s performances in the under-21s last season earned him a senior debut in the Magic’s Australia Cup campaign and the club will look for him to make an even bigger leap and potentially become a regular senior player in 2024.
Asad Kasumovic (Oakleigh Cannons)
The 21-year-old striker arrives from South Australia where he played for West Adelaide, won a NPL SA championship with Adelaide City in 2021 and Adelaide United NPL. Adds another strong finisher to the Cannons attack after scoring 10 goals in 2022 for United.
Tomas Karlovic (Melbourne Knights)
Returned to the Knights last season from Melbourne Victory’s youth system and played 17 games. The 19-year-old defender will look to cement himself as a first-choice player under new coach Ben Surey.
Kur Kur (Avondale)
A South Sudan international and still only 23. Kur has arrived from Brisbane Roar NPL where he played five games and scored one goal. After a breakout season at South Australian champions Adelaide City (16 goals in 32) games, spent time at Serbian club Novi Pazar. If there’s a club where he can rediscover his goalscoring touch, it’s the Avengers.
Charlie Leech (Port Melbourne)
The 21-year-old midfielder jumps across from Altona Magic where he enjoyed an impressive campaign. The Western Australian will look to step up another level with the Sharks and showcase his talents.
Leo Mazis (Heidelberg United)
The former Celtic youth player shifts to Heidelberg after a first NPL Victoria season with Dandenong Thunder. The hard-running winger is capable of creating for his teammates as well as finding the back of the net himself.
Curtis Miley (Moreland City)
The 2022 NPL Tasmania Rising Star arrives at Campbell Reserve from Clarence Zebras. The 18-year-old should step straight into City’s midfield and could play a big part in the club’s survival ambitions.
Nick Mori (St Albans)
Saints coach Ryan McGuffie believes he’s found a diamond in the rough with Mori, a diamond from Shepparton to be exact. Mori, a 19-year-old striker, lit up the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League last season. He won the Golden Boot with 25 goals and was named the BASL Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.
Saad Moukachar (Altona Magic)
The 20-year-old midfielder returns to Australia after a stint in Croatia with NK Rudes, where he was part of the First Division championship-winning squad. Was previously a part of the Melbourne Victory system and will be looking to make a mark with the Magic this season.
George Ott (Avondale)
Started like a house on fire last season with St Albans, scoring five goals in as many matches, before making a mid-season move to eventual premier and champion Avondale. Still only 22, the former New Zealand youth international is expected to take over the No.9 role from Liam Boland.
Josh Okane (Hume City)
Has been elevated to the club’s senior list after a strong 2023 campaign. Scored seven goals in 27 under-21 appearances last year, which earnt him nine senior matches. City coach Cam Watson is looking for him to take another step in 2024.
Emile Peios (South Melbourne)
The promising 20-year-old midfielder has come through youth pathways at Melbourne City and Belgian club St Truiden. Earnt a call-up to City’s A-League squad last season but didn’t see any playing time. Will look to make a mark in senior football now with South this season before potentially moving onto the National Second Division next year.
Mickel Platt (Hume City)
A 24-year-old that has come through the ranks at Queens Park Rangers and arrives at Broadmeadows from Slough. City hopes the Englishman forms a deadly one-two punch with fellow overseas recruit, Welshman Lloyd Isgrove.
Jalil Regague (Green Gully)
Jumps across from NPL rival Port Melbourne after an impressive 2023 campaign, winning more than 84 per cent of tackles and then pushing forward to also score three goals and provide three assists. One of the competition’s most exciting young defenders.
Jawad Rezai (Altona Magic)
The Afghanistan international makes the move from Hume City to Altona Magic this season. The 22-year-old forward scored six goals last year and the Magic will be hoping he can step in and fill the boots left by the likes of Jonas Markovski, Tommy Semmy and Cian Cuba.
Felipe Sanchez (Melbourne Knights)
The 21-year-old is expected to get more responsibility this season after returning to Knights last season. Spent a couple of years developing at Pascoe Vale and will look to cement himself as a regular senior footballer after one goal in 2023.
Josh Scarlett (Dandenong City)
The 18-year-old defensive midfielder makes the step up to senior football after impressing with Berwick City in the NPL under-18s last season. Will be given time to settle at the level but has impressed the coaching staff in pre-season.
Iliya Shalamanov-Trenkov (Port Melbourne)
A former Australia under-23 squad member, the 21-year-old goalkeeper stands at 195cm. Will be the Sharks No.1 this season after arriving from Bulgaria where he last played for CSKA Sofia.
Georgy Shalamanov-Trenkov (Port Melbourne)
Joins his brother at the Sharks, having also returned to Australia from Bulgaria. The 19-year-old last played for Slavia Sofia II and will look to establish himself as a regular senior player under new Sharks coach Nick Marinos.
Justin Spiteri (Green Gully)
The 19-year-old is a Cavaliers junior and broke through for 21 senior appearances last season. His performances have caught the eye of international scouts and saw him earn selection for Malta’s under-19s. Will hope to take another step forward in his development in 2024.
Nick Stefanidakis (Heidelberg United)
Won the Football Northern Territory Player of the Year at just 17 in 2022 and impressed again for Hellenic last season, scoring five goals in 18 appearances. It’s seen him make the move south and join the Warriors and catch the eye of new coach John Anastasiadis in pre-season.
Luca Tevere (Green Gully)
Caught the eye last season while with Port Melbourne, scoring six goals, but will don the white and green of Gully this season. Still only 21 and one of the most exciting prospects in the competition. Will look to take another step in 2024.
Matthew Tsalikidis (Heidelberg United)
The Warriors youngster split his time between seniors and under-21s last season, playing eight and nine games in each respectively. Will look to make the step up permanently this season.
Mehmet Uysal (Hume City)
Made his senior debut last season, making eight senior appearances. Showcased his potential with six goals in 22 matches in the under-21s in 2023 and a strong pre-season has earnt him an elevation to the senior list for 2024.
Emlyn Wellsmore (Oakleigh Cannons)
Only 23 but already a key member of the Cannons midfield after 26 appearances last season. Will look to make more starts in 2024 after regular appearances off the bench last season.
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