Victorian junior soccer Top 40: The best under-16s in the state
The future of Victorian soccer looks bright with these future stars, including the sons of Socceroos guns. Check out our top 40 under-16 male young guns to watch.
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The next crop of Socceroos could be on your doorstep.
Find out about some of the young Victorians hoping to become the next Jackson Irvine or Mark Viduka, including a pair of Socceroos sons.
We’ve also named the young guns selected to head away for a national Pre-Tournament Selection Camp with 35 players from around the country.
The camp will lead into the selection of a national squad of 23 players who will travel to Jakarta in early August to play against the Asian Football Confederations.
Next week we name the young stars vying to become future Matildas.
See the exciting list of players...
* These players are not presented in any rank order.
Xavier Stella
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Club: Melbourne City
Impressive prospect who can play as a defensive midfielder but also a centre back. Reliable player who is comfortable receiving the ball in all areas of the ground. Has good speed with the ability to chase down forwards. Stella can also get forward and score as he has shown this season. He is a strong and powerful number six likened to Mile Jedinak. Stella previously played at Northcote City and will be in the national Pre-Tournament Selection Camp next Monday.
Jesse Hoey
Position: Defender/Forward
Club: Melbourne Victory
A winger who can also play full back as he did at the last national camp he was in. A nippy player who is explosive off the mark. Likened to Martin Boyle. He has been selected in the national Pre-Tournament Selection Camp. Jesse also has a twin brother, Jordan who he plays with. The Hoey twins previously played at Bulleen Lions before moving to Victory.
Oscar Tanic
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Club: Melbourne Victory
A player with potential who can play as a striker and central attacking midfielder. He comes from Geelong and has a good finish and technical ability. Played at George Cross and Geelong before his move to Victory.
Daniel Graskoski
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Melbourne City
A goalkeeper from Northcote who left Melbourne City to trial at overseas clubs. Has a strong presence in goals and likes to own his area of the ground. Also has a good reaction save. He played at Northcote City before moving to City. He has been selected in next week’s national Pre-Tournament Selection Camp.
George Mihailidis
Position: Midfielder
Club: Melbourne Victory
Unfortunately injured at the moment but a top prospect who is technically gifted. He finds a good range of pass as a tall and powerful number six. Rated defensively and likened to Aaron Mooy. Comes from Glen Eira.
Luka Coveny
Position: Defender
Club: Melbourne Victory
A strong central defender with height and speed. Very good ball player who has great control and passing ability. A top prospect with handy physical attributes. He previously played at Essendon Royals before Victory. Luka has been selected to be a part of the upcoming Australian and New Zealand national camps. He is also the son of former New Zealand international Vaughan Coveny.
John Paikopoulas
Position: Defender
Club: Melbourne Victory
A central defender from Nunawading who has recently joined the Melbourne Victory.
Nicholas Koek
Position: Forward
Club: Western United
A target type of striker who has the ability to get the ball in dangerous areas and create chances. A top prospect who plays in Western United’s under 21 team. He scored a penalty on July 1. Previously played at Altona Magic.
John Kellis
Position: Forward
Club: Melbourne City
Some say he is one of the most exciting number nine in the state. Performed well the last time he was at a national camp. A good finisher on both feet who makes good runs and can dribble. Kellis was the top scorer in Melbourne City’s Under 16 team before he got injured. He could be back playing before the end of the season. A player to watch in future. Kellis previously played at Glen Eira.
Daniel Lazarevski
Position: Forward
Club: Melbourne Victory
Recently impressed in a trial game coming off the bench and making an impact. A goal scorer who is physical with good movement off the ball. Has a good eye for goal. Previously played at Pascoe Vale.
Matthew Lichtenstein
Position: Defender
Club: Melbourne Victory
A very technical full back who is in his first year at Victory.
Ben Dunbar
Position: Midfielder
Club: Melbourne City
Highly rated central midfielder who is strong defensively but can also arrive at the box to score and assist. A competitive player who has a knack of finding a killer pass. A future player to watch likened to Socceroo Jackson Irvine. Dunbar previously played at Glen Eira and Box Hill. He has been selected in next week’s national Pre-Tournament Selection five-day camp.
Lorimer Bouman
Position: Forward
Club: Melbourne Victory
A mobile and very quick winger who can make good runs forward and beat his opposition with pace. Bouman previously played at Northcote City.
Noa Skoko
Position: Midfielder
Club: North Geelong
Highly rated number 10 who has a good killer pass and can also finish well in front of goal. Technically gifted player who has moved overseas to Croatia. He is the son of former Australian footballer, Josip Skoko.
Jordan Hoey
Position: Defender/Forward
Club: Melbourne Victory
Similar to his twin brother Jesse, Jordan is quick and can play as a winger and full back. Known for his pace and ability to run past defenders. The Hoey twins previously played at Bulleen Lions before moving to Victory. He has been selected for the upcoming national Pre-Tournament Selection Camp beginning on July 12.
Nicholas Magarelli
Position: Midfielder
Club: Melbourne Victory
A midfielder who has represented Victoria in the past. Previously played at Avondale.
Marc Petheriotis
Position: Forward
Club: Melbourne City
Powerful and quick number nine who can also play as a right winger. He has been the top scorer for Melbourne City this season. Super effective player going forward who is also valuable defensively in pressing and recovering.
Blessing Harris
Position: Forward
Club: Melbourne Victory
A powerful player who has great speed and strength. He can dribble and is a goal scorer. One to look out for.
Stefan Mandic
Position: Forward
Club: Melbourne City
A good finisher who provides a strong target for cutback passes. Has the ability to hold up the ball in dangerous areas. Previously played at Springvale White Eagles.
Rushonn Tafunai
Position: Defender
Club: Melbourne Victory
Has played as a youth full back for Melbourne Victory for a few years now. Played at Avondale before then.
Ryan Kalms
Position: Defender
Club: Melbourne City
Committed player who is strong and tall as a centre back. A good one-on-one player who is effective in the air. Travels from Bendigo up to four times a week for training. He is effective on the ball passing it out of defence. Also a good leader who has good potential. Kalms previously played at Bendigo City.
Will Kennedy
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Club: Melbourne Victory
A centre back and midfielder who has a good range of passes. He comes from Wodonga and is the nephew of former Socceroo Josh Kennedy.
Kayne White
Position: Midfielder
Club: Northcote City
One of Northcote’s star juniors. He also played in a recent state trial game.
Ruben Da Silva
Position: Defender
Club: Melbourne City
A left back who is hard to beat in a one-on-one situation. Good at defending the game in front of him and is able to pass the ball accurately.
Michael Vonja
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Melbourne City
Rated as the best under 16 keeper in the country by some. A shot stopper with a strong ability to save balls down low with his feet. Also effective at passing the ball. Maybe the next Andrew Redmayne. Vonja comes out of Green Gully.
Jack Mihailidis
Position: Midfielder
Club: Melbourne Victory
Clever central midfielder who understands the game well. He plays box to box and is new to Melbourne Victory coming from Glen Eira.
Connor Skalliotis
Position: Defender
Club: Melbourne Victory
A very aggressive one-on-one player as a full back. Played at Moreland Zebras before moving to Victory.
Mark Leonard
Position: Midfielder/Defender
Club: Port Melbourne
Can play as a centre back and winger. Has pace and is physical.
Aiden Ristevski
Position: Defender
Club: Altona Magic
Recently selected in an under 16 Victorian trial match where he played as a number two.
Lawrence Wong
Position: Midfielder
Club: Melbourne City
Exciting technical player who is skilful in central areas. He has a killer pass. Comes from a s futsal background. Likened to Socceroo Tom Rogic.
Ekumbir Sekhon
Position: Midfielder
Club: Northcote City
One of Northcote City’s standout juniors. He was recently selected to play in an Under 16’s trial game.
Lucas Green
Position: Defender
Club: Melbourne City
Effective defender who is good in the air and stands up in defensive moments. Has good speed to recover as a strong and powerful player. Green previously played at Box Hill.
Riley Foxe
Position: Defender
Club: Melbourne Victory
A central defender who previously played at Perth Glory. He is the son of Western United assistant coach and former Socceroo, Hayden Foxe.
Peter Antonio
Position: Defender
Club: Melbourne City
Rated as one of the best under 16 full backs in the country. Has good speed and ability to recover defensively. A hard working player who is onto everything in defence. He previously played at Bulleen Lions.
Alex Nassiep
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Melbourne Victory
An athletic goalkeeper who is good at dealing with crosses. Excellent shot stopper and has been training with the Melbourne Victory A-League team. Nassiep previously played at Brisbane Roar before Victory. He has been selected for the national Pre-Tournament Selection Camp.
Adrian Filardo
Position: Midfielder
Club: Melbourne City
A great distributor of the ball who can create something in small spaces. Excitingly, he can also bang a ball from long distance and create some havoc for goalkeepers. He previously played at Moreland Zebras.
Hasani Lumu
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Club: North Sunshine Eagles
A goal scorer for the Eagles this season in their under 20’s side. He can play as a winger and attacking midfielder. Has good strength and power.
Zachery Stosic
Position: Defender
Club: North Geelong Warriors
One of the standout juniors at North Geelong Warriors.
Medin Memeti
Position: Forward
Club: Melbourne City
A top scorer playing as a number nine. He is quick and has a good eye for goal.
Joseph De Los Santos Myles
Position: Forward
Club: Melbourne City
An exciting prospect who plays with an attacking South American style of football. He is effective in finding combinations in central areas as a false number nine or number 10. Disguises his passes forward and plays two-three steps ahead of the game. A player to watch in future.
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