Who are the worst offenders at recycling A-League talent? And which clubs are best at promoting youth?

THERE are 105 players in A-League squads who have played senior games for at least one other A-League club, while statistics also suggest a lack of youth promotion. Matt Windley takes a closer look at the numbers.

Nathaniel Atkinson has been the only teenager to get a start for Melbourne City.

THERE are 105 players in A-League squads who have played senior games for at least one other A-League club.

And while familiar faces continue to pop up in different locations, the numbers also suggest Australia’s youth continues to be overlooked in favour of the tried and tested.

To the end of Round 13, Adelaide had handed a total of 25 starts and 23 substitute appearances to those aged 21 or under.

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Dario Vidosic playing for Wellington against the club he would later join, Melbourne City. Picture: Getty Images

That is the most of any club this season, despite there being 143 available starting berths and 39 subs spots in that time.

Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold said this week the A-League is “not a development league”.

And his view of the competition can be seen in the fact he has not handed one start to a player aged 22 or under this season.

RECYCLE FC

Clubs with players who have played senior games for other A-League clubs

Club name	1 other club	2 others	3 others	4+ others
Newcastle	12	2	2	0
Melbourne City	6	4	0	2
Central Coast	6	4	1	1
Western Sydney	8	2	2	0
Sydney FC	7	2	1	1
Perth	6	1	1	1
Melbourne Victory	6	4	0	0
Wellington	3	3	0	1
Brisbane	3	3	1	0
Adelaide	7	2	0	0

* Squads as of Friday

“It’s a meaningful competition in which clubs expect to win trophies,” Arnold said.

Since the January transfer window opened, Dario Vidosic (Melbourne City) has found his way to a fifth A-League club, Jacob Melling (Central Coast) to a fourth and Terry Antonis and Dino Djulbic (Melbourne Victory) to their third each.

Young gun Ryan Strain has impressed for Adelaide this season. Picture: Cathy Davis

But while Vidosic in particular has been chastised, it is the clubs who hand out the contracts.

So who are the worst offenders on the merry-go-round?

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Newcastle has 16 players who have played for at least one other A-League club.

But does that win Ernie Merrick’s men the title of “Recycle FC” considering only four of those players have played for two or more clubs?

Or is it a club like Melbourne City, who has four players who have played for two other clubs and two — Vidosic and Scott Jamieson — who have played for four others?

Central Coast and Western Sydney, also with 12 recycled players on their lists, are on similar levels.

Archie Thompson played 224 games — Only long-time teammate Leigh Broxham (247 games) and Central Coast stalwart John Hutchinson (228) have been longer-serving one-club players in the A-League’s history.

But Thompson said the recycling nature of the competition was a byproduct of the current system.

Archie Thompson played his entire career with melbourne Victory. Picture: Getty Images

He, like many others, believes more teams is an easy way to provide more opportunities for young players, but was adamant journeyman players should not be criticised.

“Because as much as you want to see young blood come through, there’s still that place for an old dog,” Thompson said.

“Unfortunately they might take the spot of a young player sometimes, but the other side of the coin is that those young players in the squad get to see and learn off those players.

“I was fortunate to be at the one club, but I’ve seen these players come in and coaches get them in because they know exactly how things work, what to do, what not to do. They know what they’re going to get from a journeyman.

“There’s two sides to it. And it’s not the player’s fault. If someone is going to throw you a contract, a lifeline, you’re going to take it.

“But more teams creates more opportunities, that’s the bottom line.”

THINKING OF THE CHILDREN

Clubs giving players aged 21 and under game time

Starts	Substitute appearances
Adelaide	25	23
Newcastle	25	17
Central Coast	24	17
Brisbane	21	13
Wellington	21	7
Perth	19	19
Melbourne Victory	18	13
Western Sydney	9	2
Melbourne City	3	6
Sydney FC	0	8

* Figures and ages as of end of Round 13

But at the other end of the scale, Wellington and Brisbane only have seven recycled players, while Adelaide — with nine in total — only have two who have played for two other clubs or more.

Perth goalkeeper Liam Reddy is at his seventh A-League club. Picture: Getty Images

Adelaide’s German coach German Marco Kurz owes nothing to Australian football, but when you combine that stat with the fact he has been most inclined to give youth a chance, one might argue he has done more for the development of Australian talent than any other coach this season.

Merrick has also handed a total of 25 starts to players aged 20 or under — with Ivan Vujica and Joey Champness taking up most of those — while Central Coast (24 starts), Brisbane (21 starts) and Wellington (21 starts) also fare well.

Nathaniel Atkinson has been the only teenager to get a start for Melbourne City. Picture: Getty Images

But Nathaniel Atkinson’s three recent starts are the only three registered by a player aged 21 or under at City this season, while the Wanderers have also only handed a combined nine starts to players in the same age bracket.

Vidosic said he is aware of the criticism.

“I understand where everyone’s coming from — coming to a fifth club. It’s a strange one,” Vidosic said. “There’s always two sides to the story.”

Originally published as Who are the worst offenders at recycling A-League talent? And which clubs are best at promoting youth?