Mindil Aces midfielder Barnaby Wood becomes the youngest player to compete in an Australia Cup match at just 14
Personal development in Spain has helped Mindil Aces rookie Barnaby Wood become the youngest player to ever take the pitch in an Australia Cup match.
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A YOUNG Territory footballer made history when he stepped onto the field at Darwin Football Stadium late last week.
Barnaby Wood, 14, became the youngest footballer to ever take part in an Australia Cup match when he played the closing 15 minutes of his Mindil Aces’ final 32 clash against Avondale FC at Marrara on Thursday night.
The young midfielder said there were “mixed emotions of nervousness and excitement” when he was told to warm up for his debut appearance.
“There were a lot of nerves,” Wood said, who also made his senior debut for the Aces this season.
“To see all the fans cheering the team and me on was really exciting and a great experience.
“But all those nerves went away when I walked onto the field.
“I feel very lucky to have been given that chance.”
Wood has played 10 Premier League matches so far this year after making his debut against University Azzurri in early April.
The Essington School student said he didn’t win a huge number of possessions on the night as the highly fancied, semi-professional Avondale won 6-0.
“We didn’t really get the ball that much, they had most of the possessions,” Wood said, who first played football at age six with Olympic before joining the Aces.
It’s been another significant chapter in the young footballer’s career.
Wood’s game benefited from nearly 18 months in Spain after the family moved overseas for an experience and to soak up European culture in December, 2019.
However, Wood’s game saw him invited to train at the Marcet Football Academy from September, 2020 in Barcelona, honing his skills twice a day, before and after school.
Wood said the experience improved his technical and technical abilities.
“They really challenged me, I was playing against kids a lot better than me,” he said.
“But after a heap of training, I caught up to them.”
After returning to the NT last April, and getting plenty of senior experience with the Aces in 2022, Wood is now dreaming of playing football professionally.
Mindil Aces outgunned 6-0 by Avondale FC in Australia Cup clash
It was not to be for the Mindil Aces in their Australia Cup encounter as they succumbed to visiting Victorian National Premier League outfit Avondale FC 6-0.
The hosts were gutsy, but the visitors were relentless with enough talent on show to eventually seal a blowout win at Darwin Football Stadium.
Scott Hilliar nailed the 12th minute opener, Liam Boland kicked a hat-trick and Liston Diaz pulled off a double for the Avengers.
However, the crowd witnessed a piece of history with 14-year-old Barnaby Wood taking to the pitch, the youngest ever to do so in an Australia Cup match.
Aces’ captain Matthew Wallace was proud of the effort showed by his Mindil side, saying it had inspired them to do bigger and better in 2023.
“It was always going to be a big ask, but I couldn’t be prouder of the boys for fighting until the final whistle,” Wallace said.
“Avondale showed their quality and what a club of that calibre can do.
“The Darwin crowd was absolutely unreal, thank you to everyone who came out and made some noise for us.
“We wanted a better result, but we will learn from this and aim to do it bigger and better next year.”
Avondale not taking game lightly
THE travelling semi-professional Avondale FC will not be taking their Australia Cup foes, Mindil Aces, lightly when they face off in the round of 32 at the Darwin Football Stadium.
Playing in the Top End will be a first for side sitting fourth in the Victorian National Premier League after 22 games.
The Avengers captain and defender Matthew Reid said his side was looking forward to take on the warm Darwin weather in the middle of their season.
“The boys are very excited about being able to get away and travel interstate for a game,” Reid said.
“We know it’s going to be nice and warm up in Darwin, and we’re really excited for the opportunity.
“This is the first time we’ve played in the Territory, and maybe even the first time we’ve been able to travel instate as part of the Australian Cup
“I don’t think the weather will impact us too much, we’re three quarters of the way through our season so our bodies should be match fit enough at this stage.”
It’s also a chance for Territory audiences to see a semi-professional football squad in action with plenty of stars to look out for including Manyluak Aguek and Yitay Towns.
Also in the squad is powerful Dutch goalkeeper Thom Jonkerman and fast-footed midfielder Kristian Trajceski.
But despite all their talent and status in one of the country’s top leagues the Avengers will not be taking Mindil lightly, knowing the Aces are in the Top 32 for a reason.
“To make it to the Round of 32 you have to be pretty good and so we have to make sure we give our respect to the Mindil Aces,” Reid said.
“We know we have to play our best footy because anything less and we will probably walk away with the result we don’t want.
“We like to play a brand of football that is possession based, we like to keep the ball and create attacking opportunities from there.
“We’ve got some really dynamic forwards and wingers that on their day can tear apart any defence. We give them the opportunity to express themselves which has worked for us over the years.”
Players to watch in Cup tie
The Australia Cup Round of 32 is here and the Top End’s own Mindil Aces are in the mix, up against visiting Victorian Premier League side Avondale FC.
Here are five players to look out when the two sides clash on the Aces’ home soil.
Mindil Aces:
Josh Lagudah, Central Midfield:
The Aces’ defensive midfielder will need to be at his best against an Avondale side packed with attacking talent if Mindil are to stand a chance. In his first season in Darwin after moving to the Top End to pursue a career in the police force, the Mindil enforcer has impressed local football fans with his composure, protecting the defence with strong tackling and starting attacks with a great range of passing.
Tayvian Ludvigsen, Forward:
Having led the line for the Aces in two successive Premier League grand final victories, Ludvigsen is now seen as one of the best front men in the Territory. The strong and powerful target man relishes the physical battle, and will be keen to test himself against Victorian Premier league defenders. The Welshman currently leads the NT league in assists, and will look to combine with players like the Aces’ Wallace and McDowell to create scoring chances.
Jeff Williams, Left Back:
As one of the fastest players in the Mindil squad, the Aces will be looking to the speedster to help deal with Avondale’s wide men. Williams will be asked to step up against some of the best forwards in Victoria, and then start counter attacks himself for the Mindil men. Expect Williams to use his pace down the wing and in recovery to deny Avondale opportunities on goal.
Avondale FC:
Kristian Trajceski, Midfield:
In a team full of big name attackers, Kristian Trajceski still manages to stand out. Having turned down an A-League contract with Sydney FC to pursue developing his talents in Portugal, the fast footed midfielder is used to big games. He will look to get the ball at his feet and make chances with his trickery and eye for a pass.
Thom Jonkerman, Goalkeeper:
The Aces will be hoping they can threaten Avondale’s goal, but know they will have to be at their best if they are going to beat the Avenger’s Dutch goalkeeper Jonkerman. Having previously signed with professional clubs in Holland and England (including Bristol Rovers), the 24 year old Nike Academy graduate will be looking to prove that he belongs on the big stage.
‘Best of Australia’: David and Goliath battle set for Marrara
IT WOULD be one of the “biggest upsets in Australia Cup” history if the Mindil Aces can knock over Victorian National Premier League outfit Avondale FC this Thursday, its captain says.
But Matt Wallace is daring to dream as his charges contest the cup’s final 32 for the first time in the club’s 42-year history at Darwin Football Stadium on Thursday.
The reigning NT Premier League champions are the last Territory side left standing in the national knockout competition, and the last amateur one, and will have to face professional and semi-pro teams from here on in.
The Victorian NPL is one rung below the A League, so the challenge is stark for Mindil.
The Aces qualified by beating Darwin Heat (1-0), Hellenic (1-2) and then Casuarina 2-0) from the local group of matches.
Wallace said the Aces had fought hard to reach the final 32, while admitting winning would be “one of the biggest upsets in Australia Cup history”.
He said Avondale were a semi-professional outfit with a “massive wage bill and a lot of big names”, such as Macedonian midfielder Kristian Trajceski and Dutch goalie Thom Jonkerman.
“We are putting out the strongest team possible and we expect Avondale to do the same,” Wallace said.
“We always show up for the big games and even though Avondale are a massive club, we believe we can give them a proper Territory welcome and hopefully push them all the way to the final whistle.”
Head coach Daniel McCormick said it would be a tough match up with Avondale, whose best performance at an Australia Cup was a quarterfinal in 2018.
“(It’s) arguably the best state competition in the country,” he said of the Vic NPL.
“This is an opportunity for our players to play on the national stage and represent the Territory against the best of Australia.
“We have the preparation, work rate and passion to challenge any team on our day and with the local crowd behind us anything can happen.
“We aren’t here just to make up the numbers, we are here to prove ourselves.”
The match kicks off at 7pm on Thursday at Darwin Football Stadium Marrara. Tickets on sale at ticketebo.com.au and search for “Mindil Aces”. Free entry for children under 15 years of age.
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