A huge week across Australian football as we break down the latest from the A-League Men, A-League Women, and Aussies playing overseas.

Overseas:

Nestory Irankunda racks up assists as Watford surge up the table, Zac Sapsford stays red-hot in Scotland, and strong performances roll in from Cameron Burgess, Callum Elder, Adrian Segecic and more across England and Europe.

Under 23 Asian Cup squad:

Who's made the final squad including a future star from Manchester United and debate over A-League clubs releasing players.

A-League Men:

10-man Newcastle Jets stun Auckland, Melbourne Victory explode into form, NYE clash heats up, and finals pressure continues to build.

A-League Women:

World-class goals, huge support, late drama and big results as the title race tightens.

Plus our Team of the Week, transfer talk, listener contributions, and an inspiring Australian connection to AFCON with Aamir Abdallah.

The Aussie Game Podcast covers Australian football, the Socceroos, Matildas, A-League and Aussies playing overseas.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

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Here is our team of the year in Australian football in 2025!

Team of the year

Patrick Beach

A-League champion, Socceroos debut, outstanding form for City.

Ellie Carpenter

French league champion, hit the ground running at Chelsea, Matildas rock

Alessandro Circati

Consistent performer in Serie A, very good for Socceroos and captains armband

Steph Catley

Champions League winner, nominated for Ballon D’or, Matildas stand in captain, PFA Women’s footballer of the Year

Jordy Bos

Fantastic for the Socceroos, settled pretty well after his big move to Feyenoord

Aiden O’Neill

Mr Consistent for the Socceroos, fitted in seamlessly at New York City FC in his first season in the MLS.

Kyra Cooney-Cross

Champions League winner and now starting regularly for Arsenal. Becoming a key player for the Matildas.

Adrian Segecic

17 goals and 4 assists in calendar year. Scored 13 goals at 0.87 goals per 90 mins, then had a strong start at Pompey with two goals and an assist in his first 3 games.

Alex Badolato

Under 20 Asian Cup MVP, Australia Cup winner and AFC Men’s Youth Player of the Year

Caitlin Foord

Champions League winner, 6 goals and 2 assists across all competitions

Zac Sapsford

13 goals and 6 assists in calendar year

Bench

Gianni Stensness - Norwegian champion

Cam Devlin - best player in Scotland

Keanu Baccus - League Cup winner

Patrick Yazbek - 2025 Open Cup winner, Socceroos regular

Mohamed Toure - 9 goals and 5 assists

Ivy Luik - Swedish Champion

Mary Fowler - 5 goals and 7 assists. Hasn’t played since 14 April. PFA Young Women’s footballer of the year, PFA WSL team of the year.

Here are our top 5 moments in Australian football in 2025!

1. Ange Postecoglou becomes the first Australian manager to win in Europe as Spurs win the Europa League.
2. Young Socceroos win the U20 Asian Cup and qualify for the World Cup.
3. Matilda trio Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross win UEFA Women’s Champions League.
4. Australian Championship commences with South Melbourne ultimately being crowned the first ever champions.
5. Socceroos qualify directly for their 6th straight FIFA World Cup after a very shaky start.

In our last episode of 2025 we celebrate an amazing year in Australian football.

Alessandro Circati makes history as the first Australian to captain Parma since Vince Grella, a huge moment for the 22-year-old Socceroo

We wrap up all the latest Australian football news, including a wild nine-goal A-League thriller, late drama in Adelaide, and big performances across the A-League Men and Women.

Overseas, Sam Kerr scores a double for Chelsea, Cam Devlin shines in Scotland, Josh Nisbet helps Roda JC climb the table, Alex Robertson stars for Cardiff and Aussies feature across England, Europe, and beyond.

We also announce the Top 5 Australian Football Moments of 2025, reveal our Australian Team of the Year, and name our Manager of the Year, Footballer of the Year and Young Footballer of the Year.

All that and more in your weekly deep dive into Aussies abroad, the Socceroos, Matildas, and the A-League.

Thanks for your support in 2025! See you in 2026!

The Aussie Game Podcast covers Australian football, the Socceroos, Matildas, A-League and Aussies playing overseas.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

Follow us:

IG: @theaussiegame | FB: @theaussiegame | Threads: @theaussiegame | BlueSky: @aussiegame.bsky.social | X: @the_aussie_game

The Aussie Game Podcast breaks down a huge week in Australian football, headlined by a dramatic Melbourne Derby, full A-League Men and Women round-up, and standout performances from Aussies overseas.

• Matt Grimaldi scores a stoppage-time winner against his boyhood club
• Juan Mata instrumental in the winning move
• Jack Duncan shines with four saves
• Victory climb off the bottom with three straight home games ahead

• Jets 2–0 Sydney FC: Teenagers Will Dobson and Xavier Bertoncello star as Newcastle move to 5th
• Macarthur 2–1 Brisbane: Two Harry Sawyer penalties seal comeback win
• Auckland 2–0 Wanderers: Wanderers fail to score again as Auckland make it three straight wins
• Adelaide 1–0 Perth: Craig Goodwin wonder strike delivers first away win
• Wellington 3–1 Mariners

• Victory 3–1 Jets: Kennedy White scores again, Pollicina player of the match
• Wellington 7–0 Sydney FC: Doubles to Sabitra Bhandari and Grace Jale
• Canberra 1–1 Mariners: Late equaliser from Sasha Grove

• Sam Kerr scores Champions League winner for Chelsea
• Zac Sapsford nets a screamer against Celtic
• Keanu Baccus lifts the Scottish Cup with St Mirren
• Goals, own goals and injury setbacks for Aussies across England, Scotland, Europe and Asia

Jack Duncan, Sasha Grove, Lewis Miller, Callum Elder, Keanu Baccus, Alex Badolato, Zac Sapsford, Sam Kerr, Harry Sawyer, Dylan Wenzel-Halls

Super Sub: Matt Grimaldi

What were your best moments in Australian football in 2025? Let us know in the comments.

We’ll pick the top five for our final episode of the year.

The Aussie Game Podcast covers Australian football, the Socceroos, Matildas, A-League and Aussies playing overseas.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

Follow us:

IG: @theaussiegame | FB: @theaussiegame | Threads: @theaussiegame | BlueSky: @aussiegame.bsky.social | X: @the_aussie_game

Riley McGree is back to his best as we break down his huge return for Middlesbrough, why he’s central to Boro’s promotion push, and what his form means for the Socceroos heading toward a World Cup year.

Moppa’s Midweek Wrap covers a massive week for Australians abroad, with goals, assists, clean sheets and late drama across Europe and Asia, plus a look at Australia’s position in the AFC coefficient race.

We review A-League Men Round 8, including Melbourne Victory’s first win in weeks, Sydney FC returning to the top, Newcastle’s clinical NZ double, and Auckland continuing the Mariners’ frustration. In the A-League Women, Canberra end Melbourne City’s 651-day unbeaten run to surge to the top of the table.

We wrap up with the Team of the Week, and Moppa’s Super Sub.

The Aussie Game Podcast covers Australian football, the Socceroos, Matildas, A-League and Aussies playing overseas.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

Follow us:

IG: @theaussiegame | FB: @theaussiegame | Threads: @theaussiegame | BlueSky: @aussiegame.bsky.social | X: @the_aussie_game

This week on the Aussie Game Podcast we break down a massive stretch in Australian football: Socceroos news, Australian Championship glory, Aussies Abroad, and a hectic A-League weekend.

• Group D update: Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo to join Australia, USA & Paraguay.
• What the North America games mean for World Cup prep.
• Mike Grella calls USA v Socceroos a “layup” — we respond.
• Paraguay preview: defensive, low-scoring, key stars (Almirón, Gómez, Alderete).
• European playoff picture + who the Socceroos should play in the March window.

• South Melbourne beat Marconi 2–0 to win the inaugural title.
• Goals: Aguek + Jankovic (also MVP).
• South now head to the OFC Pro League on Jan 18.
• Dredon Kelly named Championship MVP.
• Our reflections on the competition’s first season.

• McGree scores for Boro; Burgess helps Swansea break their losing run.
• Gauci benched in FA Cup; Peupion scores in the Netherlands.
• Kuol continues to build minutes; Hrustic, Irvine, Bos all impact overseas.
• J-League season ends — key Aussies face uncertain off-season before the World Cup.

• Victory 0–0 Macarthur: goalscoring woes continue.
• Perth 1–0 Wanderers: Despotovski scores, Sutton stars; should Griffiths stay long-term?
• Auckland 3–1 Phoenix: Derby drama, Oluwayemi saves two pens, huge crowd.
• Jets 0–1 City: Rashmani (18) scores; Beach brilliant.
• Mariners 1–2 Sydney FC: late winner from Campuzano; weather chaos.

Beach, Politidis, Jankovic, Stensness, Grove, Quintal, McGree, Baccus, Aguek, Despotovski, Peupion.

Super Sub: Stamatelopoulos.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

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We break down the Matildas’ 2–0 win over New Zealand, unpack the PFA’s major findings in the 2024/25 A-League Men’s Report, and run through a massive set of updates for Aussies abroad.

A less fluid performance than the first match, but still a professional win.

• 19’ – Alanna Kennedy opens the scoring after Kerr, Raso and a fortunate deflection combine.
• Strong late first half: big chances from Carpenter, Torpey, Raso and Foord, plus a crucial Micah save for Australia.
• 70’ – Hayley Raso buries the second from a corner scramble.

We also debate the best current Matildas XI, noting no minutes for Siemsen, Rule or Lincoln.

The PFA’s 2024/25 A-League Men’s Report highlights:

• High transfer volatility and clubs’ increasing over-reliance on short-term signings
• Concerns around squad stability, youth development pathways, and long-term planning
• A push for new retention strategies and more sustainable squad building
• Review of governance structures, including the APL Board

https://pfa.net.au/announcements/pfa-report-reveals-a-league-mens-dramatic-youth-skew-crowd-trends-and-governance-challenges/

• Stensness & D’Agostino win the Norwegian title with Viking – first since 1991.
• Joeys qualify for the U17 Asian Cup.
• Irankunda returns home for personal reasons.
• Izzo with a clean sheet and player of the match.
• Garang Kuol with assists in league and cup.
• Irvine 90 mins, Metcalfe off the bench as St Pauli reach the DFB-Pokal quarters.
• Torpey leaves Portland Thorns.
• Minutes and strong performances for Miller, Borges Rodrigues, Devlin, Priestman, and Sapsford (on the scoresheet).

Class of 2025 includes Tim Cahill, Sharon Black and football historian Roy Hay.

Big matches featuring Aussies:

• MLS Cup Final
• Hajduk Split vs Dinamo Zagreb
• Motherwell’s unbeaten run test vs Livingston
• Heracles vs Telstar
• Celtic vs Hearts

🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

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IG: @theaussiegame | FB: @theaussiegame | Threads: @theaussiegame | BlueSky: @aussiegame.bsky.social | X: @the_aussie_game

The Matildas deliver a dominant 5–0 win with goals from Sayer, Raso, Carpenter, Cooney-Cross and Gorry, and we break down what it means ahead of their next international fixture. The Sydney Derby headlines Round 6 of the A-League Men as Western Sydney Wanderers beat Sydney FC 1–0 in a fiery clash.

We cover every match across the round, plus a full Aussies Abroad wrap from England, Scotland, Europe, the MLS and Asia — including updates on Riley McGree, Lewis Miller, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Mat Ryan, Harry Souttar and more.

In the Asian Champions League, Melbourne City secure a huge win thanks to Max Caputo and a standout performance from Patrick Beach, while Macarthur qualify for the quarter-finals of ACL2 with a brace from Luke Vickery. We also review the Australia Championship semi-finals as Marconi and South Melbourne book their spots in the grand final.

Plus — our Team of the Week and the latest on the Joeys as they push for U17 Asian Cup qualification.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

Follow us:

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This week on The Aussie Game podcast, we break down a massive round of Australian and international football. We cover the latest A-League Men Round 5 results, standout performances, big talking points, and all the drama from a huge weekend of action.

We also recap the Asian football trophies and continental finals, look at which Australian players and teams are dominating in Europe, and analyse the Australian Championship semi-finals as the race for the title heats up.

Plus, we reveal our A-League Team of the Week and discuss the biggest storylines shaping Aussie football right now.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

Follow us:

IG: @theaussiegame | FB: @theaussiegame | Threads: @theaussiegame | BlueSky: @aussiegame.bsky.social | X: @the_aussie_game