2021–22 Western United FC season

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Western United
2021–22 season
ChairmanJason Sourasis
ManagerJohn Aloisi
StadiumGMHBA Stadium
Mars Stadium
FFA CupRound of 32

The 2021–22 season will be Western United's third season. This will be Western United's third season in the A-League. In addition to the domestic league, Western United will also participate in the FFA Cup.

Review[]

Background[]

Western United's 2020–21 campaign had seen an eight-game losing streak and a lack of creativity lead to a disappointing tenth-place finish in the league, the club's lowest in their history forcing them to play in the 2021 FFA Cup seventh preliminary round against Newcastle Jets. Three days after their league finish on 8 June 2021, the club parted ways with their head coach Mark Rudan who was their manager since their first season in 2019–20.[1]

Players[]

First team squad[]

As of 11 September 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK England ENG Jamie Young
4 DF Switzerland  SUI Léo Lacroix
5 DF Australia AUS Dylan Pierias
6 DF Japan JPN Tomoki Imai
8 FW Australia AUS Lachlan Wales
9 FW Australia AUS Dylan Wenzel-Halls
10 MF Australia AUS Steven Lustica
11 FW Australia AUS Connor Pain
12 DF Australia AUS Dalibor Markovic
13 DF Australia AUS Ivan Vujica
16 MF Slovenia SVN Rene Krhin
17 DF Australia AUS Ben Garuccio
19 DF Australia AUS Josh Risdon (vice-captain)
21 MF Australia AUS Sebastian Pasquali
23 MF Italy ITA Alessandro Diamanti (captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 FW Australia AUS Ayom Majok (scholarship)
25 MF Australia AUS Luke Duzel
26 MF Australia AUS Nicolas Milanovic (scholarship)
27 MF Australia AUS Jerry Skotadis
31 MF Australia AUS Adisu Bayew (scholarship)
33 DF Australia AUS Ben Collins (scholarship)
34 MF Australia AUS Christian Theoharous (scholarship)
36 DF Australia AUS (scholarship)
37 GK Australia AUS Ryan Scott
38 FW Australia AUS Noah Botic
42 MF Australia AUS (scholarship)
44 DF Australia AUS Nikolai Topor-Stanley
88 MF Australia AUS Neil Kilkenny
99 FW Serbia SRB Aleksandar Prijović

Transfers[]

Transfers in[]

No. Position Player Transferred from Type/fee Contract length Date Ref
9 FW Dylan Wenzel-Halls Brisbane Roar Free transfer 3 years 21 June 2021 [2]
17 DF Ben Garuccio Melbourne City Free transfer 2 years 18 July 2021 [3]
44 DF Nikolai Topor-Stanley Unattached Free transfer 1 year 29 July 2021 [4]
1 GK England Jamie Young Brisbane Roar Free transfer 2 years 2 August 2021 [5][6]
38 FW Noah Botic Germany Hoffenheim Free transfer 2 years 2 August 2021 [7]
88 MF Neil Kilkenny Unattached Free transfer 27 August 2021 [8]
4 DF Switzerland Léo Lacroix Switzerland Sion Undisclosed 1 year 1 September 2021 [9]
16 MF Slovenia Rene Krhin Unattached Free transfer 26 September 2021 [10]
99 FW Serbia Aleksandar Prijović Unattached Free transfer Multi-year 15 October 2021 [11]
34 MF Christian Theoharous Unattached Scholarship 2 years 1 November 2021 [12]

From youth squad[]

N
 Pos.
 Nat.
 Name
 Age
 Notes
31 MF Australia Adisu Bayew 19 2 year scholarship contract[13]
36 DF Australia 20 2 year scholarship contract[13]
42 MF Australia 17 2 year scholarship contract[14]
33 DF Australia Ben Collins 21 1 year scholarship contract[15]

Transfers out[]

No. Position Player Transferred to Type/fee Date Ref
14 MF Max Burgess Sydney FC Free transfer 23 May 2021 [16][17]
4 DF New Zealand Andrew Durante Retired 5 June 2021 [18]
1 GK Poland Filip Kurto Unattached End of contract 18 June 2021 [19]
2 DF Aaron Calver Unattached End of contract 18 June 2021 [19]
9 FW England Kaine Sheppard Unattached End of contract 18 June 2021 [19]
17 MF Brad Inman India ATK Mohun Bagan End of loan 18 June 2021 [19]
22 DF Tomislav Uskok Unattached End of contract 18 June 2021 [19]
34 FW Spain Iker Guarrotxena Unattached End of contract 18 June 2021 [19]
7 FW Kosovo Besart Berisha Unattached End of contract 18 July 2021 [20]
3 DF Brendan Hamill Melbourne Victory End of contract 26 July 2021 [21][22]
20 MF Spain Víctor Sánchez Unattached Mutual contract termination 7 September 2021 [23]

Contract extensions[]

No. Name Position Duration Date Notes
25 Luke Duzel Midfielder 2 years 23 June 2021 [24]
6 Japan Tomoki Imai Defender 3 years 2 July 2021 [25]
19 Josh Risdon Right-back 1 year 10 November 2021 [26]
10 Steven Lustica Central midfielder [27][28]
19 Josh Risdon Right-back 2 years 6 December 2021 [29]

Pre-season and friendlies[]

10 September 2021 Melbourne City Australia 2–1 Australia Western United Melbourne, Australia
11:00 AEST
  • Leckie Goal 53'
  • Maclaren Goal 62'
 Report
Stadium: City Vista Pavilion and Sports Field
1 November 2021 Melbourne City Australia 1–1 Australia Western United Melbourne, Australia
 Report
Stadium: Casey Fields
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
5 November 2021 Western United Australia 1–3 Australia Melbourne City Geelong, Australia
 Report
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Note: The match was played over 135 minutes

Competitions[]

Overview[]

Competition First match Last match Starting round Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
A-League TBD TBD Matchday 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !—
FFA Cup 13 November 2021 TBD Playoff round 2 1 0 1 2 2 +0 050.00
Total 2 1 0 1 2 2 +0 050.00

Last updated: 7 December 2021
Source: Competitions

A-League[]

Main article: 2021–22 A-League

League table[]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Melbourne Victory 6 4 1 1 11 7 +4 13 Qualification to Finals series, round of 32,
and 2023 AFC Champions League group stage
2 Macarthur FC 6 4 1 1 7 5 +2 13 Qualification to Finals series, round of 32,
and 2023 AFC Cup group stage[a]
3 Western United 6 4 0 2 5 4 +1 12 Qualification to Finals series and round of 32[a]
4 Central Coast Mariners 5 3 0 2 7 4 +3 9
5 Melbourne City 5 2 2 1 7 6 +1 8[b]
Updated to match(es) played on 26 December 2021. Source: A-League Men
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Points per game; 5) Least red cards; 6) Least yellow cards; 7) Toss of a coin in an event of a tie of two clubs.
Notes:
  1. ^ a b The top two teams enter the Finals series at the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third to sixth enter the Finals series at the elimination-finals.
  2. ^ Points per game: Melbourne City 1.6, Sydney FC 1.33

Results summary[]

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
1 0 0 1 0 1  −1 0 0 0 1 0 1  −1 0 0 0 0 0  0

Last updated: 11 June 2021.
Source: Ultimate A-League

Results by round[]

Round123456
GroundHHAHHA
ResultL
Position12
Updated to match(es) played on 23 September 2021. Source: Ultimate A-League
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches[]

The league fixtures were announced on 23 September 2021.[30]

20 November 2021 1 Western United 0–1 Melbourne Victory Geelong
19:45 AEDT Report Miranda Goal 75' Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 8,120
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
26 November 2021 2 Western United 1–0 Perth Glory Melbourne
19:45 AEDT Wenzel-Halls Goal 78' Report Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 3,013
Referee: Jonathon Barreiro
4 December 2021 3 Melbourne City 0–1 Western United Melbourne
19:45 AEDT Report
Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 7,019
Referee: Alex King
11 December 2021 4 Western United 1–0 Brisbane Roar Geelong
17:05 AEDT Pain Goal 50' Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 2,845
Referee: Jonathon Barreiro
17 December 2021 5 Western United 1–0 Adelaide United Melbourne
19:45 AEDT
Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 2,353
Referee: Kurt Ams
26 December 2021 6 Melbourne Victory v Western United Melbourne
19:45 AEDT Stadium: AAMI Park
1 January 2022 7 Western Sydney Wanderers v Western United Sydney
19:45 AEDT Stadium: CommBank Stadium
7 January 2022 9 Western United v Sydney FC Melbourne
19:45 AEDT Stadium: AAMI Park
14 January 2022 10 Macarthur FC v Western United Campbelltown
19:45 AEDT Stadium: Campbelltown Stadium
19 January 2022 8 Newcastle Jets v Western United Newcastle
17:25 AEDT Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium
TBC 11 Western United v Wellington Phoenix Melbourne
TBC Stadium: AAMI Park
29 January 2022 12 Western United v Melbourne City Melbourne
19:45 AEDT Stadium: AAMI Park
5 February 2022 13 Melbourne Victory v Western United Melbourne
19:45 AEDT Stadium: AAMI Park
12 February 2022 14 Sydney FC v Western United Sydney
19:45 AEDT Stadium: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
20 February 2022 15 Western United v Western Sydney Wanderers TBC
16:05 AEDT Stadium: TBC
26 February 2022 16 Perth Glory v Western United Perth
19:05 AWST Stadium: HBF Park
5 March 2022 17 Western United v Newcastle Jets Perth
15:05 AEDT Stadium: HBF Park
12 March 2022 18 Sydney FC v Western United Sydney
15:05 AEDT Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
19 March 2022 19 Western United v Melbourne City Melbourne
19:45 AEDT Stadium: AAMI Park
26 March 2022 20 Brisbane Roar v Western United Kippa-Ring
16:05 AEST Stadium: Moreton Daily Stadium
2 April 2022 21 Western United v Central Coast Mariners Ballarat
16:05 AEDT Stadium: Eureka Stadium
9 April 2022 23 Wellington Phoenix v Western United Ballarat
16:05 AEDT Stadium: Eureka Stadium
16 April 2022 24 Western United v Perth Glory Launceston
17:05 AEST Stadium: UTAS Stadium
19 April 2022 22 Western United v Macarthur FC Launceston
17:05 AEST Stadium: UTAS Stadium
23 April 2022 25 Adelaide United v Western United Adelaide
19:15 ACST Stadium: Coopers Stadium
30 April 2022 26 Central Coast Mariners v Western United Gosford
17:05 ACST Stadium: Central Coast Stadium

FFA Cup[]

Main article: 2021 FFA Cup
13 November 2021 Play-off Western United 2–1 Newcastle Jets Geelong
19:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 1,127
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro
7 December 2021 Round of 32 Western United 0–1 Wellington Phoenix Geelong
19:30 AEDT Report
Stadium: GMHBA Stadium
Attendance: 1,217
Referee: Jack Morgan

Squad statistics[]

Appearances and goals[]

Players with no appearances not included in the list.

As of 20 November 2021
No. Pos. Nat. Name A-League Men FFA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK England Jamie Young 1 0 1 0 2 0
4 DF Switzerland Léo Lacroix 1 0 1 0 2 0
5 DF Australia Dylan Pierias 0(1) 0 0(1) 0 2 0
6 DF Japan Tomoki Imai 1 0 1 0 2 0
8 FW Australia Lachlan Wales 1 0 1 1 2 1
9 FW Australia Dylan Wenzel-Halls 1 0 1 0 2 0
10 MF Australia Steven Lustica 1 0 1 0 2 0
11 MF Australia Connor Pain 1 0 1 0 2 0
17 DF Australia Ben Garuccio 1 0 1 0 2 0
19 DF Australia Josh Risdon 1 0 1 0 2 0
23 MF Italy Alessandro Diamanti 1 0 1 0 2 0
27 MF Australia Jerry Skotadis 0 0 0(1) 0 1 0
88 MF Australia Neil Kilkenny 1 0 1 0 2 0
99 FW Serbia Aleksandar Prijović 0(1) 0 0(1) 1 2 1

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Western United and Mark Rudan have mutually agreed to part ways". Western United FC. Football Australia. 8 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Striker Dylan Wenzel-Halls joins Western United". Western United. 21 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Western United bolster squad with Ben Garuccio signing". Western United. 18 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Western United strengthen defence with Topor-Stanley capture". Western United. 29 July 2021.
  5. ^ Monteverde, Marco (2 August 2021). "Socceroos: Football Australia officials hopeful of securing travel bubble for clash against China in Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. United have also secured the services of former A-League goalkeeper of the year Jamie Young following his departure from Brisbane Roar.
  6. ^ "Jamie Young joins Western United goalkeeping union". Western United. 4 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Western United signs talented youngster Noah Botic". Western United. 2 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Western United confirms Neil Kilkenny capture". Western United. 27 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Swiss star Leo Lacroix signs with Western United". Western United. 1 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Western United signs Slovenian midfielder Rene Krhin". Western United. 26 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Western United sign Serbian striker Aleksandar Prijovic". Western United. 15 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Western United confirms Christian Theoharous signing". Western United. 1 November 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Western United announces new scholarship contracts". Western United. 21 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Rhys Bozinovski puts pen to paper on scholarship contract". Western United. 5 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Ben Collins signs scholarship deal with Western United". Western United. 16 November 2021.
  16. ^ Lewis, Dave (23 May 2021). "Burgess heads back to Sydney FC on two-year deal". The World Game. SBS.
  17. ^ "Max Burgess Returns To Sky Blue". Sydney FC. 6 July 2021.
  18. ^ "A-League's highest appearance-maker Andrew Durante announces retirement from football". A-League. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  19. ^ a b c d e f "Western United farewell departing players". Western United FC. Football Australia. 18 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Western United bids farewell to Besart Berisha". Western United. 18 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Brendan Hamill departs Western United". Western United. 26 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Melbourne Victory signs Brendan Hamill". Melbourne Victory. 26 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Victor Sanchez to depart Western United". Western United. 7 September 2021.
  24. ^ "Western United re-sign young talent Luke Duzel". Western United. 23 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Tomoki Imai commits to Western United until 2024". Western United. 2 July 2021.
  26. ^ "Alessandro Diamanti and Josh Risdon to lead Western United this season". Western United. 10 November 2021.
  27. ^ Polkinghorne, David (17 July 2021). "Lustica backs Aloisi to return Western United to A-League finals". Western United.
  28. ^ "Isuzu UTE A-League: Your club's ins, outs and full squad". Keep Up. 15 November 2021.
  29. ^ "Josh Risdon signs multi-year extension". Western United. 6 December 2021.
  30. ^ "Western United to host opening round of 2021/22 A-League Season". Western United FC. 23 September 2021.

External links[]

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