Eight former Sydney FC Academy players have been named in the Australian U23 squad to take on the PacificAus Sports Football Series in Vanuatu.
It includes three current Isuzu UTE A-League players in Hayden Matthews, Corey Hollman and Adrian Segecic and they are joined by five others who used to pull on the Sky Blue in the Academy.
Jed Drew, Nathan Paull, Oscar Priestman, Aidan Simmons and Clayton Taylor have all been given the honour of representing their country after being part of the Sydney FC Academy during their junior careers.
All eight names are now established in the Isuzu UTE A-League and have become key parts of the teams that they play for which include Sydney FC, Macarthur, Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney.
The Australian U-23s will be based out of Port Vila, Vanuatu, playing fixtures at Freshwater Stadium on Thursday, 5 September against New Caledonia (3pm local) and Sunday, 8 September against Vanuatu (3pm local).
Vanuatu and New Caledonia will also face off on Saturday, 31 August, with the PacificAus Sports Football Series providing the opportunity for both sides to play competitive matches ahead of their Oceania Football Confederation FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers.
While preparations for the current cycle are in their early stages, the Pacific Series provides an opportunity for Head Coach Tony Vidmar and his staff to work with a younger cohort of players – many for the first time – who will be eligible for selection in 2026.
Subway Australian U-23s Head Coach, Tony Vidmar said he was looking forward to returning to the Pacific.
“I’ve got great memories of the Pacific from when we were in the Oceania Confederation, we were always made to feel so welcome, it’s great we can come back to build those connections through football,” Vidmar said.
“I think this is going to be a great experience for this young group of players, as they come up against two senior teams who are preparing for World Cup Qualifiers. It’ll be testing in what will be a new team environment for many, in conditions they haven’t experienced before.
“This tour is about building depth across this age group, as we begin working directly with players we feel could play a role in our program over the next two years.
“The players are still in the early stages of pre-season with their A-League clubs and we’re looking forward to what our overall program, along with these competitive matches, will offer for each of them individually and as a group.
“They’ve got the opportunity to train and play alongside some of the best young players in our domestic league and I’ve got no doubt it will be a great chance for them to continue to develop within the national team pathway,” Vidmar concluded.
MATCH SCHEDULE – 2024 PACIFICAUS SPORTS FOOTBALL SERIES – AUSTRALIAN U-23s
New Caledonia v Subway Australian U-23s
Thursday, 5 September
Kick-off: 3pm local / 2pm AEST
Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Vanuatu v Subway Australian U-23s
Sunday, 8 September
Kick-off: 3pm local / 2pm AEST
Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu
AUSTRALIAN U-23 SQUAD | 2024 PACIFICAUS SPORTS FOOTBALL SERIES
| Name | Position | Current Club | Junior Club / Member Federation |
| Ethan ALAGICH | Midfielder | Adelaide United FC | Valley View SC / Football SA |
| Patrick BEACH (Gk) | Goalkeeper | Melbourne City FC | Glenmore Park FC / FootballNSW |
| Nathanael BLAIR | Forward | Perth Glory FC | Marrickville FC / Football NSW |
| Kasey BOS | Defender | Melbourne Victory FC | Point Cook SC / Football VIC |
| Rhys BOZINOVSKI | Midfielder | Western United FC | Spring Hills Stallions FC / Football VIC |
| Ethan COX (Gk) | Goalkeeper | Adelaide United FC | Salisbury United FC / FootballSA |
| Jed DREW | Forward | Macarthur FC | Meltham Athletic FC / England |
| Yaya DUKULY | Forward | Adelaide United FC | Para Hills Knights SC / FootballSA |
| Matthew GRIMALDI | Forward | Western United FC | Watsonia Heights FC / FootballVIC |
| Corey HOLLMAN | Midfielder | Sydney FC | Seaforth FC / Football NSW |
| Panashe MADANHA | Forward | Adelaide United FC | Adelaide Olympic FC / FootballSA |
| Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI | Defender | Perth Glory FC | Carramar Cougars Junior FC / Football West |
| Hayden MATTHEWS | Defender | Sydney FC | Connells Point Rovers FC / Football NSW |
| Nathan PAULL | Defender | Central Coast Mariners FC | Heathcote Waratah FC / Football NSW |
| Oscar PRIESTMAN | Midfielder | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | Seaforth FC / Football NSW |
| Joshua RAWLINS | Defender | Melbourne Victory FC | Dianella Junior SC / FootballWest |
| Adrian SEGECIC | Midfielder | Sydney FC | Lidcombe Waratah Junior SC / Football NSW |
| Aidan SIMMONS | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | St George FC / Football NSW |
| Clayton TAYLOR | Forward | Newcastle Jets FC | Rouse Hill Rams SC / FootballNSW |
| Jordi VALADON | Midfielder | Melbourne Victory FC | Glen Eira FC / Football VIC |
| Justin VIDIC | Forward | Newcastle Jets FC | Canley Heights RSL FC / Football NSW |
| Abel WALATEE | Forward | Western United FC | North Sunshine Eagles FC / Football VIC |
| Jack WARSHAWSKY (Gk) | Goalkeeper | Central Coast Mariners FC | Buderim Wanderers FC / Football QLD |
