A couple of the Wellington Phoenix’s next generation are in line for an increased role in their final match of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Teenagers Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues and Luke Brooke-Smith are pushing to play in Sunday evening’s finale against Perth Glory at Sky Stadium.
Sloane-Rodrigues, 17, has yet to feature for the Phoenix this season but has impressed for the reserves in the Central League in recent weeks and scored a goal of the week contender against Petone FC on Saturday.
“Gab was great last week in the academy [and] I want to reward him,” head coach Giancarlo Italiano told media on Thursday. “Whether he starts or not that’s a different question, but I’d like to give him some game time.
“Gab and some of the other boys have been getting more minutes in the academy to build their loading in their legs.
“Unfortunately, the Central League only started a few weeks ago and it’s been hard to get those boys an opportunity to stay fit in terms of game minutes and so on. Training is there but obviously it’s not a good compensation for games.”
Brooke-Smith, 16, is pushing for his fourth start of his rookie season after turning heads in the 1-0 defeat to Brisbane Roar last Saturday.
“For me Luke Brooke-Smith was very good off the bench. He gave us a nice dynamic, so was Walks (Nathan Walker).
“I thought they gave us good energy and changed our intent in the front line. I thought that was really good.”
Sunday’s match will be a farewell for defenders Sam Sutton and Scott Wootton who are going to leave the club at the end of the season.
Both have played almost 100 A-League games for the Nix.
Italiano has given no thought to dropping them in favour of players who will still be at the club next season.
“I’ll play the best team that’s available for tomorrow. Where they go next season is none of my business and it’s got nothing to do with my decision-making.
“I’m disappointed when any player leaves, but the way football is players leave, players arrive, coaching staff leave and come; it’s a normal part of business.
“It’ll be their last game at home as a Phoenix player and I want them to have a good send-off.”
Wellington’s defeat to Brisbane last weekend means the team is assured of a bottom four finish and will end their season with an Australia Cup playoff in Darwin this month.
But Giancarlo Italiano doesn’t believe the players will lack motivation.
“I like to think all of our players, whatever game they play, even in training games, are giving 100% and wanting to win.
“We’ve built a very competitive environment. The boys aren’t going in there for a jolly up or not taking it seriously, they will be there giving it 100%.
“I think last week you saw in that game, as frustrating as that was, it wasn’t a lack of trying.
“It was more the heat got to us and I think mentally some of the boys are running towards their end.
“A lot of young guys have been playing a lot of minutes, there’s been a lot of expectation to deal with and I think this off-season break is going to serve us well.”
Heat certainly won’t be an issue in Wellington on Sunday, but the weather in the capital may have a big impact.
A red strong wind warning and an orange heavy rain warning were issued for the region on Thursday.
“I didn’t realise it was this bad until I walked out for this presser.
“It’s pretty bad and if it stays like this I’m not sure there’ll be a team playing tiki-taka.
“We’ll just have to play as it goes. It’ll just take away from the spectacle, which is a bit frustrating for both teams and the fans as well.”
The Phoenix have a good recent record against Perth. They’re unbeaten in their past 11 matches against the Glory dating back to 2021.
All Whites fullback Tim Payne will miss the match due to injury.
The final round Isuzu UTE A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory is scheduled to kick-off at Sky Stadium at 5pm Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 26 October 2024 – Perth Glory 0 Wellington Phoenix 2
All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 21W, Glory 20W & 12D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk),3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 35. Dublin BOON (gk), 36. Xuan LOKE, 40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk), 41. Nathan WALKER.
Unavailable: 6. Tim PAYNE (injured), 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 12. Chico GERALDES (injured), 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk) (injured).
Likely Perth Glory squad (one to be omitted): 1. Oli SAIL (gk), 4. Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS, 6. Brandon O’NEILL, 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC, 12. Taras GOMULKA, 13. Cameron COOK (gk), 16. Adam BUGARIJA, 17. Yuto MISAO, 19. Josh RISDON, 20. Trent OSTLER, 21 .Luke AMOS, 22. Adam TAGGART (c), 25. Jaylan PEARMAN, 26. Khoa NGO, 27. Will FRENEY, 28. Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI, 29.T omi MRCELA, 35. Seb DESPOTOVSKI, 36. Takuya OKAMOTO.
Unavailable: 7. Nicholas PENNINGTON (injured), 9. David WILLIAMS (injured), 15. Zach LISOLAJSKI (injured), 18. Lachie WALES (injured), 23. Patrick WOOD (injured)
Main image: Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues celebrates his goal against Petone FC on Saturday. Photo: Priyanka Rao/Wellington Phoenix.
