Both players have made a major impact for their clubs this season.
Aaron Mooy of Huddersfield Town celebrates scoring his teams first goal
For many years Football fans in Australia had a great affinity with the Premier League. The progress of Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill, Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill and others was followed intently every weekend, as they emerged from talented youngsters to household names and torchbearers for the game in their country. As time has moved on, the impact of “Aussies” on the Premier League has steadily fallen.
When national captain Mile Jedinak made the decision to drop down a division to join Aston Villa from Crystal Palace in the Summer, Australian representation neared a all time low with Brad Smith and Adam Federici (Bournemouth) and Aiden O’ Neill (Burnley) the only players in the league. Questions were starting to be raised how the lack of representation in a quality league would affect the national team as the 2018 World Cup edged ever closer.
Burton’s Jackson Irvine celebrates scoring their first goal
Though the Championship doesn’t have the profile of the Premier League, a couple of players in Jackson Irvine and Aaron Mooy have emerged as stars in their own right. The football career of Irvine started in suburban Melbourne before moving to Scotland as a teenager where he signed for Celtic. Although he only made one appearance for the senior team, he gained valuable experience at a elite club. Irvine was then loaned out to Ross County and Kilmarnock and it was there where he came under the notice of Socceroos manager Ange Postecoglou who stole him from Scotland’s grasp (Irvine’s father’s country of birth) and gave him his first senior international cap at the end of 2013.
Burton manager Nigel Clough
Fast forward to 2016 and Irvine made his move to English Football when Burton Albion signed him in the summer for £330,000. The 23 year-old midfielder has had a major impact at his new club scoring five goals in the league and his constant high level of performances is one of the main reasons why Burton have had such a solid start to their first ever season at the Championship level.
Aaron Mooy also gained experience in England (Bolton) and Scotland (St Mirren) but it was in the A-League where he really made his name, setting a record in assists (21 in 2015/16) and becoming a star for the national team. Man City signed him in June from their sister club Melbourne City and loaned him to Huddersfield. Bare stats (one goal and one assist) don’t show the 26 year-old’s overall impact which has been immeasurable for the top of the table Terriers.
Australia coach Ange Postecoglou before the game
Both Irvine and Mooy are technical players and the poster boys for the way that Postecoglou wants Australian players to play their Football. It may take them a little longer to be mentioned in the same breath of Kewell and Cahill, but they are certainly moving in the right direction and could be joining the Premier League ranks before too long.
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