A-League transfer news/rumours

[TheSecretScout]

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My phone was blowing up early this morning with people asking if I knew about this (i obviously did, but couldnt say anything out of respect for my friendship with awer)

I've known the mabil family for the better part of almost 15 years, I was at his sister's funeral several years ago and literally bumped into his brother only a few weeks ago in the city.

It's been well known that AU explored this deal last year, but as much as Awer wanted to return to Adelaide (his charity HQ and family are all still here) financially AU could not compete with an east coast club, so it's no surprise that he lands at city with such a big South Australian influence already at the club.

Petrillo knows mabil very well from there time together AU & city under his stewardship have signed a lot of SA players.

Whilst AU fans will be upset at this news, realistically the club could never afford to bring him home. It will be a hard pill to swallow for locals, but they will have to get over it.

As I tell many people in adelaide , just because a player is a south australian, doesnt mean they have to come back and play for AU.

 

[Hillbilly55]

Great to see a Socceroo in Mabil coming back still in his prime.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Kiwi football great joins the Nix

The Wellington Phoenix have made a statement signing ahead of the 2026-27 Ninja A-League.

wellingtonphoenix.com

Abby Erceg is headed to Wellington Phoenix's A-League Women side on a one-year deal after having spent the past year and a half plying her trade in Mexico for Toluca, and will be under contract at the club for the entirety of Dub season 2026-27.

 

[melbcityguy]

My phone was blowing up early this morning with people asking if I knew about this (i obviously did, but couldnt say anything out of respect for my friendship with awer)

I've known the mabil family for the better part of almost 15 years, I was at his sister's funeral several years ago and literally bumped into his brother only a few weeks ago in the city.

It's been well known that AU explored this deal last year, but as much as Awer wanted to return to Adelaide (his charity HQ and family are all still here) financially AU could not compete with an east coast club, so it's no surprise that he lands at city with such a big South Australian influence already at the club.

Petrillo knows mabil very well from there time together AU & city under his stewardship have signed a lot of SA players.

Whilst AU fans will be upset at this news, realistically the club could never afford to bring him home. It will be a hard pill to swallow for locals, but they will have to get over it.

As I tell many people in adelaide , just because a player is a south australian, doesnt mean they have to come back and play for AU.

It'll probably do more to boost Adelaide's crowds then ours but is what it is. Love having players like not just in my team but in the league.

Can you imagine the a league if every team had a mabil?

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Can you imagine the a league if every team had a mabil?

It’d be cool but there’s not enough going around. Unless you’re proposing bringing back Jamie Maclaren from India.

 

[melbcityguy]

It’d be cool but there’s not enough going around. Unless you’re proposing bringing back Jamie Maclaren from India.

Yes 100% I'd rather see these guys in Australia not india or Korea etc. I know it's a long time ago but look how the league was going in the early 2010s

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Yes 100% I'd rather see these guys in Australia not india or Korea etc. I know it's a long time ago but look how the league was going in the early 2010s

My implication was that India is a lower standard, so it would be difficult for him to come back to a higher standard at his age. In saying that, he is absolutely dominating the ISL at the moment. He’s won a title and only missed out on a second on GD, plus has a Bronze Boot (which was almost a Silver Boot) and a Silver Boot (which was almost a Golden Boot) to his name in two seasons.

 

[TheSecretScout]

It'll probably do more to boost Adelaide's crowds then ours but is what it is. Love having players like not just in my team but in the league.

Can you imagine the a league if every team had a mabil?

I'm not entirely sure that will happen, Awer's a good honest pro - always trained well, never causes issues and happy to pass on his wisdom to younger players.

he is not the sort of player that will bring more fans to city or have other teams spectators paying there hard earned cash to see him play live.

The real benefit for city will be his mentorship of young african kids away from the pitch, which is an absolute passion not just for himself -but for his family.

Victoria has the largest african population in australia, yet it continually produces very few professional footballers. Having a role model like Awer around could potentially open up a few minds that have been previously closed in victoria.

Awers also fully aware that AU fans are upset with his choice, especially since hes gone on record stating when he returns to the a league it will be for AU.

In terms of what the reception will be like at hindmarsh? i dont believe he'll get booed - only way that happens is if he scores and celebrates

 

[melbcityguy]

I'm not entirely sure that will happen, Awer's a good honest pro - always trained well, never causes issues and happy to pass on his wisdom to younger players.

he is not the sort of player that will bring more fans to city or have other teams spectators paying there hard earned cash to see him play live.

The real benefit for city will be his mentorship of young african kids away from the pitch, which is an absolute passion not just for himself -but for his family.

Victoria has the largest african population in australia, yet it continually produces very few professional footballers. Having a role model like Awer around could potentially open up a few minds that have been previously closed in victoria.

Awers also fully aware that AU fans are upset with his choice, especially since hes gone on record stating when he returns to the a league it will be for AU.

In terms of what the reception will be like at hindmarsh? i dont believe he'll get booed - only way that happens is if he scores and celebrates

Thx for your thoughts. It's a massive signing and the few fans we have are happy it's upsetting there isn't more news about it here

 

[SouthernMariner]

Aldred is one disappointing signing for Roar. Surely you take a punt on someone like Ben Collins over Aldred there are plenty of NPL centre backs that look up to the task of ALM level. Aldred looked sadly past it even before heading to India. Or even trying to lure Milos Degenek, Tommy Deng, Oliver Jones, Bailey Wright, Reagan Ogle, Curtis Good, Kenny Dougall or Giancarlo Gallifuoco. Surely at least one of those would have been in the Roar's price range?