These are the TOP 50 Australian youth - born in 1999 or later (21 or under) - in every position - in MY opinion. Feel free to debate below, let me know if I forgot or snubbed anyone - and thanks! Special thanks to Neanderthal for inspiring this with his 2018 edition - link here: https://forum.insidesport.com.au/2685048/Top-50-Australian-Youth-Detailed-and-Ranked-with-pictures?PageIndex=1
Based on: 
- Achievement 
- Potential 
- Selection in national teams
- Hype

GOALKEEPERS: 
1. Adam Pavlesic (02) 17 years old, Sydney FC - The young Sydney FC stopper was superb at the U17 World Cup, and has since made big steps - breaking into the SFC matchday squad and travelling to Europe for trials with Roma and Strasbourg. Clearly has a big future ahead. 
2. Ashley Maynard Brewer (99) 20 years old, Charlton - Maynard-Brewer has been involved in Olyroos camps over the past year, made his senior debut for Charlton last season, received senior football with Dulwich Hamlet and has since been a regular on Charlton's bench as their #2 goalkeeper. 
3. Kai Calderbank Park  (01) 19 years old, Burnley - He was Australia's #1 goalkeeper at the successful U18 AFF Championship campaign, and has since received senior football in the English lower leagues on a 'work experience loan'. 
4. Isaac Richards (99) 20 years old, Adelaide United - Impressively overtook Daniel Margus in the AUFC goalkeeper pecking order and looked good in his starts this season. 
5. Nick Suman (00) 19 years old, Western Sydney - Was in and out of the Western Sydney team last season but hasn't yet received an opportunity this season, but showed potential in his appearances and is still young for a goalkeeper. 

DEFENDERS: 
1. Nathaniel Atkinson (99) 20 years old, Melbourne City - Received only scarce appearances under Warren Joyce last season, but since winning back his place this season he has been superb, and has been a big miss for the Olyroos with his suspension. 
2. Jordan Courtney Perkins (02) 17 years old, Brisbane Roar - Cementing your place in the starting XI at 16 is no mean feat, and that's what Courtney Perkins has done. Also impressive at the U17 World Cup, and hopefully his long term knee injury won't halt his progress. European interest has also been rumoured. 
3. Dylan Ryan (00) 19 years old, Willem II - Has been a regular in Willem II's matchday squad - impressive given his age - and has been a calm and solid presence at the back for the Olyroos. 
4. Joel King (00) 19 years old, Sydney FC - Since taking over the left back spot at Sydney FC, he's only improved, showing maturity and composure in place of the injured Michael Zullo. 
5. Tass Mourdoukoutas (99) 20 years old, Western Sydney - Looked impressive during 18/19 under Babbel at WSW, however has been starved of game time this season. A talent, who has been linked to a move to Europe. 
6. Lewis Miller (00) 19 years old, Central Coast - Unknown at the start of this season, but has locked down a spot at right wingback for Central Coast. Tall, strong and dynamic going forward. 
7. Izaack Powell (02) 17 years old, Brisbane Roar - Made his A-League debut aged 16, and looked impressive at the U17 World Cup, getting an impressive assist vs. Ecuador, and has looked good in substitute appearances under Robbie Fowler. 
8. Daniel Wilmering (00) 19 years old, Western Sydney - Very solid at left back at the start of this season for Western Sydney, cementing his place, however a serious knee injury has cruelly halted his progress. 
9. Dylan Pierias (00) 19 years old, Western United - The first A-League player born in the 21st century - but received only scarce gametime after that at Melbourne City. A move to Western United this season has resulted in some dynamic substitute appearances from the young player. 
10. Con Ouzoundis (99) 20 years old, Everton - Having recovered from injury he's recemented his place at centre back for Everton U23, an impressive feat aged 20. 
11. Tate Russell (99) 20 years old, Western Sydney - Has shown glimpses of talent in his appearances this season for WSW, providing some excellent crosses into the box. Been involved in the Olyroos setup. 

MIDFIELDERS: 
1. Denis Genreau (99) 20 years old, Melbourne City - Regular gametime aged 19 in the Eredivisie is a phenomenal achievement, and his talent has shone through in his infrequent, injury cruelled appearances for Melbourne City this season. A standout for the Olyroos as well. 
2. Zach Duncan (00) 19 years old, AGF Aarhus - Got a surprise yet extremely impressive move to AGF off the back of limited gametime with Brisbane, and has received regular gametime in Denmark, while getting a callup to the Olyroos squad, beating out players 3 years his senior. 
3. Ryan Teague (02) 17 years old, Sydney FC - Captained the Joeys at the U17 World Cup, and played superbly there, receiving international plaudits during the tournament. Made his debut for Sydney FC aged 17 this season, and can look forward to gametime during Sydney's ACL campaign. A very impressive technical midfielder. 
4. Sam Silvera (00) 19 years old, Central Coast - Took a risk in leaving WSW to trial with CCM, and it's paid off handsomely, being a real highlight for Alen Stajcic's side, and seemingly earning a tremendously impressive move to LAFC in the MLS having been scouted. Quick, direct and a brilliant dribbler. 
5. Connor Metcalfe (99) 20 years old, Melbourne City - Came out of nowhere to become a regular starter for Erick Mombaerts' side, and is strong, direct and impressive on the ball. Received a callup to the Olyroos off the back of this form. 
6. Louis D'Arrigo (01) 18 years old, Adelaide United - after winning the Y-League player of the year award in 2017-18, he's broken into the Adelaide starting XI, and has been truly impressive given his age. Technically gifted and controls Adelaide's tempo. 
7. Caleb Watts (02) 18 years old, Southampton - Came out of nowhere to join the Joeys squad in March 2019, and was absolutely superb at the U17 World Cup, displaying his direct running, dribbling and pace. Genuinely impressively, he's broken into Southampton's U23 starting XI as a 17 year old and the youngest player in the team. A real talent to watch. 
8. Alex Robertson (03) 16 years old, Manchester City - Probably the most talked about person of his age in Australia, and perhaps overhyped - but there is a reason why. Signed a long term professional contract with Man City and has made appearances for the U23s while scoring goals consistently for the England U17 team. Australian football should be desperate for his allegiance - he could be anything. 
9. Angus Thurgate (00) 19 years old, Newcastle Jets - Broken into the Jets team and has scored goals and got assists - impressive for a player of his age. Very technical, but still needs to improve a lot. 
10. Seb Pasquali (99) 20 years old, Western United - After returning to Australia to great excitement - injury has cruelled his game time chances, but has returned to WUFC's matchday squad and his time at Ajax bodes well for his future. 
11. Tyrese Francois (00) 19 years old, Fulham - Fulham's reigning U23 player of the year has found himself on the verge of the Cottagers first team, but a long term injury has halted his progress. A technically gifted attacking midfielder who could be anything. 
12. Jerry Skotadis (00) 19 years old, Western United - Having left Sydney for the NPL this would have been an unexpected inclusion on this list, but his consistent performances alongside Pana Kone and Alino Diamanti have established him as a player to watch. 
13. Anthony Lesiotis (00) 19 years old, Melbourne Victory - Broken into the Victory first team and has displayed his technical prowess and adaptability during his time at right fullback. Someone which real potential to become a starter in Victory's team.
14. Andony Martis (00) 19 years old, Midtjylland - Captains the Midtjylland youth team and has captained them in the UEFA Youth League against the likes of Manchester United. Has represented Cyprus but has spent most of his life in Australia. 
15. Lachlan Brook (01) 18 years old, Adelaide United - Has made regular substitute appearances for Adelaide and has been quietly impressive in those. A callup to the Olyroos for the matches vs. New Zealand rewarded his progress, and he'll be eligible for the 2024 Olympics too. 
16. Rahmat Akbari (00) 19 years old, Brisbane Roar - Has looked superb in his rare Roar starts, adding his technical prowess and incisive passing to the often static Roar midfield. Will hope to cement his place. 
17. Alberto del Grosso (01) 18 years old, Cittadella - A name which has come out of nowhere, playing in the Serie B side's youth team. A relative unknown - but to be playing at that level at his age is impressive. 
18. Isaac Danzo (00) 19 years old, Levante - Playing regular football in the Spanish 3rd Division at his age is seriously impressive. Made his first team debut in a recent friendly as a rare Australian in Spain. 
19. Idrus Abdulahi (03) 16 years old, Melbourne City - Having made his first team debut aged 15 late last season, he was impressive at the U17 World Cup, and has received more, albeit limited, gametime this season under Mombaerts. 
20. Birkan Kirdar (02) 17 years old, Melbourne Victory - Lost his place in the starting XI of the Joeys at the U17 World Cup, but displayed his potential at the tournament regardless. A technical player who can break open a game, the type of player Australian football lacks. 
21. Murray Miller (02) 17 years old, Rangers - A relative unknown - but one who has established himself as a regular in the Rangers UEFA Youth League team. Has been involved in the Scotland youth setup too - and there may be a tug of war for his allegiance. 
FORWARD: 
1. Daniel Arzani (99) 21 years old, Celtic on loan from Melbourne City - Nothing more really needs to be said about the great hope of Australian football. Just made his comeback after over a year for Celtic - and the prospect of him receiving regular gametime is something genuinely exciting. 
2. Noah Botic (02) 18 years old, Hoffenheim - Scored 4 goals at the U17 World Cup, having just moved from NPL to the Bundesliga - and has scored regularly in Germany. Big things to come. 
3. Al Hassan Toure (99) 19 years old, Adelaide - Another great hope of Australian football. Burst onto the scene out of nowhere - and has scored goals in abundance. He has all the attributes to be a top striker - pace, finishing, strength, positioning. 
4. Jacob Italiano (01) 18 years old, Borussia Mönchengladbach - Getting a transfer to the Bundesliga is seriously impressive aged 16 - and scoring regularly for the first team in pre season is likewise. The youngest player in the Olyroos squad and could be seriously good. 
5. Tristan Hammond (03) 17 years old, Sporting CP - You don't play in Sporting CP's academy unless you're truly talented - ask Cristiano Ronaldo - and Hammond displayed this talent at the U17 World Cup, with his pace, skill and direct running for the Joeys. 
6. Ramy Najjarine (00) 19 years old, Melbourne City - Labelled 'better than Arzani' by the likes of Luke Brattan, and he has genuine gamebreaking ability - see his matchwinning stunner vs. Korea for the Young Socceroos. Has broken into the Olyroos setup, winning the player of the tournament in a recent friendly tournament in China. Has dribbling skill and can beat defenders. 
7. Ben Folami (99) 20 years old, Ipswich Town - Having made his Championship debut 2 years ago - injury has halted his progress, but he's back - and looking to break back into Ipswich's first team. 
8. John Iredale (99) 20 years old, Wolfsburg - Another player cruelled by injury. Having moved to Wolfsburg from Heerenveen - he banged in goals for Wolfsburg's second team in Germany's 4th tier, and would likely be in the Olyroos squad was it not for injury.  
9. Luke Ivanovic (00) 19 years old, Sydney FC - A genuinely talented forward whose progress has been halted by injury and the presence of ALF and Kosta in equal measure. Scored with consistency in pre season and maybe needs a loan or transfer if he is to progress. 
10. Marco Tilio (01) 18 years old, Sydney FC - A seriously talented winger who has technique and skill in abundance, and scored goals in abundance for the Young Socceroos at the AFF Championship. Could be in for regular HAL minutes during the ACL period. 
11. Mirza Muratovic (00) 20 years old, Brisbane Roar - A consistent goalscorer for Roar in the Y-League, and has looked like a technically gifted and intelligent striker during his regular starts for Fowler's Roar. 
12. Mo Adam (00) 19 years old, Western Sydney - Burst out of nowhere, scoring goals in preseason with pace and directness. Remains to be seen how WSW's new coach will view him. Full of raw potential. 
13. Dylan Ruiz Diaz (01) 18 years old, Central Coast - Signed a scholarship contract with CCM, presumably as a replacement for Sam Silvera. Is skilful and has scored bags and bags of goals at all levels - see his halfway strike vs. Guangzhou Evergrande for WSW. 

great thread should really be stickied so we can look at the progress.

i would have caleb watts higher on the list because he is probably playing a higher level then the a league players 

From the little I have seen of Izaack Powell, I have been impressed.

Thanks. Yeah - he should be higher - just wanted a balance between raw talent and game time. Playing at a very high level at such a young age is seriously impressive. 

Likewise. He’s great going forward. 

Agree on Caleb Watts, I hope he gets a loan to a lower division during January or joins the senior squad on their preseason tours.

I'd add some european based youth players who might be unlucky missing out:
Jacob Young - Hoffenheim u/23 - hasnt played that much in his first season there but was highly rated at Sunderland.
Cameron McGilp is now regularly coming off the bench for Swindon - the top team in League 2.
Marlee Francois - supposedly impressing in Bristol City's u/18 team
Aydan Hammond - Tristan Hammond's brother.. Only 15 and following the same academy pathways as his younger brother and also knocking in the goals at youth level. Will be exciting to see him play for the joeys

Great job SA some great talent there. Dylan Pierias looks like he's move more as a winger/wing back rather then a full back. 

The only one I think would make it is McGilp and he’s born in 1998 so just misses out. The others are doing well but when stacked up against some of the players here don’t really cut it. 

Agree - but I think if he stays at WUFC he’ll probably play at wing back like Pain 

Great list, I remembered the last one a couple of years too.

Good to see another thread dedicated to the next gen, keep it up! 

From the next match of Joeys I would include the likes of Segicic, Bernardo Olivera and Josh Rawlins. 

Plenty of talent that's out there in the Y-league and NPL space as well.

Australia doesn't have a problem with talent, plenty of players out there.

Yep. Those 3 are the clear standouts. But it’s hard to compare a 15 year old with a 21 year old, hence why they’re not here. Otherwise at least Rawlins and Segecic would be in here. 

Not sure how Segicic's trail at Ajax went, but apparently he was training with the Croatia u16s over the Christmas break.

Oliveira? I have a feeling we will be hearing his name quite often in the Australian football circles.

Rawlins is already with the Perth Glory y-league set up and he looks another player that could easily go up the ranks.

Great thread, thank you. The importance of qualifying for the Olympics can’t be exaggerated. The boost in development any player will get from that opportunity would be huge. In part, it would compensate for the lack of opportunity in our very small A-League.  Fingers crossed. 

Ryan Teague's move to Famalicao is a testament to his talent. Big things to come. 

Missing a few gks, delianov, freke, bilokapic, gauci

I'd argue only Delianov gets in that list - maybe Freke. The others simply haven't done enough - Bilokapic wasn't even called up to the Young Socceroos camp last month. 

some of these could probably change genaru is not really a starter at city, 

Lesiotis is a starter at Victory now. He playing predominately as a DM at the moment.

surely Mohammed Toure at Adelaide has to be added to that list ? 15 ? astonishing !

I see a few have made the list a couple of times and they're developing accordingly. Fairly decent success rate so far but need a few more years to see.