I’ve been obsessed with this topic for over a decade.
In the Golden Generation, we were insanely lucky to have a quick succession of elite strikers like Viduka, Aloisi, Kennedy and Cahill.
As they started retiring we all expected someone else to come along. But it’s been 10-15 years and still nothing close to comparable.
I’ve just been suggesting in another thread that this new generation of players coming through is a cut above the quality of youth we saw in last 10-15 years. However, the clear and obvious weakness is still the #9 Striker position. There’s certainly a lot more potential than we’ve seen since the golden gen. But no one stands out as an obvious superstar.
So, I decided to channel my Australian Striker search obsession into this analysis and see what really are our options + what do the stats tell us?
Note on stats: I don’t beleive in including penalty kicks in goal stats. So all goalscoring stats are excluding PK’s.
1) New generation natural Striker options:
So many young strikers have at least started getting game time. So there’s a lot to consider, but so far no clear stand out favourites.
Kusini Yengi
Age: 24.8
Height: 6'2
Summary: Looked promising in the A-League and has upped it during his short stint for Portsmouth in League One which has earned his first cap for the Socceroos. Physically strong and fast player. Fingers crossed he can maintain this level of productivity and convert it to higher levels of play.
2023-24 | League One: Portsmouth | 136 minutes | 2 Goals | 0 Assists | 1.32 Goals/90 | 1.32 G+A/90
2022-23 | A-League: WSW | 827 minutes | 4 goals | 2 Assists | 0.44 Goals/90 | 0.65 G+A/90
2021-22 | A-Leauge: Adelaide Utd | 386 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 0.23 Goals/90 | 0.23 G+A/90
2020-21 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 760 minutes | 4 Goals | 2 Assists | 0.47 Goals/90 | 0.71 G+A/90
John Iredale
Age: 24.3
Height: 6'2
Summary: Been kicking around Europe on our radar for years. Finally made it to a good level at 2. Bundesliga, but yet to score a goal.
2023-24 | 2. Bundesliga: Wehen | 277 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2022-23 | 3. Liga: Wehen | 912 minutes | 6 Goals | 1 Assist | 0.59 Goals/90 | 0.69 G+A/90
2021-22 | 3. Liga: Wehen | 390 minutes | 3 Goals | 0 assists | 0.69 Goal/90 | 0.69 G+A/90
Al Hassan Toure
Age: 23.5
Height: 6’1
Summary: Included more for comparison sake with his younger brothers further below.
2023-24 | Turkish 2nd Div | 483 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2022-23 | A-League: Macarthur | 1259 minutes | 3 Goals | 5 Assists | 0.21 Goals/90 | 0.57 G+A/90
2021-22 | A-League: Macarthur | 825 minutes | 2 Goals | 2 Assists | 0.22 Goals/90 | 0.44 G+A/90
2020-21 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 555 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2019-20 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 633 minutes | 2 Goals | 1 Assist | 0.28 Goals/90 | 0.43 G+A/90
Alou Kuol
Age: 22.3
Height: 6'0
Summary: Promising start to his career but went to Europe early where it didn’t work out for him. Since overshadowed by his younger brother in midfield, but has plenty of time to get himself back on track and compete for National Team selection.
2023-24 | A-League: CCM | 214 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 0.42 Goals/90
2022-23 | Bundesliga: Stuttgart | 5 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2021-22 | 2. Bundeslinga: Sandhausen | 11 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2020-21 | A-League: CCM | 911 minutes | 7 Goals | 2 Assists | 0.69 Goals/90 | 0.89 G+A/90
Noah Botic
Age: 20.8
Height: 6'0
Summary: Currently first choice striker for the Olyroos which means he’s highly rated by Australian management, despite a poor start to this season for both Noah and his team.
2023-24 | A-League: Western Utd | 274 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2022-23 | A-League: Western Utd | 879 minutes | 6 Goals | 0 Assists | 0.60 Goals/90 | 0.60 G+A/90
2021-22 | A-Leauge: Western Utd | 23 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
Mohamed Toure
Age: 19.6
Height: 6’1
Summary: To some people, Mohamed is out most promising future Striking talent. His stats below on the A-League and Ligue 2 speak for themselves. Physical thread and has a knack for goal. But can he get more game time in France, be consistent and step up to a higher level of play?
2023-24 | Ligue 2: Paris FC | 146 minutes | 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 0.62 Goals/90 | 1.23 G+A/90
2022-23 | Ligue 1: Reims | 23 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2021-22 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 475 minutes | 3 Goals | 0 Assists | 0.57 Goals/90 | 0.57 G+A/90
2020-21 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 357 minutes | 3 Goals | 1 Assist | 0.76 Goals/90 | 1.01 G+A/90
2019-20 | A-Leauge: Adelaide Utd | 150 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 0.60 Goals/90 | 0.60 G+A/90
Archie Goodwin
Age: 19.0
Height: 5’10
Summary: Prolific goalscoring at youth level and seemlessly adapting to Senior level. Already clinical numbers infront of goal. One to watch as he starts to get more minutes.
2023-24 | A-League: Newcastle Jets | 0 minutes
2022-23 | A-League: Newcastle Jets | 144 minutes | 2 Goals | 0 Assists | 1.25 Goals/90 | 1.25 G+A/90
2021-22 | A-League: Newcastle Jets | 175 minutes | 2 Goals | 0 Assists | 1.03 Goals/90 | 1.03 G+A/90
2020-21 | A-League: Newcastle Jets | 298 minutes | 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 0.30 Goals/90 | 0.60 G+A/90
Thomas Waddingham
Age: 18.6
Height: ?
Summary: Brand new senior debutant who's off to a promising start to his career.
2023-24 | A-League: Brisbane Roar | 202 minutes | 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 0.45 Goals/90 | 0.89 G+A/90
Luka Jovanovic
Age: 18.5
Height: 5’9
Summary: Showed he has a knack for goal last season with 3 goals at only 17 years old.
2023-24 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 45 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2022-23 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 372 minutes | 3 Goals | 0 Assists | 0.72 Goals/90 | 0.72 G+A/90
Max Caputo
Age: 18.3
Height: 5’10
Summary: Young debutant Striker with a goal to his name in a small number of minutes.
2023-24 | A-League: Melbourne City | 47 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2022-23 | A-League: Melbourne City | 12 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 7.5 Goals/90 | 7.5 G+A/90 (LOL)
Musa Toure
Age: 18.0
Height: 6’0
Summary: Youngest of the Toure brothers and the most technically gifted of the three. His 1.5 years older brother Mohamed is still ahead, but definitely has potential to overtake him. Some call Musa the most talented brother.
2023-24 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 119 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 0.76 Goals/90 | 0.76 G+A/902022-23 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 17 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
Mitchell Glasson
Age: 17.5
Height: 5’11
Summary: Main Striker for the U-17 Joeys and recently debuted in the A-Leauge.
2023-24 | A-League: Sydney FC | 48 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
Rylan Brownlie
Age: 16.7
Height: 5’10
Summary: Youngest Striker getting minutes in the league so far this season.
2023-24 | A-League: Brisbane Roar | 95 minutes | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
2) Convert a Winger/Attacking mid:
The great thing about this new generation is we seem to have a plethora of talented wingers/attacking mids coming through. Either way I’d expect most our goals to be coming from midfield and the wings.
If we’re lacking a quality target man and have too many talented wingers/attacking mids, then who can do a job in the #9 position?
Marco Tilio
Age 22.3
Height: 5’7
Summary: One player possibly suited to play as false 9 due to his strength, low centre of gravity and productivity around goal. Was dominant in the A-League. Even though he hasn’t got a shot at Celtic yet, I expect he’ll make a name for himself there with time.
2023-24 | SPL: Celtic | 0 minutes
2022-23 | A-League: Melbourne City | 1814 minutes | 9 Goals | 5 Assists | 0.45 Goals/90 | 0.69 G+A/90
2021-22 | A-League: Melbourne City | 1254 minutes | 4 Goals | 4 Assists | 0.29 Goals/90 | 0.57 G+A/90
2020-21 | A-League: Melbourne City | 848 minutes | 1 Goal | 4 Assists | 0.11 Goals/90 | 0.42 G+A/90
2019-20 | A-League: Sydney FC | 12 minutes | 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 7.5 Goals/90 | 15.0 G+A/90 (LOL)
Cristian Volpato
Age: 20.0
Height: 6’2
Summary: Playing at a very high level at his age and hugely hyped. I haven’t seen him play apart from youtube, but I assume from his height and productvitiy stats that he could play at #9 in a pinch. Big cavaet is that he needs to choose to represent us.
2023-24 | Serie A: Sassuolo | 167 minutes | 0 Goals | 1 Assist | 0.0 Goals/90 | 0.54 G+A/90
2022-23 | Serie A: Roma | 399 minutes | 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 0.23 Goals/90 | 0.45 G+A/90
2021-22 | Serie A: Roma | 38 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 2.37 Goals/90 | 2.37 G+A/90
Bernardo Oliveira
Age: 19.7
Height: 5’7
Summary: Great numbers infront of goal for a player his age and position (on the wing).
2023-24 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 129 minutes | 2 Goals | 2 Assists | 1.4 Goals/90 | 2.79 G+A/90
2022-23 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 0 minutes
2021-22 | A-League: Adelaide Utd| 984 minutes | 2 Goals | 2 Assists | 0.18 Goals/90 | 0.37 G+A/90
Garang Kuol
Age: 19.2
Height: 5'9
Summary: Prolific in the A-League from a very young age putting him in the conversation. A much less productive start adapting to European leagues, but playing reguarly in the Eredivisue is great to see.
2023-34 | Eredivisie: Voldendam | 547 minutes | 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 0.17 Goals/90 | 0.33 G+A/90
2022-23 | SPL: Hearts | 203 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 0.44 Goals/90 | 0.44 G+A/90
2021-22 | A-League: CCM | 153 minutes | 4 Goals | 1 Assist | 2.35 Goals/90 | 2.94 G+A/90
2020-21 | A-League: CCM | 911 minutes | 7 Goals | 2 Assists | 0.69 Goals/90 | 0.89 G+A/90
Nesteroy Irankunda
Age: 17.7
Height: 5'9
Summary: Most hyped youngster currently. Amazing goal scoring rates per 90 at only 16/17 years old in the A-League. Off to a little club named Bayern Munich to continue his development. His level of productivity infront of goal makes him worth mentioning in this conversation.
2023-24 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 234 minutes | 1 Goal | 0 Assists | 0.38 Goals/90 | 0.38 G+A/90
2022-23 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 508 minutes | 5 Goals | 2 Assists | 0.89 Goals/90 | 1.24 G+A/90
2021-22 | A-League: Adelaide Utd | 193 minutes | 3 Goals | 0 Assists | 1.39 Goals/90 | 1.39 G+A/90
3) Hold onto the current older generation options:
Hopefully the 2026 World Cup doesn’t come to this, but there’s been no signs of moving on from these guys just yet.
Mitchell Duke
Age: 32.8
Height: 6’0
Summary: Currently our best option who should lead us into the Asian Cup. Not much of a goal threat, but great at playing target man, holding up the ball, combination play and bringing others into the game.
He’ll be turning 33 during the Asian cup. So if we’re still holding onto him as our best option by the time 2026 World Cup rolls around then we’re in trouble.
Jamie Maclaren
Age: 30.4
Height: 5’10
Summary: Brilliant at exploiting defensive mistakes and converting counter attacks. However, agianst a well structured defence who don’t give him space, he just gets outmuscled everytime. Good for qualification, but not what we should be holding onto if our aim is to get into the knockout stages of the 2026 world cup.
Brandon Borello
Age: 28.3
Height: 5’10
Summary: Not a natural striker, but shown recently he can do a job there. If no better options come along, he’ll be young enough to be at his best and may get better at the role buy 2026.
Jason Cummings
Age: 28.3
Height: 5’10
Summary: Recent Australian convert who’s more of a natrual Striker and will be young enough. One of the most consistent goalscorers last season in the A-League. A shame he's chosen to cash in by playing in a weaker league at the moment.