2023–24 Western United FC season

The 2023–24 season is the fifth in the history of Western United Football Club.

Western United
2023–24 season
ChairmanJason Sourasis
ManagerJohn Aloisi
StadiumMars Stadium
A-League Men3rd
Australia CupQuarter-finals
Top goalscorerLeague:
Noah Botic
Lachlan Wales
(1 each)
All:
Lachlan Wales (3)
Biggest win4–0
vs. Edgeworth FC (A)
(9 August 2023)
Australia Cup
Biggest defeat0–3
vs. Sydney FC (A)
(17 September 2023)
Australia Cup
All statistics correct as of 21 October 2023.

Players

First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Australia AUS Tom Heward-Belle
4 DF Australia AUS James Donachie
6 DF Japan JPN Tomoki Imai (vice-captain)
7 FW Australia AUS Ramy Najjarine
8 FW Australia AUS Lachlan Wales
9 FW Australia AUS Michael Ruhs
10 MF Australia AUS Steven Lustica (vice-captain)
11 MF Brazil BRA Daniel Penha (on loan from Atlético Mineiro)
13 FW Australia AUS Nikita Rukavytsya
17 DF Australia AUS Ben Garuccio
19 DF Australia AUS Josh Risdon (captain)
21 MF Australia AUS Sebastian Pasquali
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 DF Australia AUS Kane Vidmar (scholarship)
24 DF Australia AUS Connor O'Toole
27 DF Australia AUS Jacob Tratt
32 MF Australia AUS Angus Thurgate
33 GK Australia AUS Matt Sutton
38 FW Australia AUS Noah Botic
39 MF Australia AUS Matthew Grimaldi (scholarship)
41 FW Australia AUS Oliver Lavale
42 MF Australia AUS Rhys Bozinovski
49 FW Australia AUS Jake Najdovski
70 GK Australia AUS Michael Vonja (scholarship)
77 MF Japan JPN Riku Danzaki

Transfers

Transfers in
No. Position Player Transferred from Type/fee Contract length Date Ref.
32MF Angus Thurgate Unattached Free 3 years 17 May 2023 [1]
1GK Tom Heward-Belle Unattached Free 2 years 14 June 2023 [2][3]
33GK Matt Sutton Unattached Free 2 years 14 June 2023 [2][3]
4DF James Donachie Sydney FC Free 2 years 4 July 2023 [4]
22DF Kane Vidmar Adelaide United NPL Free 2 year scholarship 6 July 2023 [5]
11MF Brazil Daniel Penha Brazil Atlético Mineiro Loan 1 year 19 July 2023 [6]
77MF Japan Riku Danzaki Scotland Motherwell Free transfer 2 years 24 July 2023 [7]
13FW Nikita Rukavytsya Unattached Free transfer 1 year 27 September 2023 [8]

From youth squad
N
 Pos.
 Nat.
 Name
 Age
 Notes
39 MF Australia Matthew Grimaldi20 2 year scholarship contract[9]
41 FW Australia Oliver Lavale18 senior contract[10]
70 GK Australia Michael Vonja17 scholarship contract[11]

Transfers out
No. Position Player Transferred to Type/fee Date Ref
44DF Nikolai Topor-Stanley Retired 19 April 2023 [12]
23MF Italy Alessandro Diamanti Retired 24 April 2023 [13]
1GK England Jamie Young Unattached End of contract 8 May 2023 [14]
4DF Switzerland Léo Lacroix Unattached End of contract 8 May 2023 [14]
7MF Mali Tongo Doumbia Unattached End of contract 8 May 2023 [14]
14MF James Troisi Unattached End of contract 8 May 2023 [14]
31FW Adisu Bayew Unattached End of contract 8 May 2023 [14]
33DF Ben Collins Unattached End of contract 8 May 2023 [14]
36DF Ajak Deu Unattached End of contract 8 May 2023 [14]
37GK Ryan Scott Unattached End of contract 8 May 2023 [14]
88MF Neil Kilkenny Unattached End of contract 8 May 2023 [14]
5MF Dylan Pierias Unattached End of contract 16 May 2023 [15][16]
11FW Connor Pain Saudi Arabia Al-Orobah Undisclosed 8 July 2023 [17]
99FW Serbia Aleksandar Prijović Unattached Mutual contract termination 27 September 2023 [18]

Contract extensions
No.NamePositionDurationDateNotesRef.
21Sebastian PasqualiMidfielder1 year31 May 2023[19]
49Jake NajdovskiForward2 years22 September 2023Contract extended from end of 2023–24 until end of 2025–26.[20]
6Japan Tomoki ImaiCentral defender2 years6 October 2023Contract extended from end of 2023–24 until end of 2025–26.[21]

Pre-season and friendlies

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

2 August 2023 Western United 3–1 Melbourne City Melbourne
12:30 AEST
  • Danzaki 13'
  • Bisetto 95'
  • Najdovski 104'
 Report
Stadium: The Hangar
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Note: Match was played over three 45-minute periods
23 August 2023 Melbourne City 1–0 Western United Melbourne
AEST
Report Stadium: Casey Fields
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
2 September 2023 Brisbane Roar 3–1 Western United Logan
12:30 AEST
Report
  • Bisetto 44'
 Stadium: Meakin Park
2 October 2023 Western United 2–1 Western Sydney Wanderers Melbourne
 Report
Stadium: The Hangar
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
12 October 2023 Adelaide United 0–0 Western United Adelaide
Report Stadium: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)

Competitions

Overall record
Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
A-League Men 21 October 2023 28 April 2024 Matchday 1 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 100.00
Australia Cup 9 August 2023 17 September 2023 Round of 32 Quarter-finals 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 066.67
Total 4 3 0 1 8 4 +4 075.00

Last updated: 21 October 2023
Source: Soccerway

A-League Men
Main article: 2023–24 A-League Men

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Adelaide United 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 3 Qualification for AFC Champions League Elite and Finals series
2 Melbourne Victory 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 3 Qualification for Finals series[lower-alpha 1]
3 Western United 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 3
4 Newcastle Jets 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 1[lower-alpha 2]
5 Perth Glory 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 1[lower-alpha 2]
Updated to match(es) played on 22 October 2023. Source: Keepup.com.au
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) wins; 3) goal difference; 4) goals scored; 5) head-to-head results; 6) Fair Play points; 7) away goal difference; 8) away goals per match; 9) home goal difference; 10) home goals per match; 11) toss of a coin in an event of a tie of two clubs.[22]
Notes:
  1. The top two teams enter the finals series at the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third to sixth enter the finals series at the elimination-finals.
  2. Fair play points: Newcastle Jets –1, Perth Glory –2.

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
1 1 0 0 2 1  +1 3 0 0 0 0 0  0 1 0 0 2 1  +1

Last updated: 21 October 2023.
Source: Ultimate A-League

Results by round
Round123456789101127131415161718192021222324252612
GroundAAAHHHAHAAHNHHHAHAHAHAHHAAA
ResultW
Position3
Points3
Updated to match(es) played on 21 October 2023. Source: Ultimate A-League
A = Away; H = Home; N = Neutral; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

21 October 2023 1 Melbourne City 1–2 Western United Melbourne
17:30 AEDT
Report
Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 10,089
Referee: Jack Morgan
28 October 2023 2 Western Sydney Wanderers v Western United Sydney
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: CommBank Stadium
4 November 2023 3 Macarthur FC v Western United Sydney
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: Campbelltown Stadium
11 November 2023 4 Western United v Newcastle Jets Ballarat
15:30 AEDT Report Stadium: Mars Stadium
26 November 2023 5 Western United v Adelaide United Ballarat
17:00 AEDT Report Stadium: Mars Stadium
2 December 2023 6 Western United v Wellington Phoenix Ballarat
15:30 AEDT Report Stadium: Mars Stadium
8 December 2023 7 Central Coast Mariners v Western United Gosford
19:45 AEDT Report Stadium: Industree Group Stadium
16 December 2023 8 Western United v Brisbane Roar TBC
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: TBC
23 December 2023 9 Sydney FC v Western United Sydney
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: Allianz Stadium
30 December 2023 10 Newcastle Jets v Western United Newcastle
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium
7 January 2024 11 Western United v Melbourne City TBC
17:00 AEDT Report Stadium: TBC
12 January 2024 27 Macarthur FC v Western United Sydney
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: CommBank Stadium
20 January 2024 13 Western United v Adelaide United TBC
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: TBC
27 January 2024 14 Western United v Western Sydney Wanderers TBC
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: TBC
3 February 2024 15 Western United v Sydney FC TBC
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: TBC
10 February 2024 16 Wellington Phoenix v Western United Wellington
17:30 NZDT Report Stadium: Sky Stadium
17 February 2024 17 Western United v Newcastle Jets TBC
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: TBC
23 February 2024 18 Brisbane Roar v Western United Brisbane
18:45 AEDT Report Stadium: Suncorp Stadium
2 March 2024 19 Western United v Perth Glory TBC
17:30 AEDT Report Stadium: TBC
8 March 2024 20 Western Sydney Wanderers v Western United Sydney
19:45 AEDT Report Stadium: CommBank Stadium
16 March 2024 21 Western United v Melbourne Victory TBC
19:45 AEDT Report Stadium: TBC
29 March 2024 22 Adelaide United v Western United Adelaide
19:15 ACDT Report Stadium: Coopers Stadium
6 April 2024 23 Western United v Macarthur FC TBC
TBC Report Stadium: TBC
13 April 2024 24 Western United v Central Coast Mariners TBC
TBC Report Stadium: TBC
21 April 2024 25 Perth Glory v Western United Perth
TBC Report Stadium: HBF Park
28 April 2024 26 Melbourne City v Western United Melbourne
TBC Report Stadium: AAMI Park
29 April 2024 12 Melbourne Victory v Western United Melbourne
TBC AEST Report Stadium: AAMI Park

Australia Cup
Main article: 2023 Australia Cup

  Win   Draw   Loss

9 August 2023 Round of 32 Edgeworth FC New South Wales 0–4 Western United Newcastle
19:30 AEST Report
Stadium: Jack McLaughlan Oval
Attendance: 1,275
Referee: Daniel Cook
30 August 2023 Round of 16 Gold Coast Knights Queensland 0–2 Western United Gold Coast
19:30 AEST Report
  • Walker 72' (o.g.)
  • Grimaldi 90+4'
 Stadium: Croatian Sports Centre
Attendance: 910
Referee: Adam Kersey
17 September 2023 Quarter-finals Sydney FC 3–0 Western United Sydney
15:00 AEST
Report Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
Referee: Casey Reibelt

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.

As of 21 October 2023
No. Pos. Nat. Player A-League Men Australia Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Australia Tom Heward-Belle 10 30 40
4 DF Australia James Donachie 00 30 30
6 DF Japan Tomoki Imai 10 30 40
7 FW Australia Ramy Najjarine 0+10 0+10 20
8 FW Australia Lachlan Wales 11 32 43
9 FW Australia Michael Ruhs 0+10 31 41
10 MF Australia Steven Lustica 10 0+20 30
11 MF Brazil Daniel Penha 10 0+10 20
17 DF Australia Ben Garuccio 10 30 40
19 DF Australia Josh Risdon 10 30 40
21 MF Australia Sebastian Pasquali 00 20 20
24 DF Australia Connor O'Toole 0+10 00 10
27 DF Australia Jacob Tratt 10 0+20 30
32 MF Australia Angus Thurgate 10 30 40
35 MF Australia Max Bisetto 00 0+20 20
38 FW Australia Noah Botic 11 1+11 32
39 MF Australia Matthew Grimaldi 00 0+21 20
41 FW Australia Oliver Lavale 00 20 20
49 FW Australia Jake Najdovski 00 0+10 10
77 MF Japan Riku Danzaki 10 30 40

Disciplinary record

Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.

As of 21 October 2023
Rank No. Pos. Nat. Name A-League Men Australia Cup Total
Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card
1 19 DF Australia Josh Risdon 100 200 300
2 4 DF Australia James Donachie 000 100 100
6 DF Japan Tomoki Imai 000 100 100
9 FW Australia Michael Ruhs 000 100 100
11 MF Brazil Daniel Penha 100 000 100
Total 200 500 700

Clean sheets

Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start and end of play. Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.

As of 21 October 2023
Rank No. Nat. Goalkeeper A-League Men Australia Cup Total
1 1 Australia Tom Heward-Belle 02 2
Total022

References
  1. Hughes, Nick (17 May 2023). "Star midfielder Angus Thurgate joins Western United". Western United.
  2. Hughes, Nick (14 June 2023). "Western United sign new goalkeeper duo Thomas Heward-Belle and Matthew Sutton". Western United.
  3. Western United [@wufcofficial] (14 June 2023). "They'll be ours to 'keep' until 2025" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. Alsop, Chloe (4 July 2023). "United bolster A-League Men defence signing Centre Back James Donachie". Western United.
  5. Alsop, Chloe (6 July 2023). "Western sign Young Socceroo Kane Vidmar on scholarship". Western United.
  6. Alsop, Chloe (19 July 2023). "Brazilian star Daniel Penha signs with United ahead of his A-League return". Western United.
  7. Hughes, Nick (24 July 2023). "Trickery intensified at Western United with Riku Danzaki coup". Western United.
  8. Hughes, Nick (27 September 2023). "Socceroos ace Nikita Rukavytsya adds firepower to Western United attack". Western United.
  9. Hughes, Nick (28 August 2023). "Young gun Matthew Grimaldi signs pro deal at Western United". Western United.
  10. Hughes, Nick (17 October 2023). "Oliver Lavale goes from fan to pro footballer at Western United". Western United.
  11. Hughes, Nick (24 October 2023). "Joey's goalkeeper Michael Vonja building his legacy at hometown club". Western United.
  12. Monteverde, Marco (19 April 2023). "Veteran defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley calls time on his decorated A-League career". news.com.au.
  13. Monteverde, Marco (25 April 2023). "Western United's Italian star Alessandro Diamanti to hang up his boots". news.com.au.
  14. "Western United announces unretained Isuzu Ute A-League players". Western United. 8 May 2023.
  15. Hughes, Nick (16 May 2023). "Dylan Pierias to depart Western United". Western United.
  16. Murray, Tara (17 May 2023). "Pierias leaves Western United". Brimbank & North West.
  17. Alsop, Chloe (8 July 2023). "United agree transfer for Pain to Saudi Arabia". Western United.
  18. "Western United and Aleksandar Prijović part ways". Western United. 27 September 2023.
  19. Hughes, Nick (31 May 2023). "Young midfield ace Sebastian Pasquali re-signs with Western United". Western United.
  20. Hughes, Nick (22 September 2023). "Jake Najdovski commits his future to Western United". Western United.
  21. Hughes, Nick (6 October 2023). "Western United icon Tomoki Imai here to stay in the West". Western United.
  22. "Competition rules".
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