2024–25 Western United FC season

Western United
2024–25 season
OwnerWestern Melbourne Group,
Sayers Road Investment Co,
Jaszac Investments - Jason Sourasis,
Theodore Andriopoulos,
Steve Horvat,
Levent Shevki and John Tripodi
Head CoachJohn Aloisi
StadiumIronbark Fields
AAMI Park[1]
A-League Men3rd
A-League Men FinalsSemi-final
Australia CupPlay-offs
Top goalscorerLeague: Noah Botic (12)
All: Noah Botic (16)
Highest home attendance5,263
vs. Melbourne Victory
(1 December 2024)
A-League Men
Lowest home attendance2,476
vs. Central Coast Mariners
(29 January 2025)
A-League Men
Average home league attendance3,644
Biggest win4–0
vs. Auckland FC (A)
(21 December 2024)
A-League Men
Biggest defeat1–4
vs. Newcastle Jets (N)
(24 July 2024)
Australia Cup

0–3
vs. Melbourne City (A)
(16 Nay 2025)
A-League Men finals series
All statistics correct as of 24 May 2025.

The 2024–25 season is Western United Football Club's sixth season in the A-League Men. In addition to the domestic league, Western United also participated in this season's edition of the Australia Cup.

Players

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
4 DF  AUS James Donachie
5 FW  AUS Oliver Lavale (scholarship)
6 DF  JPN Tomoki Imai (vice-captain)
7 FW  AUS Ramy Najjarine
9 FW  JPN Hiroshi Ibusuki
10 MF  AUS Matthew Grimaldi
13 DF  AUS Tate Russell
14 FW  AUS Jake Najdovski
17 DF  AUS Ben Garuccio (captain)
19 FW  AUS Noah Botic
20 FW  AUS Abel Walatee (scholarship)
21 MF  AUS Sebastian Pasquali
22 DF  AUS Kane Vidmar (scholarship)
23 MF  AUS Rhys Bozinovski
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 FW  AUS Michael Ruhs
29 DF  IRQ Charbel Shamoon (scholarship)
30 DF  AUS Dylan Leonard (scholarship)
32 MF  AUS Angus Thurgate
33 GK  AUS Matt Sutton
34 MF  AUS James York (scholarship)
35 GK  AUS Alex Nassiep (scholarship)
37 FW  AUS Luke Vickery (scholarship)
41 DF  AUS Besian Kutleshi (scholarship)
43 DF  AUS Khoder Kaddour (scholarship)
44 MF  AUS Jordan Lauton
47 DF  NZL Luka Coveny (scholarship)
70 GK  AUS Michael Vonja
77 MF  JPN Riku Danzaki

Transfers and contracts

Transfers in

No. Position Name From Type/fee Contract length Date Ref.
9 FW Hiroshi Ibusuki Unattached Free transfer 2 years 21 May 2024 [2]
13 DF Tate Russell Western Sydney Wanderers Free transfer 2 years 14 June 2024 [3]
41 DF Besian Kutleshi Melbourne City NPL Free transfer 3 year scholarship 2 August 2024 [4]

From youth squad

N
Pos.
Nat.
Name
Age
Notes
20 FW Abel Walatee 20 2 year scholarship contract[5][6]
37 FW Luke Vickery 18 2 year scholarship contract[7][6]
43 DF Khoder Kaddour 20 2 year scholarship contract[7][6]
30 DF Dylan Leonard 16 2 year scholarship contract[8][6]
47 DF Luka Coveny 18 2 year scholarship contract[8][6]
34 MF James York 19 scholarship contract[9]
44 MF Jordan Lauton 21 1-year scholarship contract[9]
29 DF Charbel Shamoon 20 1 year scholarship contract[10]
35 GK Alex Nassiep 18 3.5 year scholarship contract[11]

Transfers out

No. Position Name To Type/fee Date Ref.
19 DF Josh Risdon Unattached End of contract 8 May 2024 [12]
10 MF Steven Lustica Unattached End of contract 10 May 2024 [13]
13 FW Nikita Rukavytsya Unattached End of contract [14]
24 DF Connor O'Toole Unattached End of contract [14]
27 DF Jacob Tratt Unattached End of contract [14]
8 FW Lachlan Wales Gyeongnam FC End of contract 28 June 2024 [15][16]
11 MF Daniel Penha Atlético Mineiro End of loan 12 July 2024 [17]
1 GK Tom Heward-Belle Montedio Yamagata Undisclosed 18 January 2025 [18]

Contract extensions

No. Name Position Duration Date Notes Ref.
21 Sebastian Pasquali Central midfielder 2 years 11 June 2024 [19]
23 Rhys Bozinovski Defensive midfielder 3 years 9 September 2024 New 3-year contract, replacing previous contract which was until end of 2024–25 [20]
44 Jordan Lauton Central midfielder 2 years 27 January 2025 Contract extended from end of 2024–25 to end of 2026–27. [21]
33 Matt Sutton Goalkeeper 2 years 5 February 2025 Contract extended from end of 2024–25 to end of 2026–27. [22]

Pre-season and friendlies

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

3 August 2024 Western United 8–0 St Albans Saints Melbourne
11:10 AEST
  • Thurgate ?'
  • ? ?' (o.g.)
  • Najdovski ?'
  • Vickery ?', ?'
  • Walatee ?'
  • Koek ?'
  • M. Leonard ?'
Report Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
22 August 2024 Western United 1–2 Caroline Springs George Cross Melbourne
19:00 AEST
Report
  • ? 7'
  • ? 71'
Stadium: City Vista Recreation Reserve
30 August 2024 Port Melbourne 1–1 Western United Melbourne
19:30 AEST
  • ? 21'
Report
  • Obani 83'
Stadium: JL Murphy Reserve
14 September 2024 Western United 2–0 Melbourne City Melbourne
11:00 AEST
Report Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
25 September 2024 Western United 1–2 Auckland FC Melbourne
13:00 AEST
  • Lavale 23'
Report
Stadium: Ironbark Fields
6 October 2024 Melbourne City 1–1 Western United Melbourne
Report Stadium: Casey Fields
11 October 2024 Western United 3–1 Melbourne Victory Melbourne
Report
Stadium: Ironbark Fields
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 20 October 2024 3 May 2025 Matchday 1 3rd 26 14 5 7 55 37 +18 053.85
A-League Men final series 9 May 2025 24 May 2025 Elimination final Semi-finals 3 1 1 1 4 6 −2 033.33
Australia Cup 24 July 2024 Play-offs Play-offs 1 0 0 1 1 4 −3 000.00
Total 30 15 6 9 60 47 +13 050.00

Last updated: 24 May 2025
Source: Competitions

A-League Men

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Auckland FC[a] 26 15 8 3 49 27 +22 53 Qualification for Finals series[b]
2 Melbourne City (C) 26 14 6 6 41 25 +16 48 Qualification for AFC Champions League Elite and Finals series
3 Western United 26 14 5 7 55 37 +18 47 Qualification for Finals series[b]
4 Western Sydney Wanderers 26 13 7 6 58 40 +18 46
5 Melbourne Victory 26 12 7 7 44 36 +8 43
Source: A-Leagues
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) wins; 5) head-to-head results; 5a) head-to-head points; 5b) head-to-head goal difference; 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.[23]
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for Asian Football Confederation competitions as they are based in New Zealand, which is part of the Oceania Football Confederation.
  2. ^ a b 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.

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
26 14 5 7 55 37  +18 47 7 3 3 23 14  +9 7 2 4 32 23  +9

Last updated: 3 May 2025.
Source: Ultimate A-League
Away figures include Western United's 3–1 win on neutral ground in Unite Round against Perth Glory on 22 November 2024.

Results by round

Round1234567891011121713151614181920212223242526272829
GroundAHHANHHAAHBAAAHBHAHHAHABHAAHH
ResultDDLLWLDWWWXWLWWXDDLWWWWXWLLWW
Position681011910108656655454353222223333
Points12225569121515181821242425262629323538384141414447
Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 2025. Source: Ultimate A-League
A = Away; H = Home; N = Neutral; B = Bye; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; X = Bye

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

20 October 2024 1 Wellington Phoenix 1–1 Western United Wellington
16:00 NZDT Report Stadium: Sky Stadium
Attendance: 7,535
Referee: Adam Kersey
27 October 2024 2 Western United 1–1 Western Sydney Wanderers Melbourne
16:00 AEDT
Report Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 4,207
Referee: Alireza Faghani
4 November 2024 3 Western United 0–1 Melbourne City Melbourne
19:00 AEDT Report
Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 4,325
Referee: Ben Abraham
9 November 2024 4 Adelaide United 2–1 Western United Adelaide
19:05 ACDT
Report
Stadium: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 10,166
Referee: Daniel Elder
Note: Originally scheduled for 20:00, the match was brought forward 55 minutes.[24]
22 November 2024 5 Perth Glory 1–3 Western United Sydney
17:30 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Allianz Stadium
Attendance: 2,425
Referee: Alireza Faghani
1 December 2024 6 Western United 1–3 Melbourne Victory Melbourne
19:35 AEDT
Report Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 5,263
Referee: Adam Bavcar
7 December 2024 7 Western United 0–0 Macarthur FC Melbourne
18:00 AEDT Report Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 2,867
Referee: Alex King
14 December 2024 8 Sydney FC 3–4 Western United Sydney
17:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Allianz Stadium
Attendance: 11,757
Referee: Jack Morgan
21 December 2024 9 Auckland FC 0–4 Western United Auckland
17:00 NZDT Report
Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 13,681
Referee: Casey Reibelt
29 December 2024 10 Western United 1–0 Brisbane Roar Melbourne
17:00 AEDT
Report Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 4,187
Referee: Alex King
3 January 2025 12 Perth Glory 2–3 Western United Perth
18:45 AWST Report
Stadium: HBF Park
Attendance: 4,564
Referee: Ben Abraham
7 January 2025 17 Melbourne City 2–0 Western United Melbourne
18:00 AEDT
Report Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 5,018
Referee: Adam Bavcar
10 January 2025 13 Melbourne Victory 3–4 Western United Melbourne
19:35 AEDT
Report
Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 11,657
Referee: Adam Kersey
17 January 2025 15 Western United 3–1 Newcastle Jets Melbourne
17:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 3,430
Referee: Adam Bavcar
29 January 2025 14 Western United 2–2 Central Coast Mariners Melbourne
19:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 2,476
Referee: Daniel Elder
9 February 2025 18 Macarthur FC 2–2 Western United Sydney
17:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Attendance: 3,627
Referee: Casey Reibelt
15 February 2025 19 Western United 0–2 Auckland FC Melbourne
18:00 AEDT Report
Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 3,862
Referee: Tim Danaskos
23 February 2025 20 Western United 3–0 Adelaide United Tarneit
17:00 AEDT
Report Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 2,982
Referee: Shaun Evans
28 February 2025 21 Central Coast Mariners 1–3 Western United Gosford
19:35 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Industree Group Stadium
Attendance: 4,481
Referee: Ben Abraham
8 March 2025 22 Western United 4–1 Wellington Phoenix Melbourne
18:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 3,993
Referee: Shane Skinner
16 March 2025 23 Newcastle Jets 2–6 Western United Newcastle
17:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium
Attendance: 5,816
Referee: Daniel Elder
5 April 2025 25 Western United 3–1 Perth Glory Melbourne
18:00 AEDT Report
Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 3,781
Referee: Shane Skinner
13 April 2025 26 Western Sydney Wanderers 0–2 Western United Sydney
17:00 AEST
Report Stadium: CommBank Stadium
Attendance: 13,041
Referee: Ben Abraham
17 April 2025 27 Brisbane Roar 2–1 Western United Brisbane
19:35 AEST Report
Stadium: Suncorp Stadium
Attendance: 3,487
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
27 April 2025 28 Western United 1–0 Sydney FC Melbourne
17:00 AEST Report Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 2,886
Referee: Alex King
3 May 2025 29 Western United 4–2 Auckland FC Melbourne
18:00 AEST
Report
Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 3,109
Referee: Daniel Elder

Finals series

Elimination-finals
9 May 2025 Western United 3–2 Adelaide United Melbourne
19:35 AEST
Report
Stadium: Ironbark Fields
Attendance: 3,078
Referee: Alex King
Semi-finals
16 May 2025 First leg Western United 0–3 Melbourne City Melbourne
19:35 AEST Report
Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 5,186
Referee: Shaun Evans
24 May 2025 Second leg Melbourne City 1–1
(4–1 agg.)
Western United Melbourne
19:35 AEST
Report
Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 7,691
Referee: Adam Kersey

Australia Cup

24 July 2024 Play-offs Newcastle Jets 4–1 Western United Darwin
17:25 ACST
Report
Stadium: Larrakia Park
Attendance: 1,238
Referee: Tim Danaskos

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.[25]

As of match played 24 May 2025
No. Pos. Nat. Name A-League Men A-League Men finals series Australia Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
4 DF James Donachie 4+3 0 2 0 1 0 10 0
5 FW Oliver Lavale 3+3 1 0+2 0 1 0 9 1
6 DF Tomoki Imai 24 0 3 0 0 0 27 0
7 FW Ramy Najjarine 1+15 1 0+3 0 0 0 19 1
9 FW Hiroshi Ibusuki 23+1 10 1+2 0 0+1 0 28 10
10 MF Matthew Grimaldi 18+8 5 2+1 0 1 0 30 5
13 DF Tate Russell 22+2 1 1+2 0 1 0 28 1
14 FW Jake Najdovski 0+9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
17 DF Ben Garuccio 14+1 1 3 0 1 0 19 1
19 FW Noah Botic 22+4 12 2+1 4 0 0 29 16
20 FW Abel Walatee 10+9 3 1+2 0 0+1 0 23 3
21 MF Sebastian Pasquali 4+2 0 0 0 1 0 7 0
22 DF Kane Vidmar 3+3 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
23 MF Rhys Bozinovski 22+4 5 3 0 1 0 30 5
24 FW Michael Ruhs 3+14 4 3 0 0 0 20 4
29 DF Charbel Shamoon 13+4 0 0 0 0 0 17 0
30 DF Dylan Leonard 24+1 1 3 0 0 0 28 1
32 MF Angus Thurgate 25 2 3 0 1 0 28 2
33 GK Matt Sutton 26 0 3 0 0 0 29 0
34 MF James York 0+1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
37 FW Luke Vickery 1+11 1 0 0 0 0 12 1
44 MF Jordan Lauton 1+16 1 0+1 0 0+1 0 19 1
47 DF Luka Coveny 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 1 0
48 FW Mark Leonard 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 1 0
77 MF Riku Danzaki 23+3 4 3 0 1 1 30 5
Player(s) transferred out but featured this season
1 GK Tom Heward-Belle 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

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.[25]

As of match played 24 May 2025
Rank No. Pos. Nat. Name A-League Men A-League Men finals series Australia Cup Total
       
1 30 DF Dylan Leonard 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1
2 44 MF Jordan Lauton 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0
3 32 MF Angus Thurgate 7 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 9 0 0
4 24 FW Michael Ruhs 7 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0
5 23 MF Rhys Bozinovski 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0
6 17 DF Ben Garuccio 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0
7 6 DF Tomoki Imai 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0
20 FW Abel Walatee 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0
9 19 FW Noah Botic 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
77 MF Riku Danzaki 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
11 4 DF James Donachie 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
7 FW Ramy Najjarine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
9 FW Hiroshi Ibusuki 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
10 FW Matthew Grimaldi 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
21 MF Sebastian Pasquali 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
22 DF Kane Vidmar 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
37 FW Luke Vickery 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Total 42 1 1 8 0 0 1 0 0 51 1 1

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 of play. Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.

As of match played 24 May 2025
Rank No. Nat. Goalkeeper A-League Men A-League Men finals series Australia Cup Total
1 33 Matt Sutton 3 0 0 3
Total 5 0 0 5

References

  1. ^ "Western United returns to AAMI Park for blockbuster Derbies". Western United. 28 October 2024.
  2. ^ Hughes, Nick (21 May 2024). "Hiroshi Ibusuki bringing firepower for Western United fans in Tarneit". Western United.
  3. ^ Hughes, Nick (14 June 2024). "Explosive defender Tate Russell signs on to the Green & Black". Western United.
  4. ^ "Wonderkid Besian Kutleshi lands at home at Western United". Western United. 2 August 2024.
  5. ^ Hughes, Nick (7 May 2024). "Abel Walatee driving Western United's future with first pro deal". Western United.
  6. ^ a b c d e Anthony Frost [@Anthony__Frost] (8 June 2024). "No problem Vojna Lavale Kaddour Walatee Vickery Coveny D Leonard" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ a b "Two Western United young guns ink first professional terms". Western United. 3 June 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Western United youngsters set the future at the back in Tarneit". Western United. 7 June 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Lauton and York add to thrilling, dynamic young core at Western United". Western United. 23 July 2024.
  10. ^ Hughes, Nick (18 September 2024). "Charbel Shamoon signs professional terms after Western United breakout". Western United.
  11. ^ Hughes, Nick (22 January 2025). "Western United adds Alex Nassiep to talented first team ranks". Western United.
  12. ^ Hughes, Nick (8 May 2024). "Josh Risdon departs Western United as Club Legend". Western United.
  13. ^ "Steven Lustica departs Western United with iconic legacy". Western United. 10 May 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "Western United confirms trio of A-League Men departures". Western United. 10 May 2024.
  15. ^ Hughes, Nick (28 June 2024). "Lachie Wales retains Western United legacy with move overseas". Western United.
  16. ^ Shin In-seop (5 July 2024). "[오피셜] 경남FC, 호주 올림픽대표 출신 래클런 웨일스 영입" [[Official] Gyeongnam FC recruits former Australian Olympic team member Lachlan Wales]. Daum (in Korean).
  17. ^ Hughes, Nick (12 July 2024). "Daniel Penha bids emotional farewell to Western United". Western United.
  18. ^ Hughes, Nick (18 January 2025). "Tom Heward-Belle departs Western United for Japan move". Western United.
  19. ^ Hughes, Nick (11 June 2024). "Sebastian Pasquali becomes Western United's longest-serving player". Western United.
  20. ^ Hughes, Nick (9 September 2024). "Rhys Bozinovski to shine at Ironbark Fields until 2027". Western United.
  21. ^ Hughes, Nick (27 January 2025). "Jordan Lauton making magic in the West for two more years". Western United.
  22. ^ Hughes, Nick (5 February 2025). "Matt Sutton extends at Western United after standout campaign". Western United.
  23. ^ "Ladder change reverts as A-Leagues confirms updated rules & regulations for season 2024-25". A-Leagues. 17 October 2024.
  24. ^ "A-Leagues fixture updates for 2024–25 season". A-Leagues. 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Western United FC - Squad". soccerway.com.