Australia's best young male footballers made the most of perfect conditions on Day Two of the CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships in another thrilling day of action.
Backflips, long-range screamers, and end-to-end action were common themes throughout the matches as teams jostled for higher placings in their groups.
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Veart Sets Sights on Future Stars
Newly appointed Subway Joeys Head Coach Carl Veart has wasted no time using the Championships as an early opportunity to scout the next generation of Australian footballers.
With more than 500 Under 15 and Under 16 players competing this week, the event provides a unique window into future national team talent.
"The difference with this role is that I'm working for tomorrow," Veart said.
"It's about showing these players what it takes and giving them the platform to grow."
A long-time advocate for youth development, Veart brings years of experience from both the Isuzu UTE A-League and national pathways. He believes the Championships play a vital role in setting standards and building confidence.
"Australia consistently produces talent up to 16 or 17, but they just need opportunity and belief," Veart said.
"I'm really happy with what I've seen so far. There are some quality young players coming through the system."
Veart's appointment comes amid a shift in the global football calendar, with the FIFA U-17 World Cup now held annually. Collaboration between national coaches, clubs, and Member Federations is more important than ever.
"All the national team staff are here this week, working together," Veart said.
"It's the first step into the national team system, so we want to set clear expectations early and make sure we're all aligned."
"It's not about team results here. It's about identifying individuals with the attributes, mindset, and potential to become future national players."
Malaysia Brings the Action to the Championships
Malaysia's Under 15 team is adding a new dimension to the Championships, reflecting growing collaboration between Football Australia and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
"On behalf of the Football Association of Malaysia, I would like to thank Football Australia for this beautiful tournament," said Head Coach Noor Zaidi Bin Rohmat.
"These Championships give our players a great platform to play and show their potential."
The tournament has exposed Malaysia's players to a faster, more physical style of football than they are used to, providing valuable experience.
"It's a different experience from what we're used to," Zaidi said.
"Australian players are very physical and technically skilled. It's a benchmark for where we want to be. The facilities are very good and it's been a very nice experience being here. We're very grateful and hope we can continue to come back."
Match Official Workshop Provides Invaluable Experience
While players chase their dreams at the CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships, Match Officials are seizing a unique development and pathway opportunity of their own.
The Championships aren't just a showcase of emerging playing talent, they're a critical step on the Football Australia Refereeing Pathway, with 36 referees selected from across the country undergoing a dedicated training and coaching program throughout the week.
Match officials receive intensive coaching and evaluation, guided by national referee instructors and former FIFA-level officials including Alex King, Daniel Elder, and Kate Jacewicz.
General Manager for Referee Growth and Development at Northern NSW Football, Brad Carlin, said the education opportunities the Championships present are instrumental.
"These are really exciting events for Match Officials," Carlin said.
"It's a great learning opportunity and something our referees genuinely aspire to. They've been identified as having the potential to go further, and this gives them the experience and education to take that next step."
"Today we had an update on the educational space and what Football Australia was doing to make it easier for people to become Match Officials. Getting that educational update and seeing how Football Australia plans to roll out further online training programs to make it easier to become a referee or upskill was invaluable."
The foundations for success are laid well before the tournament kicks off. According to Referees Community Manager at Football Australia Daniel Goodwin, preparation for this year's Championships began eight weeks earlier, with Match Officials participating in fortnightly online sessions focused on national standards and elite officiating techniques.
"We wanted to bring down concepts from the professional game and introduce them to officials who'd never seen that level before," Goodwin said.
"By preparing them early, we spend less time during the tournament teaching basics and more time refining performance."
Off the field, workshops with referee managers from every Member Federation provide a valuable forum to address recruitment, retention, and the broader growth of officiating across Australia.
"The more we invest in the development of referees, the better the game becomes at every level," Goodwin added.
"These Championships are about building the full football ecosystem and Match Officials are a vital part of that."
