After potential Ironbark sendoff, Botić says “It’s been a pleasure.”
Out-of-contract Western United striker Noah Botić is tight-lipped on his future but, if Friday 3-2 elimination final win over Adelaide was his last game at Ironbark Fields, then “It’s been a pleasure"
Out-of-contract Western United striker Noah Botić remains tight-lipped on his future but, if Friday evening’s 3-2 elimination final win over Adelaide United was his last game at Ironbark Fields, then he says “It’s been a pleasure.”
Netting in the 20th, 31st and 62nd minutes, Botić joined a select company of players in Australian national league history to score a hattrick as he powered his side to a win over the Reds, as well as becoming the youngest to do so in the 20-year history of the A-League. This was only made more memorable by it being his first at a senior level, as well as the game representing the first time he had played in the finals.
The former Rockdale Ilinden junior now has 15 goals amid what has been a breakout campaign in 2024-25, one in which he has not only established himself as one of the league’s premier goalthreats but also one of its best facilitators from the number nine slot, ranking in the top ten per cent of the league when it comes to chance creation.
Inevitably, this rise has led to significant conjecture on his future. First landing in Tarneit in 2021 after a COVID-hampered stint with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim and then re-signing on a two-year deal in 2023, the 23-year-old is a free agent at the end of the campaign, with persistent talk that he’s set to return to Europe for 2025-26. There was interest in his services during the January transfer window, with at least one bid lodged from a Dutch second division side, but in the end, he remained in Tarneit.
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But if his exit does ultimately arrive in the coming months, that would mean that Friday evening represented his last game at Ironbark Fields – United to stage any remaining finals they host at AAMI Park.
“I'm not going to say too much but if it was [a last game at Ironbark], then it's been a pleasure playing here and especially in front of these fans,” said Botić.
“It's a tough decision. I've been talking about it with my family and my agent for the past couple of months.
“Obviously, the conversation is going to come up but I can't say too much. I'm just focused fully on the rest of the season and to go and lift that trophy at the end of the year.”
As one might expect of a coach who stands to lose him, John Aloisi has repeatedly voiced hope that Botić will stick around for another season in Tarneit and build upon what has been the first real season in which he’s played week in and week out.
“His all-around game has improved a lot,” said the Western boss. “He's always been that player who has moved well inside the box and created space for himself.
“The demands of playing football week in, week out, that's improved a lot. Because really, this is his first full season. And he also didn't have a pre-season because he was coming from such a long injury. So I know that there's a lot left in Noah.
“We're still seeing what the start of it really, and it's a good start so far. I know there's a lot, a lot left in him. There's so much more in him.”
Botić’s rise to prominence this season, however, hasn’t just sparked conversations about his club future.
With the Socceroos still searching for a consistent figure to lead their line – Mitch Duke, Kusini Yengi, Adam Taggart, and Brandon Borrello the incumbents – the matter of a senior international call-up has increasingly felt like it’s more a matter of when than if for the striker, with the noise growing louder with each goal he scores.
Missing out on selection for March’s qualifiers against Indonesia and China – Botić joining fellow non-selections Adrian Segecic and Nicholas Milanovic in performing a ‘call me’ celebrations afterwards, as well as Harrison Sawyer – his next opportunity for a call-up will come later this month, when Socceroos boss Tony Popovic names his squad for crunch June qualifiers agianst Japan and Saudi Arabia.
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And undoubtedly, the quality of his finishes on Friday, particularly his second goal in which he fired in a first-time, swivelling effort on his left, will have done his cause no harm — especially with Socceroo assistant Hayden Foxe watching on from the stands.
“People say and bring that into consideration and focus on it,” Botić said of a call-up. “While I'm focusing on just playing for my club at the moment.
“If that call comes, then obviously I'm going to be extremely happy and proud to represent my country. But I'm just enjoying football – very happy to get my first hattrick.
“When things come around, especially a national team call-up, it's obviously something very special.”
Himself no stranger to banging in the goals for club and country, Aloisi has voiced the view that another season banging in the goals amid regular football would provide not just a platform for a move but also vault him into World Cup consideration for the Socceroos.
“I think Hayden was watching because he likes the way we play our football, he was a big part of our club,” Aloisi laughed. "I'm not sure if [Foxe] was watching Noah or if he was watching any other players.
“I'm sure that Noah will be on the radar with the national team, because he has been in the past. Whether he gets selected for [coming qualifiers] or not, I keep on saying that eventually Noah will become a Socceroo.
“But we know, and I think Noah knows, there's still a lot of improving for Noah, and so he just needs to keep on improving like he's going, and eventually the call-up will come.”