This A-league season has become a breeding ground for Greek Australian footballers, coming out from stellar seasons in the youth leagues. Three Greek Australian youngsters have been promoted to first team status, while countless others have been plucked from the youth teams and have managed to score game clinching goals, surpassing their older, more experienced teammates.

Sydney FC’s youth player Peter Triantis hit the winning goal in their 2-1 defeat of Brisbane Roar two weeks ago, when he was picked to play in the first team for the second time in two weeks.

The 20-year-old’s 69th minute long range effort proved to be the difference between the two sides.

“It’s one of those as soon as you hit it you know it’s in the goal. It was just an unbelievable feeling, I just turned and ran. I don’t even know what I did,” he said.

For the young Greek, soccer has run in the family for years, with most of his bothers taking up the sport. Being one of ten, Triantis came home to a huge fan base last week.

“I had it taped and as soon as I got home my younger brothers were playing it back and forth. They were the most excited people you’ll ever see in your life,” he says.

In the same match, 20-year-old George Lambadaridis made his third A-league appearance for Brisbane Roar, after he replaced Stef Nijland. Lambardaridis is one of Brisbane Roar’s full time youth midfielders, and has spent 18 months training in Belgium for Brugge FC. He’s becoming a more common selection as coach Mike Mulvey tries to get some consistency in his team which hasn’t had the best of luck.

This season has also seen 18-year-old Jesse Makarounas sign to Melbourne Victory and 22-year-old Evan Kostopoulos clinch two goals in one game for Adelaide United.

More and more, coaches have been selecting younger more malleable players to fill in defensive or striking gaps.

In terms of second placed Melbourne Victory, coach Ange Postecoglou has lost many good players in the transfer season, and has preferred to take on young promising stars. Of late the tactic has been working slowly, with more consistency and precision on the pitch.

Jesse Makarounas is one of the new Victory stars after signing late January, and has featured in three games.

“I’ve been trying to learn the shape and the way the team plays, the tactics and my position and my roles and responsibilities,” he told Neos Kosmos.

“There’s lots of great players and great coaching. I think it’s a great place for me to learn and improve as a footballer.”

Local Adelaide player, Evan Kostopoulos has featured in more than 16 games this season, and has made a name for himself. In his debut season in the first team, Kostopoulos managed to score not one, but two defining goals against arch rivals, Melbourne Victory. Coach Michael Valkanis had high hopes for the young midfielder when he met him in the youth team.

“He does a lot of good work and a lot of unnoticed work,” Valkanis says of Kostopoulos.

“It just goes to show all the hard work he’s done over the years and the patience he’s had, he’s broken through and done really well so far”.

The talent of Greek Australian players has been in such demand that it has caused some controversy. Socceroo Terry Antonis has been demoted and promoted through the Sydney FC season, after a series of international call-ups and overseas trips took their toll and angered coach Frank Farina.

The 19-year-old comes back into the team at crucial time.

“I’ll go out there and give it all I’ve got for the coach, for the club and for the team, especially for the team,” Antonis says.

“I’ve been working hard the last couple of weeks to get back in and got my confidence back so it’s good.”

He has been sidelined as a substitute, and has only started in six Sydney FC games. But, there is much to say about the young midfielder.

He won his first Socceroo cap in early December and with so much international interest surrounding him, his potential is on show.