There are blokes who have been running around the A-league longer than anyone can remember. Age shall not weary them, and their wisdom and experience far outweigh the declining speed and agility.
Let’s look at five of the current golden oldies in the A-League.
5. Alex Wilkinson – Sydney FC
A-League appearances: 272
The 36 year-old burst onto the scene in 2005, and kicks off our list as one of the most decorated players the Sky Blues have to offer. Wilkinson has been a full time captain for the club since 2019, and whilst the majority of his career success has come at Sydney, 172 matches for the Mariners reveals just how long he’s been around.
4. Liam Reddy – Perth Glory
A-League appearances: 285
The only goalkeeper on the list, to have the reflexes and mental edge in moving like he does at the ripe age of 39 is impressive. Reddy has been around the traps a fair while and although he seems to have found his home on the west coast of Australia, playing 111 times for Perth Glory, they’re Reddy’s seventh A-League club. A genuine journeyman of the competition.
3. Nikolai Topor-Stanley – Newcastle Jets
A-League appearances: 297
The centre-back has played for Newcastle on over 160 occasions, and what’s even more interesting is he spent five years at other clubs in the middle. Topor-Stanley has also represented Perth Glory and Sydney FC, and although he’s getting up there in age, there’s a couple more years left in those 35 year-old legs.
2. Leigh Broxham – Melbourne Victory
A-League appearances: 299
Broxham is one of Victory’s most respected players over the years and is a member of the clubs’ team of the decade. The defender started his journey with the team in 2006 and has remained loyal ever since, a quality not often observed in the A-League. At only 33 years of age Broxham has the potential to break the record of A-League games too, provided there’s another four or five years in him.
1. Andrew Durante – Western United
A-League appearances: 320
Topping the list sits Andrew Durante, who is primarily known for his time at Wellington Phoenix but has since made the move to Melbourne to help new club Western United. The Kiwi international sits comfortably atop our rankings of the most appearances in the A-League. At 38, Durante is the second oldest on this list behind Reddy. We surely don’t have too long left watching him in the A-League, but it’s been an absolute pleasure.
Featured image credit: Vision Inspired Photography / Perth Glory
