Alex Bonetig has established himself as one of the most exciting and talented defenders in the Isuzu UTE A-League this season. aleagues.com.au looks at the numbers behind the Western Sydney Wanderers star heading into Saturday night’s Elimination Final.
A range of players have emerged in the Isuzu UTE A-League this season, but one appears to have gone slightly under the radar.
Western Sydney Wanderers centre-back Alex Bonetig is part of a new wave of young Australian defenders coming through the competition, alongside the likes of Western United sensation Dylan Leonard, Adelaide United star Panagiotis Kikianis and teammate Anthony Pantazopoulos.
National team talk and future Subway Socceroos call-ups have centred largely on 17-year-old wonderkid Leonard and Young Socceroo Kikianis, but Bonetig has established himself as one of the most exciting and talented defenders in the A-Leagues this season.
The 22-year-old has played a key role in Western Sydney’s galvanising return to the Finals Series amid the club’s best run of form in 12 years.
He has started all 26 games heading into Saturday night’s blockbuster Elimination Final against rivals Melbourne Victory at CommBank Stadium.
It has been a nine-year journey to this point. The Shellharbour native has grown up in Western Sydney’s academy, where he first arrived in 2016 – working his way up from the Under-13s team to the A-Leagues squad.
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Now, the academy graduate – who debuted during the 2022-23 season – is an A-Leagues regular and his numbers are impressive.
It has well and truly been a breakout campaign for Bonetig – the older brother of Celtic youngster and former Wanderers prospect Liam.
At the high-flying Wanderers this season, he leads the club in successful passes in own half (1,021), total carries (389), total carry distance (4,064.9), total carry progress (2,815.7), carry directness (239.7), average carry distance with take-ons (14.3) and average carry progress with take-ons (10.9).
Those carry stats are a theme for Bonetig in 2024-25. This is a defender who is clearly comfortable with the ball at his feet and carrying the ball out of the back half.
Bonetig is also an aerial presence. Across the competition among defenders (minimum 10 games played), he is second only to Central Coast Mariners star Brian Kaltak for aerial duels, while he is fourth for passing accuracy in own half (95.4%).
He is also top 10 for successful passes in own half, successful passes, passing accuracy and aerial duels won.
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Bonetig has gone from strength to strength since playing 13 games under former boss Marko Rudan in 2023-24. With Alen Stajcic at the helm this term, his performances have soared to a new level.
Since the start of last season among players aged 22 or younger, Bonetig is second for carry directness (314.1) and third for total carry progress (3,596.5), average carry distance with take-ons (15.7) and average carry progress with take-ons (11.5).
These are the hallmarks of a modern-day defender. One who could be destined for bigger things.
