Having established himself as one of the best young central defenders in Australia, the sky is seemingly the limit for Western Sydney’s Alex Bonetig. aleagues.com.au caught up with the 23-year-old ahead of the new Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
Only six outfield players tallied more minutes in the Isuzu UTE A-League 2024-25 regular season than Western Sydney Wanderers’ imperious young defender Alex Bonetig managed last term.
In fact, if you drill down into the numbers even more so then you’ll see the 23-year-old was the second-youngest player on that list last season behind Adelaide United’s 21-year-old star Ethan Alagich.
So what’s the key to his consistency?
“I’d say, firstly, the people around me, in terms of the coaching staff, and also the boys on the pitch, because it’s not just me defending, it’s it’s the back four, it’s a keeper, it’s everyone – the whole 11 on that pitch,” Bonetig told aleagues.com.au ahead of a Round 1 showdown against defending champions Melbourne City on October 18.
“So a lot of gratitude to them and then obviously the coaching side. We’d spend a lot of time after sessions, going through clips, even on the pitch, doing extras, whether it’s just me and Panta (defensive partner Anthony Pantazopoulos), especially at the back end of the season, going through things.
“I think all those little one-percenters assisted with the strengthening for that last probably 13 or 14 games we went unbeaten.”
Bonetig started all 26 of the Wanderers games in season 2024-25 and racked up a whopping 2,295 minutes of game time in the process, a total which would have been even bigger were it not for his decision to withdraw himself from the action at half-time of Western Sydney’s final game of the season due to an injury issue.
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Alongside the aforementioned Pantazopoulos, Bonetig formed one of the best defensive pairings in the Isuzu UTE A-League last season, as their ‘chalk and cheese’ characteristics meshed perfectly to help propel Alen Stajcic’s side back into the Finals Series.
In Panatazopoulos, you have the aggressor. A self-confessed ‘old-school’ defender who relishes the physical contest. In Bonetig, you have the low-key leader. The composed central defender who quietly dominates in the air whilst also excelling with the ball at his feet, as is highlighted by the fact that he was one of the competition’s best when it came to progressing the football from within his own half last season.
Together they’ve quickly formed a formidable defensive duo and after spending some time in Bonetig’s company, you quickly realise the 23-year-old doesn’t miss a beat.
If he makes a mistake, he wants to know why so it doesn’t happen again. And if he’s done something well then there’s every chance it’s because he’s accounted for that situation arising.
Extras at training help, as do countless hours of analysis sessions with the Wanderers coaching staff. However the key to Bonetig’s improvement comes from watching and learning, with one current global superstar playing a central role.
“I think you’ve got to watch football to learn,” said Bonetig.
“Because I know where I am, I’m not a complete footballer yet. I’m not the best of the best, and so if I’m not the best, then I’ve got to work at something, right?
“So watching, for instance, my favourite player Virgil Van Dijk as I’m a Liverpool supporter. He’s a centre back and he’s obviously right-footed, but he plays in my position.
“So watching players like that, and usually full matches, because you can’t watch enough with just highlights, but seeing them in certain situations helps me a lot.
“I rarely just watch the game to just enjoy it. Most of the time, especially in the Premier League, I’ll make sure I watch those centre-backs, watch their mannerisms, even the way they lead.
“But also on the ball, other decision making in certain situations, because you find you do get in similar situations in your own games, and if I’m not exposed to them on the pitch, then at least I know what I can get out of those situations.
“I can’t stress enough, especially for young footballers, how important it is to watch the best, but also your own games and reflect on them, to learn and get better.”
“I think you’ll find most footballers from even in the A-League or grassroots, whatever, they’ll watch a game, but they won’t watch to learn or pick up little bits.
“And you can watch all you want, but if you’re not watching with intent and looking to pick up on things and learn from things, study the game, then you kind of feel you’re wasting your time.
“It’s probably the easiest form of learning, in my opinion, just sitting on the couch and watching a game, but watching a game with a bit of purpose, you know?”
As is often the case when you have an impressive season in the Isuzu UTE A-League, teams from overseas begin to circle and take a keen interest.
Intriguingly though there was another high-ranking football official who took a keen interest in the his performances; CommBank Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic, who in June selected Bonetig to be a part of his pre-World Cup qualifying training camp in Abu Dhabi.
“Obviously I was a late call-up and I’d be lying if I say I wasn’t a bit nervous,” said Bonetig when discussing his Socceroos camp experience.
“I found out the night before and flew in the next day, but I had a good group of boys around me, especially (Brandon) Borrello, (Alex) Gersbach and (Nicolas) Milanovic at the time (who were) all teammates.
“Especially Borrello, he’s been in that set-up a couple of times now, and he helped me around a bit and helped me settle in.
“But I’d say that the big difference is just every little detail, you know, as you get to obviously the highest level – the Socceroos. So every little detail they’re looking at.
“It’s not enough to just perform on the pitch, you’ve got to perform off the pitch as well. Whether it be the way you shake a hand or what you’re eating, having enough salad or getting enough sleep, taking your supplements, stuff like that, which at that level, do make a difference.
“You know, it’s not enough to just rock up on the pitch, you’ve got to do all the preparations beforehand. So, yeah, it was an amazing experience. The boss over there was great with me and I learnt a lot from him.”
He continued: “Both himself and Hayden Fox, (It was) more so with the whole team, it wasn’t individual stuff, but just simple things like body positioning and stuff like that.
“Where before, I might get caught out in those situations, now, because you practice it over there, you come back and you pick up on those things.
“Obviously you’ve got the coaches, but you’ve got players who were playing in the Premier League last year. In my position (there was) Cameron Burgess. He comes in. You’re like, okay, that’s where I’ve got to be. That’s how I’ve got to perform. That’s what I’ve got to do.
“You know players like that. I’m 23 (and) I’m looking up to that.”
Now armed with the knowledge that the Socceroos hierarchy are keeping tabs on him as well as several overseas clubs, Bonetig is primed for another Isuzu UTE A-League campaign.
However season 2025-26 brings with it an added layer of intrigue for Bonetig, given this season younger brother Liam will also be playing in the competition having signed for reigning Champions Melbourne City on a multi-year deal from Scottish giants Celtic.
And who should the Wanderers be playing in Round 1? Why Melbourne City, of course.
“To be honest, I think we’re both excited to play against each other, but we rarely talk about football with each other, because we like To talk about other things,” laughed Bonetig.
“When the 90 minutes happen, I don’t care, you know? I’m gonna play and I’m gonna win.
He added: “On and off the pitch we’re brothers but we rarely talk about football. To be honest, not much has been said so far. And I like it like that. I think he likes it like that.
“We’re focusing on our own games. It’s like any other game. You can call it a brotherly rivalry, but we’re not looking at like that.
“I think maybe a few things under our breath might be said,” he laughed.
“A few little touches or whatever you know, like trying to get him offside or whatever. But no, I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully I can get a goal!”
