“I didn’t even see it, at the moment I looked up it had already gone in.”
Oscar Priestman is describing the moment he scored his first ever professional goal in the final game of the 2023-24 regular season.
It wasn’t the prettiest of goals, taking a deflection on the way in, but it was an important one as it sealed a brilliant comeback win on the road against the Melbourne Victory.
“I (remember) doing some dodgy celebration in the corner,” Priestman adds as he recalls the special moment.
“It was probably the best experience I’ve had on a football pitch.”
Results in other games that weekend meant the Wanderers just missed out on finals football, but it was a pivotal night for the club, as the young talent in the Red and Black ranks shone and made the rest of the league stand up and take notice.
Nicolas Milanovic scored an equaliser in the first half, before Aydan Hammond also scored his first A-League goal in the second half to level the game up, before Priestman’s goal made it 4-3 to the Wanderers.
Young talent time at the Wanderers is continuing under new coach Alen Stajcic, with Jesse Cameron, Awan Lual and Tristan Vidakcovic making their professional debuts in the teams Australia Cup run in the couple of months.
Priestman will be playing a big role in midfield this season after breaking into the side midway through his first season at the club.
An admitted “late starter” to the game, Priestman made his way through the ranks at Manly United before playing for our crosstown rivals; he was convinced he would be better served jumping to the west last year, and it seems to have paid off for him so far.
He has played 32 times for the senior team, and has also excelled in the NPL NSW side, with his form and performances earning him a new deal with the club.
“It was a pretty quick process,” Priestman said of how his extension came about, “I’m just excited and grateful to re-sign, I’ve been really enjoying pre-season and all the training we’ve been putting in.”
In a short amount of time he has become an established member of the team, and he says he has become close with some of the fellow youngsters at the club.
“I probably hang around the most with Alex Bonetig and Aidan Simmons,” Priestman said.
“Rocky (Alex Badolato) does try to sneak in there every now and then,” he adds with a smile.
Despite a mix of youngsters and older heads, Priestman believes there isn’t much difference between the two groups in the squad: “I think the senior players are really good, and I think everyone gets on well, so it makes it really easy.”
The Wanderers have enjoyed their start to life under Stajcic, reaching the quarter-fina lof the Australia Cup, including a strong 4-0 win over Lions FC where Priestman played well.
Playing alongside Josh Brillante in the centre of the park, Priestman got a classy assist for the second goal of the match, as he dinked a delightful ball that split the central defenders, allowing Zac Sapsford to latch onto it and chip the ball over the onrushing keeper.
He says pre-season has been strong, and he is confident of the side playing exciting attacking football for the fans once the A-League season begins next month.
“It’s been really good training wise, really encouraging,” he said.
“I think it’ll be exciting and attacking, and hopefully we’ll win lots of football games.”
