ROAR STAR TO SHINE
BRISBANE Roar striker Nick D’Agostino has no doubt goals will start coming as he prepares to find the breakthrough in his first professional game in his home city.
D’Agostino has been a regular starter for the Roar this season, playing six of the club’s nine A-League games in his second season since signing for Brisbane in mid-2016.
Despite putting himself in the frame to find the net, D’Agostino is yet to add his name to the score sheet in the 2017-18 season.
But the unflappable 19-yearold isn’t concerned as he prepares to play in Brisbane’s Round 10 game against Wellington Phoenix at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.
“I have been getting close, getting good opportunities and getting in good positions so if I can keep doing that one will definitely come,” D’Agostino said ahead of the A-League’s Star Wars round to celebrate next Thursday’s release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
D’Agostino said he had already felt his game growing following his increasing opportunities at the top level.
“As a younger player you want a lot of game time,” D’Agostino said.
“It improves your ability and experience as well.
“It helps you in your career and hopefully I can get as many minutes I can this season and push on.”
D’Agostino grew up in Coombabah and spent his junior career playing for Musgrave Mustangs and then Runaway Bay with the likes of Roar teammate Aaron Reardon and former Brisbane player Kye Rowles, who now plays for Central Coast.
D’Agostino – who now lives at Upper Coomera – said it would be special to play a professional game at home on the Gold Coast.
“I’m looking forward to it,” D’Agostino said.
“It’s going to be a great experience and hopefully a lot of Gold Coast football fans come down to watch.
“My family will be in the crowd so hopefully I can get on the park and play a few minutes in front of them.”
Roar coach John Aloisi said that he was impressed by D’Agostino’s contribution to the organisation this season but stressed the club and public needed to be patient with the young talent.
“I was really happy with the way Dags (D’Agostino) played against Wanderers on the weekend, Aloisi said.
“I thought that was his best game. I have said it in the past, young players are going to have their ups and downs and Dags is no different.
“Even though he looks like a man and is built like a man, he is still only a kid.
“He hasn’t played a lot of A League games.
“The more games he plays the better he is going to get and we have got to be there to guide the younger players.”