Newcastle Jets duo Clayton Taylor and Justin Vidić have been selected for the Australian U23’s for the PacificAus Football series.
The Subway Australian U-23s will be based out of Port Vila, Vanuatu, playing fixtures at Freshwater Stadium on Thursday, 5 September against New Caledonia (3pm local) and Sunday, 8 September against Vanuatu (3pm local).
Vanuatu and New Caledonia will also face off on Saturday, 31 August, with the PacificAus Sports Football Series providing the opportunity for both sides to play competitive matches ahead of their Oceania Football Confederation FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers.
Selecting a squad of Australian-based players for this Pacific Series, Vidmar has assembled a group with varying junior national team experience, with a view to his side’s next major tournament in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™.
While preparations for the current cycle are in their early stages, the Pacific Series provides an opportunityvfor Vidmar and his staff to work with a younger cohort of players – many for the first time – who will be eligible for selection in 2026.
MATCH SCHEDULE – 2024 PACIFICAUS SPORTS FOOTBALL SERIES – AUSTRALIAN U-23s
NewCaledoniavSubwayAustralianU-23s
Thursday, 5 September
Kick-off: 3pm local / 2pm AEST Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu
VanuatuvSubwayAustralianU-23s
Sunday, 8 September
Kick-off: 3pm local / 2pm AEST Freshwater Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu
AUSTRALIANU-23 SQUAD|2024 PACIFIC AUS SPORTS FOOTBALL SERIES
| Name | Position | CurrentClub | Junior Club / Member Federation |
| Ethan ALAGICH | Midfielder | Adelaide United FC | Valley View SC / Football SA |
| Patrick BEACH (Gk) | Goalkeeper | Melbourne City FC | Glenmore Park FC / Football NSW |
| Nathanael BLAIR | Forward | Perth Glory FC | Marrickville FC / Football NSW |
| Kasey BOS | Defender | Melbourne Victory FC | Point Cook SC / Football VIC |
| Rhys BOZINOVSKI | Midfielder | Western United FC | Spring Hills Stallions FC / Football VIC |
| Ethan COX (Gk) | Goalkeeper | Adelaide United FC | Salisbury United FC / Football SA |
| Jed DREW | Forward | Macarthur FC | Meltham Athletic FC / England |
| Yaya DUKULY | Forward | Adelaide United FC | Para Hills Knights SC / Football SA |
| Matthew GRIMALDI | Forward | Western United FC | Watsonia Heights FC / Football VIC |
| Corey HOLLMAN | Midfielder | Sydney FC | Seaforth FC / Football NSW |
| Panashe MADANHA | Forward | Adelaide United FC | Adelaide Olympic FC / Football SA |
| Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI | Defender | Perth Glory FC | Carramar Cougars Junior FC / Football West |
| Hayden MATTHEWS | Defender | Sydney FC | Connells Point Rovers FC / Football NSW |
| Nathan PAULL | Defender | Central Coast Mariners FC | Heathcote Waratah FC / Football NSW |
| Oscar PRIESTMAN | Midfielder | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | Seaforth FC / Football NSW |
| Joshua RAWLINS | Defender | Melbourne Victory FC | Dianella Junior SC / Football West |
| Adrian SEGECIC | Midfielder | Sydney FC | Lidcombe Waratah Junior SC / Football NSW |
| Aidan SIMMONS | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | St George FC / Football NSW |
| Clayton TAYLOR | Forward | Newcastle Jets FC | Rouse Hill Rams SC / Football NSW |
| Jordi VALADON | Midfielder | Melbourne Victory FC | Glen Eira FC / Football VIC |
| Justin VIDIC | Forward | Newcastle Jets FC | Canley Heights RSL FC / Football NSW |
| Abel WALATEE | Forward | Western United FC | North Sunshine Eagles FC / Football VIC |
| Jack WARSHAWSKY (Gk) | Goalkeeper | Central Coast Mariners FC | Buderim Wanderers FC / Football QLD |
