Olyroos Podcast: Dylan Pierias' perfectly-timed run to first call-up

Welcome to the Olyroos Podcast, where we take football fans
inside camp in Japan to help you get to know our players that
little bit better.


This episode features Dylan Pierias.


As a kid of Italian heritage growing up in West Melbourne, Dylan
runs us through how he actually shifted his allegiance from AFL
to soccer at the age of six after a certain world cup game that
will live long in the memory of Aussie fans… you know the one…


While the outcome of that game isn't one we all remember
favourably, it set Dylan off as a football fanatic, and a decade
later he would become the first player born in 2000 to debut in
the A-League.


At youth level, he enjoyed a top time with Melbourne City and won
a Youth League alongside the likes of, Arzani, Genreau, Metcalfe
and a few more members of the Olyroos squad.


He's had to ride all of the highs and lows of professional
football, but over the last year he’s gone from strength to
strength at Western United, striking up a formidable friendship
with Italian magician Alessandro Diamanti.


His form with his hometown club this season was enough to earn a
first call-up to the Australia U-23s set-up - just in time for
Tokyo.