Adelaide United teenager Vinko Stanisic marked a proud milestone on Saturday night, making his Isuzu Ute A-League Men’s debut in the Reds’ 1–0 win away to Perth Glory – a moment shaped by both gratitude and perspective.
The 18-year-old was introduced in the 64th minute after teammate Dylan Pierias was forced from the field with a serious-looking injury. Stanisic played his part in helping Adelaide United see out the match and secure a clean sheet on debut, but was quick to acknowledge the circumstances surrounding his introduction.
“It’s something you always dream of as a kid,” Stanisic said. “I’ve been working hard for it, and it was just a matter of when, not if. It happened unexpectedly, but I’m grateful for it.”
The young defender admitted there was little time to reflect in the moment.
“When any player goes down, especially as a defender, you head straight to the corner and start getting warm,” he said. “When I got the call, I didn’t have much time to think about the fact it was my debut – it was just about coming on, doing my job, defending, and getting the three points. That’s what we were in Perth for.”
Despite the personal significance of the occasion, Stanisic was mindful of his teammate’s situation.
“You never want to come on because of an injury,” he said. “When I saw Dylan go down, you don’t wish that upon anyone – especially a guy like Dylan, who’s always so positive and such an important player for us. My thoughts are with him and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Stanisic said the experience of playing alongside senior teammates helped settle any nerves.
“It helps when you’re surrounded by the right people,” he said. “I had Pana [Kikianis] on my left and Jay [Barnett] on my right – two very experienced A-League players. They guided me through the 30 minutes I was on, and it was a collective effort to get the clean sheet.”
The debut continues a strong pathway story at Adelaide United, with Stanisic crediting the club’s culture and coaching staff for backing young players.
“It’s trust – that’s the key word,” he said. “The coaching staff, especially Airton, wouldn’t put me in there if he didn’t trust me. That goes for a lot of young players here, and we really acknowledge that.”
While the night was personally memorable, Stanisic remained grounded, placing the team result above all else.
“It still feels a bit surreal,” he admitted. “But I’m not as happy about the debut as I am about the fact that we got the three points.”
As Adelaide United await further news on Pierias, Stanisic’s composed debut stands as both a proud moment for the young defender and a reminder of the depth and togetherness within the Reds’ squad.