In a new weekly segment on pfa.net.au, ‘Milestone Monday’ summarises the milestones Australian footballers have achieved in their professional careers at home and abroad. 

This week, Jack Clisby and Terry Antonis reached a century of appearances in the A-League, while Matt McKay and Andrew Durante both made their 250th appearances, establishing themselves as true veterans of A-League football.

Melbourne Victory’s Terry Antonis marked his 100th appearance in the A-League on Saturday with the match-winning goal over Newcastle Jets.

In a replay of last season’s Grand Final, Antonis netted a wonderful long-range strike with his left foot, which fizzed past Jets ‘keeper Glen Moss to give Victory its first win of the new season.

Antonis’ effort was almost a carbon-copy of his goal against Perth Glory in Round 2, which was awarded the A-League’s goal of the week.

Antonis notched up his century of appearances in the A-League across three clubs. The 24-year-old midfielder commenced his career with Sydney FC (69 appearances), before moving to Super League Greece with PAOK and Veria.

Antonis returned from Greece on loan, heading to Western Sydney Wanderers, where he secured 11 appearances. After a brief spell in the Dutch Eredivisie with VVV Venlo, Antonis returned for the 2017/18 campaign with Victory, where he famously secured the team’s passage to the Grand Final with a superb solo effort in extra time of the 3-2 Semi-Final win over Sydney FC.

Earlier on Saturday afternoon, Jack Clisby joined the 100 club, taking the field with the Central Coast Mariners for the third time in his career. While his afternoon and achievement would have been soured somewhat by the 3-0 loss to Adelaide United, Clisby said his move to the Mariners had breathed new life into his career.

“My move to the Central Coast has been fantastic. The club, the culture; it’s the best culture I’ve felt within a playing group. Everyone’s on the same level, we’re all a team and we’re all united which is what I really like about this club.”

Clisby has played at four A-League clubs, commencing his career at Perth Glory, before moves to Melbourne City and Western Sydney Wanderers.

“After my 90th odd game – I finally scored my first goal. When I was younger I was a prolific goal scorer at about 15 years old. But there are many moments that stand out – especially my professional debut for Perth Glory. From that moment forward it’s been very quick but now I’m at 100 games, I’m very proud and I’m sure that my family and friends are too.”

On Sunday, Andrew Durante reached 250 career matches for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League. Although an incredible career achievement, which was marked by a moving ‘Haka’ tribute pre-match, the ‘Nix went down to Western Sydney.

The milestone does, however, edge Durante closer to an incredible 300 A-League career matches, which gives the former New Zealand international another chance to notch a career milestone with a win.

Durante, now 36, has played 290 matches in the A-League, with his time at the Nix complemented by his 40 matches at the Newcastle Jets between 2005 – 2008.

If he continues to stay fit and take the pitch with the Phoenix, the number 22 appears likely to become the first player to reach 300 A-League caps, being just 10 matches shy of the achievement.


Matt McKay was another player who achieved a personal milestone, but was also on the opposite end of a positive team result.

His Brisbane Roar went down 2-1 to Perth Glory away from home, but his first start of the season meant he reached the 250 appearance for his beloved Roar.

The PFA had caught up with McKay, a former Executive Member and President of the PFA, as his milestone approached last week, where he said it would be an honour to reach 250 appearances for the one club.

“I will be very proud to have the opportunity to do it [play 250 games] at one club. I’m a Brisbane boy, I love the city, I love the club. I first signed [at Brisbane] when I was 21, and I’m 35 now. So it’s a long time to have played at one club, but I have loved every minute of it.

“It will be a proud moment, any milestone you are proud of. For me, I’m not really thinking about it, it’s so early on in the season and I guess I’ll be a bit more emotional when it comes to the end of my career, or my last ever game.”

You can read the full interview with McKay here. 

Other recent Milestones:

  • Socceroo Tom Rogic scored a stunner for Celtic in his 150th appearance for the Scottish club in a 5-0 win over Dundee in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday
  • Matilda and Brisbane Roar midfielder Katrina Gorry made her 100thW-League appearance in Round 1 of the W-League season
  • Alex Brosque’s recent goal in the Sydney Derby, makes him the equal top goalscorer in Sydney Derby alongside Adrian Mierzejewski