Ethan Alagich has called for calm and positivity following a disappointing Tuesday night at Coopers Stadium, with the young midfielder reaching a significant personal milestone as he made his 100th appearance for Adelaide United against Công An Hà Nội.
While the Reds’ 2-0 defeat ended hopes of progressing into the AFC Champions League Elite, Alagich was able to reflect on a special achievement for a player who has grown up dreaming of representing his hometown Club.
“I think it’s a very, very special moment,” Alagich said.
“I’ve been working for my whole life to play for this Club, and then to get to 100, it’s a big achievement.”
Alagich made his senior debut against Floreat Athena in the Australia Cup and has since established himself as an important part of the Reds’ midfield.
Asked whether he ever believed he would reach 100 appearances at such a young age, Alagich’s answer was characteristically confident.
“I did think I’d get that many games,” he said. “I backed myself.”
Among the memories from his first century of appearances, Alagich pointed to his first start at Coopers Stadium against Melbourne Victory, as well as memorable clashes with Melbourne City last season.
But Tuesday night was ultimately a difficult one for the Club, with the Reds falling short in their bid to reach Asia’s premier club competition.
Alagich was honest about the disappointment, but was equally keen to stress that the result does not define what lies ahead.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing not to win,” he said. “Of course, we went into the game expecting a better result and to get into the Elite competition.
“But at the end of the day, we’ve got to look at what we could have done better, and the fact is, we’re still playing in Asia.
“We’re still in the Champions League Two, so it’s an opportunity for us to win a trophy.”
With United still in the early stages of pre-season, Alagich believes perspective is important.
Image: Stuart Kerr
The Reds have suffered two disappointing competitive results, but the midfielder says the work being done behind the scenes gives the playing group plenty of confidence moving forward.
“I know it’s hard to stay positive after two losses, but you’ve got to remember we do the work every day inside these [training ground] fences, and we know where we’re at,” Alagich said.
“We feel really, really good about where we’re at physically, mentally.
“The group’s going along really, really nicely.
“We’re very confident in what we can do, and we have full trust in one another and the coaching staff and what we’re going to be able to put together this season.”
For Alagich and the playing group, the focus is now on continuing to build towards the A-League season while embracing another opportunity to represent Adelaide United on the continental stage.
The AFC Champions League Two will provide the Reds with more competitive football, new challenges and another chance to compete for silverware.
“It’s an excellent opportunity,” Alagich said.
“Again, as we said, the Elite would have been ideal, but we’re still in another competition.
“It’s another opportunity to win a trophy.
“We’re just really excited to get out there, more games for us, and we’re going to hopefully be able to get more wins.”
For Alagich, his 100th appearance may not have arrived on the night he would have hoped for, but the milestone represents another chapter in a journey that is still only beginning.
And despite a challenging start to pre-season, his message is clear: remain calm, stay together and keep building.
