For much of Ethan Alagich’s young career, the surname has come with history attached.
His father, Richie, is an Adelaide United great, while his aunt, Dianne, is one of South Australia’s most decorated footballers.
But Ethan has always been clear that he wants to write his own chapter.
And fresh off scoring the winning goal in Thailand to help the Reds secure a gritty AFC Champions League Two victory over BG Pathum United, Alagich enters the new 26/27 A-League season looking increasingly like a player ready to take another step forward.
At just 22 years of age, with 102 Adelaide United appearances already behind him, a place in the leadership group and some of the Club’s biggest individual honours to his name, that chapter is becoming increasingly his own.
The biggest change over the past two years?
“I would say the biggest thing is probably confidence,” Alagich said.
“When I came in, I probably took longer, when I look back, than I would have liked to get where I am.
“Now I’m starting to see that, and I feel much more confident in what I do.”
That belief has changed the way Alagich approaches the game.
“I think I probably took it too seriously before,” he said.
“I can make mistakes, and at the end of the day, I’m going to get another chance to get on the ball again.
“So rather than bashing myself for it, it’s more stay confident in what I do and I know what I’m capable of.”
That growing self-belief has coincided with two standout seasons.
In 2024/25, Alagich became one of United’s most consistent performers, scoring his first professional goal against Western Sydney Wanderers before adding a memorable winner against Melbourne Victory in the Original Rivalry at Coopers Stadium.
At season’s end, he was awarded the Aurelio Vidmar Medal, Adelaide United’s highest individual men’s honour.
There was extra significance in that achievement, with Richie having been the inaugural winner of the men’s medal and Dianne the first winner of the women’s equivalent.
The following season brought another step forward, with Alagich recording four goals and four assists, earning five A-League Men Team of the Week selections and being voted Players’ Player by his teammates.
He was also named the Red Army A-League Men Player of the Year and elevated into Adelaide United’s leadership group.
Much of that progress has been built away from matchday.
Alagich points to years of extra work with coaches, including time with Airton Andrioli during his youth-team days, as a major part of his development.
“I did a lot of extras with them to work on things that I knew I needed to get better at,” he said.
“That was slow progress for me. But once I found my way back into the starting XI, I haven’t really looked back.
“The coaches have always helped me, and teammates have always backed me in every situation I’m in, and that also makes a massive difference.”
That work is now showing in the moments that matter.
His winner in Thailand was another example of a player becoming increasingly comfortable taking responsibility, helping a young Reds side grind out an important result away from home.
Now, as the 2026/27 A-League season begins, Alagich enters it with 102 senior Adelaide United appearances, including 90 in the A-League, already to his name.
His 100th came against Công An Hà Nội in August – another significant milestone reached and all before his 23rd birthday.
The numbers tell part of the story, and the bigger change is in the player himself.
