Brendon Santalab

Santalab headed to Perth in 2018 following a five-year spell with Western Wanderers Wanderers where he scored 34 times in 94 appearances. The mobile frontman began his career in the old NSL with Parramatta Power in 2000 and went on to enjoy time with Sydney United before being signed by Singaporean heavyweights Geylang United in 2003. After a prolific season for Geylang, where he netted 23 goals in 22 games, Santalab returned to Sydney United before spending three years in Europe with Oostende and Sint-Truiden in the Belgian top flight, while also going out on loan with Hungarian outfit Újpest FC. A return to Australia followed, with the man from Wollongong spending two years at Sydney FC. He duly moved overseas again in 2009, this time to China where he represented both Chengdu Blades and Chongqing Lifan in the Super League and scored a total of 33 goals. By 2013, he was back in Australia, this time at Western Sydney where he would go on to forge a reputation as one of the Hyundai A-League’s most clutch goalscorers. Santalab played a vital role in the side’s Asian Champions League triumph in 2014, scoring a memorable late equaliser against Sanfrecce Hiroshima to send them into the Quarter-Finals. He also received the club’s Player of the Year award for his outstanding 2016-17 campaign and remains Wanderers’ all-time top-scorer.