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West Australian
5 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Socceroos hopeful Jack Iredale eyes World Cup qualifying squad after long road from Perth to Hibernian
It has been more than a decade since Jack Iredale last stepped foot in an Australian national team camp. The Scottish-born, Perth-raised defender last donned the green and gold for the Australia under-17's back in 2012. Now, the Hibernian defender is potentially days away from fulfilling a lifelong dream of representing the Socceroos at international level. To do it in his hometown, in front of an expected 45,000 at Optus Stadium in a crucial World Cup qualifier no less, would be the cherry on top of a remarkable journey. 'It's the things dreams are made of, isn't it?' Iredale told The West Australian. 'You grow up wanting to play for your country, and if there's a possibility of playing for your country in a massive game, with a win that would send your country to the World Cup in front of all your friends and family, it would be absolutely massive.' Iredale's spot in Tony Popovic's squad for Australia's last two World Cup qualifiers is not set in stone, with the final squad to be announced on Sunday. But irrespective of his selection, the Perth RedStar (formerly ECU Joondalup) product's path to the national team's training camp in Abu Dhabi deserves to be celebrated. 'I never stopped believing: it was always the one thing that I desperately wanted in my career, to play for Australia and to get this opportunity now, I'm very grateful,' Iredale said. 'I was absolutely buzzing. First thing (when I found out) was I called home, I don't even know what time it was. They were probably asleep back home.' If selected, the 29-year-old could even play alongside his fellow Connolly Primary School alumni: Ipswich Town defender Cameron Burgess, whom Iredale was classmates with. 'I followed Cam's career closely, he's always been that one step ahead of me; he went over to the UK, and I went over, and then he worked his way up and got all the way to the Premier League,' Iredale said. Iredale has had to overcome a lot in his career: he is a type one diabetic, with his sugar levels keeping him on his toes and he also suffered three torn ACLs as a teenager, threatening his dreams before they even began. In 2017, he exited Perth Glory's youth set-up and spent a short stint at ECU Joondalup before moving back to the town of his birth, inking a deal with second-tier Scottish outfit Greenock Morton. 'I wouldn't have taken that chance (leaving Glory) if I did think the ship had sailed. I knew I wanted to be professional, I knew I could be and it was a matter of taking it into my own hands,' Iredale said. Iredale bounced around England and Scotland's mid-to-lower leagues , turning out for Queen's Park in Scotland, Carlisle United, Cambridge United, and Bolton Wanderers. 'You learn lessons every single day. With promotion and relegation, it's do or die. You've got no excuses, no chances to slip up,' Iredale said of his seven year-spell after leaving home. 'It teaches you game management, all that side of things and then obviously you need to be a good player to survive as well, and a good player to progress.' Iredale describes the past season at Hibernian, who finished third in the Scottish Premiership behind only Celtic and Rangers, as 'one positive thing after another.' He played 32 games, was one of four Australians at Hibs alongside Martin Boyle, Nector Triantis and Lewis Miller who won rave reviews and he even won the league's goal of the season — coming in an Edinburgh Derby against Hearts no less. 'It was a really fun season. It didn't start very well, we had the goal of European football and then found ourselves rock bottom by November, but the club stuck by the management team,' Iredale said. 'Since then, togetherness was massive. Winning games helped with the confidence, and the fans were absolutely incredible, they backed us all the way, home and away, and we shared some really positive moments with them throughout the season.'
Edinburgh Reporter
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Jack Iredale joins Socceroos' camp high on confidence after positive season
Hibs defender Jack Iredale has joined up with the Australia national team this week, following a stand-out debut season. Speaking to the Socceroos media team at their Abu Dhabi training camp, the 29 year-old Hibs defender discussed his career journey, international aspirations and his first year in green and white. He made 31 appearances for Hibs in 2024/25 and caught the eye of Australia Head Coach Tony Popovic, who handed the centre-back his first senior call-up. Speaking firstly on the Hibees' rollercoaster season, Iredale said: 'It was a tough start but we managed to turn things around in November and went on a really good run. 'At the start of the season we set ourselves a goal of European football and finishing third means we've hopefully got a qualifying place. 'Now I come into the camp with really high confidence after a positive season and I'm just trying to keep things going from there.' Iredale's call-up is the result of over a decade of hard work from the defender, who was capped for Australia Under-17s back in 2012. Three ACL injuries nearly ended the defender's career before it had started in his teenage years. Iredale, who was born in Scotland before moving to Australia with his family as a young boy, signed for Greenock Morton in 2017 before spells with Carlisle United, Cambridge United and Bolton Wanderers. A summer move to Hibernian in 2024 came next, but he had to be patient for his chance in David Gray's side. After breaking into the team, Iredale quickly became a key player and wrote his name in Hibs folklore with a stunning Edinburgh Derby winner against Hearts at Easter Road in March. Having sealed third place in the William Hill Premiership with the Hibees, Iredale was called up alongside Hibs teammates Martin Boyle, Nectar Triantis and Lewis Miller. Asked how he has found the training camp so far, he said: 'It's been pretty good. It's been tough but everyone has made me feel really welcome. The boys have been really good. 'Obviously there's a few familiar faces but even the boys I hadn't met before have made me feel really welcome. 'I've been out of the system now for 13 years. I've been working away to try and get back involved. I'm very excited to be here. 'It's very rewarding. I had a tough time at the start of my career with injuries but to have this positive step in a good direction with the training camp, hopefully I can do well this week. 'For me, playing for my country is the only thing I've wanted to do in my career.' Iredale and the Australia national team now prepare for tough 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia next month. Tony Popovic will name his final squad in the week leading up to those games in early June. Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Not even Deadline Day detour could stop Hibs star's road to World Cup call-up
Socceroos nod gives former Bolton defender belated crack at international arena Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It's been a stop-start journey to the brink of a World Cup call-up, to say the least. Including at least one unscheduled interruption to, erm, deal with a health situation at the side of the road. So when David Gray passed Jack Iredale in the corridor at East Mains this morning, the Hibs boss could completely understand why the Aussie defender – who had just received news of his first Socceroos call-up – was so excited. At the age of 29, the Scots-born former Australia youth international has every chance of making it through Tony Popovic's training camp to be involved in vital World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and Japan. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For a guy whose Deadline Day move to Edinburgh involved an extremely poorly timed bout of food poisoning, the news will feel like vindication. For the player, but also for the club who continue to provide such a stable platform for footballers with international aspirations. Gray, asked if he'd been the one to break the news to Iredale, said: 'No, I'm not too sure exactly how he found out. I think maybe they get an email or a text or whatever. 'I did see him pretty quickly after it; I just passed him in the corridor. He was pretty quick to come and tell me! I don't know if it was more shock or whatever, but he was just all excited, a wee kid in a candy store, which was brilliant. 'I'm delighted for him because he really deserves it based on his level of performance, his consistency and what he's done for this football club. He shows that calmness on the pitch which is something that we've really benefited from.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Iredale joins fellow Hibs players Boyle, Miller and Triantis in Tony Popovic's squad With Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller already established members of Popovic's core group, and Nectar Triantis having won his first senior international recognition when called up by the Socceroos last time out, the Iredale news underlines Hibernian's value as a shop window. Heading into a World Cup year, that has to be a bonus when Gray is trying to sell the club to potential recruits. 'Yes, I think as I say, that's something that especially with the World Cup coming up next season, the players have demonstrated that if they're playing at a high level for Hibs and performing well, that's a level that's good enough to get into the manager's mind for the national teams, which is brilliant,' he said, adding: 'I'm sure that will be the top of all the players' aspirations, to try and go and play at a World Cup. And it is a genuine opportunity for them; this is a club that can put you on that platform. 'Which is why we always talk about how big a club it is and the understanding of Scottish football and what that means. The level is very good and it's a real good product that we've got up here with a lot of good talented young players as well. 'We say it all the time, when we're trying to bring players to the club, for all the reasons why a player would join this football club, one of them is what they can do on the international stage. I think the Australian boys are an example of that, Rocky Bushiri as well. If players play well consistently at this level, and it is a very good level, and national team managers will take note.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Illness and injury left defender battling to make summer transfer window switch Iredale arrived at Hibs just before the summer window closed. The former Bolton defender, who had been a target for some time, was also nursing a calf strain that kept him out of the starting XI for months; his breakthrough into the line-up just happened to coincide with a dramatic upswing in fortunes. Gray, recalling the details of getting the deal done, said: 'Stressful? I think it was stressful for him because of the fact that it was Deadline Day. I think he was even ill on the way up the road. 'He had to pull the car over. I'm not going to tell you what he had to do but he had to pull the car over on his way up the road. 'He also had a bit of a calf issue as well when he first joined. So that would be the challenge. 'He turned up and he was like: 'By the way, I'm not feeling well, I need to go home …' I think I said: 'What do you mean? We've got ten minutes to get this signed, big man! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But no, as I said, he's been someone that he had to wait and be patient for his opportunity especially at the start. He was obviously coming and joining the club with a bit of a niggle and a bit of an injury. But he certainly took his opportunity, and I'm delighted for him because he's a real good boy, a real good type and really infectious around the group as well which is positive. 'There are always shortlists and players that are on lists and potential players that might be available depending on what happens. And he was always someone that was shortlisted as someone who played in Scotland and then played at a very good level for Bolton. 'I've also seen him as a bit of a dual-position player, you know? He can play left back; he's played left back for Bolton. And I know he would be really comfortable left of the back three which is his ideal position. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But he assures me he's good in the back four at left back! He's one of those boys who will play absolutely anywhere for you and give you absolutely everything he's got. 'Which is another thing that was a big part of it; every single character reference that we got on Jack was spot on. That's something I've been very consistent with this season, which is the type of people we're trying to bring to the football club - and he's certainly been a very good one.'
Scotsman
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hibs boost international reputation with another World Cup call-up
Socceroos come calling for a FOURTH Easter Road stand-out as former Bolton defender selected Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hibernian's spectacular surge up the Scottish Premiership table has earned another of their top performers international recognition, as Jack Iredale becomes the latest Easter Road star to earn a first Socceroos call-up. The central defender joins Australia regulars Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller, as well as Nectar Triantis, in the squad gathering for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia next month. Iredale has been an absolute stand-out during his team's climb from dead last to securing third place with a game to spare, the 29-year-old left-sided defender's introduction to the starting XI coinciding with a dramatic upturn in form. Born in Scotland but raised in the 'other' Perth, Western Australia, the former Greenock Morton, Cambridge United, Carlisle and Bolton Wanderers regular joined Hibs on deadline day at the start of the season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After recovering from a niggling injury, he had to bide his time before being throwing into a team in crisis, with his availability allowing first-year head coach David Gray to switch to a back three. Hibs then put together a record-equalling 17-game unbeaten run in the league, including beating Celtic at Easter Road and Rangers at Ibrox, before wrapping up their status as Best of the Rest behind Scotland's big two with their midweek draw against St Mirren in Paisley. Aussie ambitions 'one of the reasons I joined Hibs' While Boyle and Miller are already established members of the Socceroos squad looking to qualify for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer, Iredale's call-up reinforces the ability of Hibs to provide a platform for players seeking international recognition. Especially as he's the second Hibee in the space of a few months to earn a call-up from the Aussies. Australia boss Tony Popovic handed Triantis his first involvement during the last international window, having cited the Sunderland loanee's eye-catching performance in that win over Celtic as evidence of the midfielder's development in his second loan spell at Easter Road. Although Triantis didn't get any game time in the World Cup wins over Indonesia and China, he's been called up again for this training camp. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Iredale, who won the PFA Scotland Goal of the Year award for his stunning strike in March's Edinburgh derby win over Hearts, has spoken about his international aspirations since breaking into the Hibs team. Speaking just last week about potential contact with Popovic, he declared: 'Hopefully I see him in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed, hopefully I can manage to break in. But if not, I know I'm at a place where I'm happy, and I'm playing football, and good things will come, I'm sure. 'It was actually one of the factors of why I decided to come to Hibs, because I knew playing at a club as big as this had international eyes on it. And then when we had Millsy and Boyle in the team, obviously Nectar's come in, he's done really well, and there was a lot of Australian internationals coming through in Scotland. 'So that was one of the driving factors, and I'm really glad I've came here. We've had a couple of Aussies at Easter Road as well with the Australian flag, so it's nice, home away from home, I get a bit homesick, but it's nice when you see the familiar colours.'
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Jack Iredale opens up on World Cup dream as Hibs star looks to spoil Celtic party
The Socceroo has high hopes for the remainder of the campaign - and next season Jack Iredale hopes a dream European adventure could launch him onto the senior Socceroo scene. And the Hibs ace admits he'd savour sharing a World Cup build-up campaign at Easter Road alongside Martin Boyle. Iredale and his team-mates have Euro qualification in their grasp sitting in third spot in the Premiership with three games to go. David Gray's said could clinch their place with a positive Celtic Park result on Saturday and the defender makes no secret of his desire to get there. Iredale said: 'Yeah, that would be absolutely incredible. It's not really something I've ever thought about until I realised it might actually be achievable here. 'And, then when you think it is achievable, it's something that you really want to do because even when you play at a good level down in England, it's not even part of the thought process. 'You play against some really massive teams down in England and it's frantic, it's Saturday and Tuesdays all the time and you're travelling all over the country. 'But, when you come up here at a club the size of Hibs with the advantages of finishing high at the table and having a chance to play in Europe, it would be a dream. 'But we're not getting ahead of ourselves. We know where we were four months ago, so we know how quickly it can turn. 'We've got three cup finals left to go, we've got a bit of a tough one this weekend at Parkhead and we'll see what happens there. 'The excitement's there, the confidence is there, but we know we need to keep our feet on the ground until what we want to achieve has been achieved.' Hibs have defeated Rangers at Ibrox this term and repeating the trick across Glasgow would be stunning as Iredale continued: 'It'd be absolutely massive. I don't know if that would quite clinch third, but it'd be obviously the step in the right direction. 'But you know how hard playing against Celtic is on their own turf, especially when the sun's out. No-one wants to go there when the sun's shining, because it's chaos. 'We know how tough it's going to be, but we've shown that we can turn up in the big moments in this season and, hopefully, the boys can do that again on the weekend. 'If we're going to finish third, we want them to win the cup as well. So, if they want to let us win and then turn it back on after that, that'd be alright!' Iredale has been capped at Under-17 level by Australia and admits making coach Tony Popovich's main squad to join the likes of Boyle, Lewis Miller and Nectarios Triantis is a target. The Socceroos are fighting to make the 2026 Finals and the stopper, who won PFA Goal of the Season for his cracker against Hearts, said: 'I've not quite got his number yet, but hopefully I see him in a couple of weeks. 'Fingers crossed, hopefully I can manage to break in, but if not, I know I'm at a place where I'm happy, I'm playing football and good things will come, I'm sure. 'It was actually one of the factors of why I decided to come to Hibs, because I knew playing at a club as big as this had international eyes on it. 'Then when we had Millsy and Boyle in the team, obviously Nectar's come in, he's done really well, and there was a lot of Australian internationals coming through in Scotland, so that was one of the driving factors, and I'm really glad I've came here. 'We've had a couple of Aussies at Easter Road as well with the Australian flag, so it's nice, home away from home, I get a bit homesick, but it's nice when you see the familiar colours.' Boyle's future beyond this term has yet to be decided, but Iredale hopes he stays and added: 'I think the club wants to keep as many of the players together as possible. Obviously with Boyle, it's a tough situation, because obviously he loves Hibs. But he's had such a massive season as well that he's got a big decision to make. 'It is World Cup year next year, I know that's factoring into his thoughts as well. So I've loved playing with Boyle this season, he's delivered massive moments for us, and if he stays at the club next season, then even happier. 'I know when he scores goals for the country, everyone's happy, but I've been from the outside looking in, and from what I tell, he's a key member of that squad. He's very dangerous and, now seeing him up close, I respect him even more because I know what he can do.'
