Far from the starlit academies of European football, Lucas Mauragis grew up playing in mixed juniors, coached by his parents until he was 13. Far beyond the traditional route to becoming a professional footballer, Lucas has been a trailblazer for footballers in southern NSW/ACT.
With discipline far beyond the average teen, Lucas has played for the Newcastle Jets, Wellington Phoenix, and more recently has been named in a team with legends like Sadie Mane and Riyad Mahrez, while donning a Central Coast Mariners jersey.
With a tough first season at the Mariners coming to an end, I talked to Lucas about everything from Canberra football pathways to the AFC Champions League Elite.
Q: When did the dream of becoming a footballer start and when did that dream start to become a real possibility?
A: When I first said I wanted to become professional football I was probably in primary school. I was from a small town of Merimbula. From such a young age in primary school, year five, year six, I was telling my mates that I was going to be a professional footballer.
It wasn’t until I was 13 that my dad said to me “If you actually want to take it seriously, we can.” That’s when I started to trial in Canberra, at a few local NPL (National Premier League) clubs. When I realised that the professional side of (football) was an actual possibility was when I made the youth team at the Newcastle Jets. I was about 18 and I just said:
“If I can crack it here, I think I can really make it and, fortunately enough, I did”
Q: With the Canberra United Academy falling through (for men’s), how can Canberra continue to develop and progress footballers?
I definitely think they need to get an academy back. As well as an A-League club because the one thing for Canberra is you can’t see a road to professional football. If you want to make it, you have to move elsewhere, like how I had to move to Newcastle.
However, if the young players in Canberra can see a professional team in Canberra and can see a pathway to get to that club, I think you’ll see a lot more players thrive and have that motivation.
A lot of players now without that pathway in sight, they can’t really… I just feel like they lose sight of how to get there and lose their way.
Q: In areas like southern NSW/ACT it takes a lot more than just having talent. With this in mind, what do you think was the main difference that helped you get to where you are?
A: For me, definitely (my) parents. Having supportive parents was a huge help. I wouldn’t be a professional footballer if it wasn’t for my Dad instilling the foundation to become a professional football and what it takes. I also think something that I did when I was in Canberra was I realised that I wasn’t a part of a professional academy.
You see a lot of players in professional academies, they’re doing 16, 20 hours a week. So what I would do is have a diary and make sure I track each hour I’m training, and make sure it added up to 20 hours a week. I think this was definitely something that was a part of my success in becoming a professional footballer when the time came.
I had no doubt in my mind that I was going to be a professional. I think that intrinsic belief in yourself is probably the difference between making it and not making it.
Q: What have been some of the highlights from your career and footballing journey?
A: There’s quite a few looking back at it. When I scored my first goal. I think it’s quite funny because it was in the F3 derby, (Jets v Mariners) and I had my chance, and I took it and scored a goal and did really well.
It was a great game for me personally. Now I’m playing for the club I scored against and (Newcastle) are our rivals.
I’d also say representing Australia for the first time and my goal this season for the Mariners against Buriram (United). That was a big moment, and getting the team of the week (in the Asian Champions League Elite) amongst some big names across Asia.
Q: In what has been a tough season with the Mariners, how important are moments like that to keep you going?
A: Yeah, definitely important. I think goals and assists and anything like that can just bring that belief and that confidence in your game. On such a big stage (scoring that goal) definitely told me that I can play at that level, and that’s the highest level in Asia.
Some of those teams have got some massive, massive players. It definitely instilled belief that I can go on and go even further in my ability and my potential.
Q: What has been the hardest moment from your journey to where you are now?
A: Moving to Canberra and leaving my family, at such a young age of 14. Canberra to Newcastle, I left all my really close friends in Canberra and I had a girlfriend at the time in Canberra and then leaving all them to chase my dream in Newcastle. Then getting overlooked in Newcastle, not getting selected, feeling quite alone in Newcastle because of the demands of football.
I think the main theme is just making sacrifices, leaving people that are close to you is definitely a hard thing, but you get used to it after a while and there’s always challenges.
Q: What are your goals for the future? Can you bounce back with the Mariners next season and then where from there?
A: Obviously the Mariners comes first. That being with having success there. I think it’s no secret that my main goal is to get overseas and play the highest possible level I can.
I’ve always loved the UK and the Championship and I’ve got a lot of family there and that’s something I’d love to do one day, play in the UK, or in Europe in general.
I believe that I have the ability to get there already. I just need to show it and I believe I can do that in the A-League or anywhere. It’s just about getting that moment to show them.