Western United is delighted to announce today the signing of talented 20-year-old central defender Oskar Dillon.
Dillon, who has been plying his trade in the NPL on the Gold Coast with Gold Coast Knights, signs till the end of the season.
The tall defender who can also play as a deep-lying midfielder has built a big reputation in the Sunshine State, winning Football Queensland’s Young Player of the Year.
The Coffs-Harbour raised Dillon moved to the Gold Coast when he was 13 years old to play for Palm Beach Sharks and further his career in football.
He also spent time as a teenager in the Roar U18s and at the QAS before returning to the Gold Coast to play senior NPL football at the Knights.
He can play as a left or right-sided stopper.
Dillon spent the last two months during the NPL off-season training at the highest intensity possible with former NSL player Adem Poric before he got his chance with the Green and Black.
And now he’s a professional footballer needless to say the new A-League player is savoring every moment as he goes from NPL football to rubbing shoulders with teammates who have played at World Cups, the Euros or are A-League legends.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Dillon told wufc.com.au.
“There are a lot of experienced boys in the team to learn from them and hopefully if I get an opportunity, I’ll try to make the most of it.”
The defender has been on Mark Rudan’s radar for a while after he trained with Wellington Phoenix during their Gold Coast camps last year.
“It’s crazy. You watch a lot of the players in my team on TV these last few years and now I’m training with them.
“It doesn’t feel real. But they’re all really nice guys, they’re not stuck up. They’ve been really welcoming.
“And these training facilities. I’m not used to that! They’re unreal. Even just having lunch and breakfast together. It’s all new to me, but I like it.”
Dillon is one of four boys with sport a major focus.
However, the new United signing could’ve ended up being a basketballer after quitting football around eight years ago.
He began playing and was doing well, but after seeing one of his brothers play for Sydney club Marconi his love of football was reignited and he’s still going strong.
“Mum’s stoked for me,” the new Western United defender added.
“She’s sacrificed a lot.”
