Joshua Rawlins

{{short description|Australian association football player (born 2004)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Joshua Rawlins

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Joshua James Rawlins{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FU17WC/2019/pdf/FU17WC_2019_Squadlists.pdf |title=FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019: List of Players: Australia |publisher=FIFA |page=3 |date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227222540/https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FU17WC/2019/pdf/FU17WC_2019_Squadlists.pdf |archive-date=27 December 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|4|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = Perth, Australia

| height = 1.81 m

| position = Right back

| currentclub = Melbourne Victory

| clubnumber = 22

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Dianella SC

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Perth Glory

| years1 = 2019–2021

| clubs1 = Perth Glory NPL

| caps1 = 26

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2020–2022

| clubs2 = Perth Glory

| caps2 = 34

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2022–2024

| clubs3 = Jong Utrecht

| caps3 = 24

| goals3 = 0

| clubs4 = → Perth Glory (loan)

| years4 = 2024

| caps4 = 12

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2024–

| clubs5 = Melbourne Victory

| caps5 = 3

| goals5 = 0

| club-update = 28 June 2024

| nationalyears1 = 2019

| nationalteam1 = Australia U15

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2019

| nationalteam2 = Australia U17

| nationalcaps2 = 6

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2022–2023

| nationalteam3 = Australia U20

| nationalcaps3 = 7

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2022–

| nationalteam4 = Australia U23

| nationalcaps4 = 9

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| nationalteam-update = 20 March 2025

}}

Joshua James Rawlins (born 23 April 2004) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a right back for Melbourne Victory.

Early life

Born in Perth, Rawlins played for Dianella Soccer Club during his childhood, before joining Perth Glory's development sector in 2015.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-04 |title=Australische aanwinst: Joshua Rawlins |url=https://www.fcutrecht.nl/nieuws/2022/mei/australische-aanwinst-joshua-rawlins/ |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=FC Utrecht |language=nl}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-05 |title=Rawlins Set To Complete Move To Dutch Top Flight |url=https://perthglory.com.au/news/rawlins-set-to-complete-move-to-dutch-top-flight |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Perth Glory}}{{Cite web |title=AFC Champions League | AFC |url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/matches/2020/2043056}}

He attended Our Lady's Assumption Primary School in Dianella, and then continued his study path at Chisholm Catholic College in Bedford.

Club career

= Perth Glory =

After coming through the youth ranks of Perth Glory and playing both in the A-League Youth and the National Premier Leagues with their youth sides, Rawlins made his professional debut on 18 November 2020, starting the match against Shanghai Shenhua in the group stage of the 2020 AFC Champions League, which Perth eventually lost 1-2. In the occasion, he became the youngest player to ever feature in an ACL game, at 16 years, six months and 26 days.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-19 |title=Shanghai Shenhua's Choi hails '100 percent' effort in AFC Champions League win |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/news/shanghai_shenhua%E2%80%99s_choi_hails_%E2%80%98100_percent%E2%80%99_effort_in_afc_champions_league_win%0D.html |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=The AFC}}{{Cite news |last1=Christenson |first1=Marcus |last2=Kemp |first2=Emma |date=2021-10-07 |title=Next Generation 2021: 60 of the best young talents in world football |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2021/oct/07/next-generation-2021-60-of-the-best-young-talents-in-world-football |access-date=2022-06-06 |issn=0261-3077}} He would go on playing three more matches in the continental tournament, two of which as a starter, as his side finished last in their group and failed to progress to the next round.

On 20 January 2021, Rawlins made his debut in the A-League, starting the match against Adelaide United as his team eventually gained a 5-3 win: at 16 years and 272 days, he became the youngest ever player to feature in the starting XI for a league match.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Nick |date=2021-01-20 |title=A-League 2021: Perth Glory dominant in season-opening 5-3 win over Adelaide United |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-glory/a-league-2021-perth-glory-dominant-in-season-opening-5-3-win-over-adelaide-united-ng-b881774617z |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=The West Australian |language=en}} Under the manager Richard Garcia, he went on to collect eleven more appearances during the campaign (seven of which as a starter), as Perth finished the regular season at the bottom of the league table.

Finally, on 24 November 2021, the full-back debuted in the FFA Cup, coming in as a substitute for Tyler Vecchio at the 66th minute of the play-off match against Melbourne Victory, with the visitors eventually winning the match at penalty shoot-outs.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-24 |title=FFA Cup Report: Glory 1 (3) - 1 (4) Victory |url=https://melbournevictory.com.au/news/ffa-cup-report-glory-13-14-victory |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Melbourne Victory}} During the 2021-2022 season, Rawlins established himself more as a regular starter in the team, collecting a total amount of 23 appearances between the league and the national cup, although Perth Glory finished last in the A-League and got left out of the final play-offs for the second year in a row.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

= Utrecht =

On 4 May 2022, it was officially announced that Rawlins would join Utrecht on 1 July for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year contract with the Dutch club and becoming their fifth ever Australian player in the process, after Tommy Oar, Adam Sarota, Michael Zullo and Daniel Arzani.

On 11 June 2024, Utrecht announced that Rawlins had terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent.{{Cite web |date=11 June 2024 |title=Joshua Rawlins keert niet meer terug bij FC Utrecht |url=https://www.fcutrecht.nl/nieuws/2024/juni/joshua-rawlins-keert-niet-meer-terug-bij-fc-utrecht |access-date=13 June 2024 |website=FC Utrecht |language=nl}}

== Loan to Perth Glory ==

On 29 January 2024, Perth announced the re-signing of Rawlins on loan.{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Gareth |date=2024-01-29 |title=Rising star Rawlins returns to Glory on loan |url=https://perthglory.com.au/news/rising-star-rawlins-returns-to-glory-on-loan |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=Perth Glory}} In May 2024, the club confirmed that Rawlins had returned back to his parent club.{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Gareth |date=2024-05-28 |title=ALM player departures confirmed |url=https://perthglory.com.au/news/alm-player-departures-confirmed/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Perth Glory |language=en-AU}}

= Melbourne Victory =

On 28 June 2024, it was officially announced that Rawlins had signed for Melbourne Victory.{{Cite web |last=sachapisani |date=2024-06-28 |title=Victory recruit Aussie young gun from Eredivisie club: 'Incredibly bright future' |url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/a-league-melbourne-victory-transfer-news-josh-rawlins/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=A-Leagues |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last=tlusk |date=2024-06-28 |title=Melbourne Victory signs Josh Rawlins |url=https://melbournevictory.com.au/news/melbourne-victory-signs-josh-rawlins/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Melbourne Victory |language=en-AU}}

International career

Rawlins was born in Australia.{{cite web | title=Risau Corbin Ong bersara? Prospek FC Utrecht dikhabarkan ada pertalian darah dengan Malaysia, calon pengganti terbaik | website=Majoriti.com.my | date=2023-05-28 | url=https://majoriti.com.my/sukan/2023/05/28/risau-corbin-ong-bersara-prospek-fc-utrecht-dikhabarkan-ada-pertalian-darah-dengan-malaysia-calon-pengganti-terbaik | language=ms | access-date=2023-06-05}} He has represented Australia at several youth international levels.

He was the captain of the national selection at the 2019 AFF U-15 Championship, where his side failed to progress to the knock-out stage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/wp-content/uploads/match_result/u16/2019/M5.pdf|title=AFF Championship Match Summary Cambodia U15 v Australia U15|publisher=AFF|date=28 July 2019|access-date=24 September 2021}}

In the same year, he was also included in the squad that took part in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil:{{Cite web |date=2019-10-02 |title=Trevor Morgan names Australia's Brazil-bound boys |url=https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/trevor-morgan-names-australias-brazil-bound-boys |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Socceroos |language=en}} being the youngest player of the bunch, Rawlins played all of the three matches in the group stage of the competition, as the Joeys managed to progress to the knock-out phase as one of the best third-placed teams, before eventually getting eliminated by France in the round of 16.

In May 2022, Rawlins was called-up to the under-23 national team to take part in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan, once again being the youngest member in the squad.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-18 |title=CONFIRMED: Squad named for Australia's U23 Asian Cup quest |url=https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/confirmed-squad-named-australias-u23-asian-cup-quest |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Football Australia |language=en}} He subsequently made his debut for the Olyroos on June 4, starting their second group stage fixture against Iraq: in the occasion, he assisted Alou Kuol's opening goal, as the match eventually ended in a 1-1 draw.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-04 |title=Group B: Iraq, Australia play to a thrilling draw |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/group_b_iraq_v_australia__1.html |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=The AFC}}{{Cite web |last=Ward |first=Roy |date=2022-06-04 |title='Don't ask me how I've done it': Young Socceroo Alou Kuol scores scorpion goal |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/don-t-ask-me-how-i-ve-done-it-young-socceroo-alou-kuol-scores-scorpion-goal-20220605-p5ar4s.html |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} After losing to eventual champions Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals,{{Cite web |date=2022-06-15 |title=Saudi Arabia turn on the style against Australia to book final ticket |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/semi-final_australia_v_saudi_arabia_3.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=The AFC |language=en}} Australia also lost the third place match against Japan and finished fourth overall in the continental tournament.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-18 |title=Japan power past Australia to take third spot |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/third_place_playoff_japan_v_australia_1.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=The AFC |language=en}}

Style of play

Whilst being mainly a right back, Rawlins can play in any position across the backline, as well as a defensive midfielder. He's been described as an athletic, quick and intelligent footballer, who has his biggest strengths in his passing and dribbling skills, while also doing good in the defensive phase of his game.

In 2021, the British newspaper The Guardian included him in their annual list of the most promising talents in world football, alongside his fellow countryman Mohamed Toure.

Career statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" \|Club ! rowspan="2" \|Season ! colspan="3" \|League ! colspan="2" \|National Cup ! colspan="2" \|Continental ! colspan="2" \|Other ! colspan="2" \|Total
Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals
rowspan="4" \|Perth Glory \|2019–20 \|A-League \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|4In the AFC Champions League. \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \|4 \|0
2020–21 \|A-League \|12 \|0 \|1 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|13 \|0
2021–22 \|A-League \|22 \|0 \|1 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|23 \|0
colspan="2" \|Total !34 !0 !2 !0 !4 !0 !0 !0 !40 !0
Utrecht \|2022-23 \|Eredivisie \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|0 \|0
Jong Utrecht \|2022-23 \|Eerste Divisie \|24 \|0 \|0 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|24 \|0
Perth Glory \|2023-24 \|A-League Men \|12 \|1 \|0 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|12 \|1
Melbourne Victory \|2024-25 \|A-League Men \|0 \|0 \|0 \|0 \| colspan="2" \|— \| colspan="2" \|— \|0 \|0
colspan="3" \|Career total !70 !1 !2 !0 !4 !0 !0 !0 !76 !1

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

! rowspan="2" |Club

! rowspan="2" |Season

! colspan="3" |League

! colspan="2" |National Cup

! colspan="2" |Continental

! colspan="2" |Other

! colspan="2" |Total

Division

!Apps

!Goals