Aussies In Asia, Mid-Term Report: Mark Milligan Leading The Way

With the introduction of the 'three plus one' rule, there has been a rapid growth in Australians plying their trade in Asia. How have they been performing?


Mark Milligan (Shanghai Shenhua) 

Milligan has been a success for Shanghai Shenhua and is generally regarded as the best of the team’s five overseas stars - though the majority haven’t impressed - and the most successful of the Australian contingent in the Middle Kingdom. 

It didn’t take the former Olyroo skipper long to win the hearts of the Blue Devils. Trailing 1-0 in the opening game at home to newly promoted Jiangsu, Milligan’s secret weapon, a Rory Delap-like long throw, twice caused havoc in the dying minutes and twice produced goals.

Shanghai’s season has been a little disappointing, but with all the changes and experiments that have been tried to lift the team to the top, Milligan’s place has remained safe.  

There is even talk in the Chinese media that the defender-cum-midfielder is catching the eye of English Premier League teams.   

Ryan Griffiths (Beijing Guoan)  



There are concerns at Beijing that Ryan and his brother Joel may just be a little too similar to play in the same team.

Before the season started, coach Lee Jang-soo had been hoping for a big striker in the mould of Tianjin’s Brazilian star Luis Elber, but instead the Green Lions got the Australian siblings.

Ryan, who played for Liaoning last season, got off to a good start with a goal on his league and Asian Champions League debut. But failure to score in subsequent games led to increased pressure on coach Lee and the signing of the 2008 league MVP Emil Martinez.  

Out of the team, Joel’s five-match ban handed Ryan another chance and he took it well with a great strike against Changchun. But once again it was a false dawn, and as Beijing’s results improved, Ryan once again found himself on the sidelines. 

Now reports in China suggest that Ryan, a popular figure in the dressing room, could be in line for the chop. Foreign strikers are currently on trial in the capital.   

Joel Griffiths (Beijing Guoan)   



Joel’s haul of five goals in eight league games means that his place in the team is more stable than his brother’s. 

It has been something of a roller-coaster ride, however. On March 22, he scored on his league debut, but a week later, he was sent off after crashing into Changsha goalkeeper Song Zhenyu.  

He returned from the ban with a goal to give Beijing a vital away win, and then against champions Shandong, he scored a late equaliser to give the team a 2-2 draw. In the clash, he received a five-match ban for punching a Shandong player, but he returned to the starting eleven in June to get the winner against rivals Tianjin.

The player is enjoying his time in China, telling local media recently, "I will work hard with Ryan together and help Beijing get the league title. We all love Beijing and want to stay here as long as possible."   

Mark Bridge (formerly of Tianjin Teda) 

Bridge didn’t impress in his four-month loan spell with the big-spenders of Tianjin. Criticised for a perceived lack of enthusiasm by fans and media, playing alongside Luis Elber - not the most team-minded of strikers - didn’t make things any easier. Soon, he lost his place to local boy Mao Biao and made just two league appearances. It just wasn’t the right move. 



Sasa Ognenovski (Seongnam Ilhwa)  

The big defender from Adelaide United struggled to settle in a new-look Seongnam side at the start of the season, though he wasn’t the only one, as new boss Shin Tae-young dismantled much of the old guard at the club and changed the way the team played.

It took Ognenovski a while to deal with the fact that most K-League forwards tend to be quicker and more technically adept than their A-League counterparts, and for foreign defenders, communication can be a problem, but in recent weeks he has done enough to suggest that he could have a part to play  

For Seongnam and Ognenovski, 2009 is very much a season of transition and if he uses this campaign to prepare for next, 2010 may be better for fans, club and player. 

Discipline will need to improve, however. In ten league games he has been yellow carded five times and has seen red once – leading to two suspensions.  

Jade North (Incheon United)  



Came to Incheon as an Australian international, played the first two games on the right side but then lost his place in the team. He was forced to watch from the sidelines for the next eight games as the west coast team’s back line conceded just one goal.

Even then, the club said that the 27-year-old would get his chance and it came after a surprise 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Pohang Steelers. He has since played both of Incheon’s matches, which ended in draws.

Has been solid enough when he has played but has just not played very often. Maybe now he is finally back in the starting eleven, he can get a chance to show what he can do.  



Eddy Bosnar (JEF United)  

The giant defender is a vital part of JEF’s efforts to avoid the drop in his second season at the club. The team is struggling but Bosnar is seen as reliable at the back and rarely misses a game.

This season, that has happened just the once, due to suspension. His propensity for collecting cards is perhaps his biggest weakness, but that aggression makes him a favourite with the fans. His power in the tackle and in the air as well as his passion are also liked.

The well-travelled defender will have a big say in whether or not the Chiba club can stay in the top flight.

John Duerden

Asia Editor

john.duerden@goal.com