It was only two years ago when Dylan Wenzel-Halls felt the crushing blow that so many National Youth League players across Australia eventually succumb to.

Falling down the pecking order with Brisbane Roar’s NPL team, Wenzel-Halls was not offered a senior contract with the club and looked to be following the well-worn path of talented youngsters who just weren’t good enough.

The setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the then 18-year-old signed with Western Pride in the Queensland NPL.

Fast-forward two years and Wenzel-Halls departs Western Pride as their highest ever goal scorer following two seasons of goalscoring mayhem: a total of 40 goals in 29 games with his 2018 total of 23 coming in just 11 matches.

It’s a turn-around that the striker puts down to the competitive edge of the NPL.

“The improvement I’ve gained from the NPL was huge. I got to play consistent football at a senior level every week,” said Wenzel-Halls.

You can watch the A-League live for only $25 a month. Click here to read our review of Kayo Sports and to start your 14-day free trial.

“It was great for me tactically. As a striker I was coming up against a huge range of centre backs. One week I’m against former pros who are quite aggressive and the next I’ll be up against a young boy who might be a little bit quicker.”

The week-to-week variety of the NPL challenged Wenzel-Halls both tactically and mentally, doing exactly what the young forward hoped for when he left Brisbane: prepared him for another stint at pro football.

“I knew that if I stayed at Western Pride and scored goals consistently I’d make waves and people would give me a chance.”

Having been given a new chance by Brisbane, Wenzel-Halls is already enjoying the new challenge under John Aloisi.

“It’s a lot quicker to what I was used to. You’ve got to move the ball, one or two touch only. You can get away with a sloppy pass in the NPL, but in the A-League you can’t.”

Embed from Getty Images

Thankfully he has one of Australia’s best ever strikers in his corner.

“To be one of two or three forwards learning off Aloisi is a good environment to be in and I I’m constantly learning.

“He wants me to influence games: to come off the bench and make an impact when the game is stretched defenders are tired. I can suit that role.”

Everyone loves a hometown hero, and with a make-or-break year that promises plenty of in-season intrigue, Wenzel-Halls could help pave the path for more players to join the A-League from the NPL if he makes good on his ambitions.