When Aaron Mooy announced his retirement back in June it left a cavernous crater in the architecture of the national team.
Arguably a once in a generation talent for Australia, Mooy’s exit at just 32 might not have entirely shocked Subway Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, but it nonetheless posed a problem not easily answered.
Just how do you replace a 57-cap icon who helped drag your team to the World Cup finals and then cemented his own legacy when you got there?
After the desert sand had settled on Australia’s achievement in reaching the last 16 in Qatar, assistant Rene Meulensteen was hopeful then Celtic midfielder Mooy would agree be part of another Asian Cup/World Cup cycle.
Arnold, though, was privately more fatalistic and ultimately proven right when the beating heart of the Subway Socceroos’ engine room revealed he would not back up for one last hurrah.
Though Mooy remains irreplaceable in terms of his poise, artistry and sheer unflappability, Arnold is hopeful that Aiden O’Neill, recently repatriated to Europe and the recipient now of three caps, might be the one to fill the chasm.
Once of Burnley and now with Belgium Pro League Standard Liege, O’Neill, 25, knows this could be his time to shine on a grander stage after reinventing himself back home with Central Coast, Brisbane and most notably Melbourne City.
Is he filled with trepidation over the prospect of potentially taking the Mooy mantle? Actually, far from it.
“I think Arnie has a lot of faith in me, and actually a lot of other boys,” explained O’Neill, who has started every game of the season thus far for his new club.
“There are similarities to our games in some respects but I have big shoes to fill there (in potentially replacing Mooy), and lots to improve on.
“But I do feel I can be that person in the Socceroos team, and I aspire to be as good as he’s been in his football career.”
O’Neill, who made three Premier League appearances for Burnley, has been a long-time Mooy fan, entranced by both his enduring class and composure under fire.
“He was a unique player for Australia, so calm in those big moments and yet he also had that killer instinct to provide a decisive pass to really hurt the opposition,” he added.
“He also scored important goals and was a massive leader, maybe not vocally but by the way he went about his football.
“I was a little surprised when he announced his retirement (from club and international football) because he was coming off a great season at Celtic and at 32 you’d think he had a lot of football to play.
“But I’m sure he had his reasons why he called it a day. But what a fabulous career he had. I never actually got to meet him but I’m sure one day that will happen.”
There’s a certain symmetry between the two: both returning to Australia after initially forging a path overseas - Mooy at Bolton Wanderers and St Mirren - before winding up at Melbourne City and ultimately boomeranging back to Europe.
“My goal is to soak everything in and continue improving as a player, and hopefully that will help internationally with the Socceroos,” continued O’Neill.
“You never stop learning and growing - and I’m delighted to be at Standard. The Belgium league is very physical and athletically everybody is very good.
“Technically it’s tough too and it’s been a big step up arriving here and getting used to the speed of games. It’s exciting to push yourself like this at a strong club who have probably the most passionate fans I’ve played in front of.
“We’ve had a bit of a slow start (three defeats from their first four games) but it doesn’t matter how you start it’s how you finish at the end of the season that counts.”
O’Neill started in June’s 2-0 friendly loss to world champions Argentina in China, and looks likely to loom large in the coming months with Australia tacking Mexico in Dallas next month, England and New Zealand in London in October before embarking on the next World Cup qualification campaign in November.
“Last season was one of the best in my career, if not the best, and it was topped off by getting my first call up for the national team (against Ecuador),” he added.
“It’s a dream come to true to be involved with such a special group of players.
“I think we showed in that game in China a lot of bravery and proved how much Australia has progressed and will keep progressing.
“You look at how well the Matildas did at the Women’s World Cup and it’s just a really exciting time for the game in Australia.”