Newcastle Jets 1-3 win away to Perth Glory on February 13 was a night to forget for the 7,000 in attendance and the Perth players. That is if your name isn't Luca Tevere.
The 23-year-old made his professional debut, starting in midfield for Perth, having signed for the club less than a week before.
"It was a great feeling walking out onto HBF (Park)," he said.
"I've been working for this moment for a long time and it felt amazing to be playing in a professional league."
It wasn't a straight forward journey to Australia's top division for the 23-year-old. The box-to-box midfielder took the long way around, having spent parts of his youth career in Melbourne City's academy, before swapping academy football for minutes in the VPL with Northcote City.
"When you're a young boy going into a senior squad, it can be intimidating, but you just have to be mentally strong and believe in yourself."
Tevere's belief and hard work landed him a move to Port Melbourne Sharks and the Victorian NPL after less than a year with Northcote. Tevere starred in midfield as Port Melbourne finished second on the ladder before losing the semi-final to eventual Champions Oakleigh Cannons. The Maltese-Australian says he benefited and matured as a player from playing senior football at an early age, as opposed to staying in academy football for longer.
"I probably came out of my shell a little bit more when I went into the senior environment and started to express myself a little bit more," he said.
Ever since, Tevere has been an NPL staple, making 101 appearances in Victoria's top flight for Port Melbourne, Green Gully and Avondale.
His best year in the division came last year when he racked up five goals and five assists, helping Zoran Markovski's Avondale secure the Premiership, and himself a spot in the NPLM Victoria Team of the Year.
Tevere speaks highly of the man who helped him win his first premiership, not just for his ability to set up a team, but to help him prepare mentally for games.
"(Markovski's guidance) was probably the biggest stepping stone over the last four or five years," he said
The admiration is mutual; Markovski is not surprised that his former player is playing A-League football.
"He's a top, top footballer," he said.
Ahead of the 2026 NPL Victoria season, both Markovski and Tevere left Avondale for Preston Lions before Perth snatched up Tevere. Markovski said losing his star player is a massive loss both for him personally and the club, but says neither he nor the club wanted to stand in the way of his first professional contract.
"I see that kid not only playing in the A-League; I see that kid going overseas," he added.
While Tevere has aspirations of playing overseas, his focus is cementing his spot in Glory's starting line-up and a spot on the team this year.
"Hopefully (I can) earn myself another contract where I can have a full pre-season in A-League and get a full season under my belt," Tevere said.
"It would have a good impact on my game."