Arguably the greatest prospect introduced to the Australian football scene by the Mariners since the clubs inception, goalkeeper Vukovic is unquestionably one of the country’s outstanding emerging players. Expected to play a bit-part role in the Mariners’ first Hyundai A-League season, Vukovic was thrust into action by Round 6 when incumbent custodian John Crawley was sidelined with an ultimately career ending hip injury. Vukovic turned heads on this occasion and continued to turn them throughout the course of an exceptional rookie year. In 2006/07, Vukovic was awarded the Mariners’ most prestigious award – the Mariners Medal. Season three saw Vukovic build upon his rapidly growing reputation as Australia’s most likely successor to 2006 FIFA World Cup hero Mark Schwarzer both at home and abroad. Simultaneous to leading the Mariners to their maiden Premiership, Vukovic was the only player to contribute to every second of the Qantas Under 23’s 14-match Olympic Games qualification path.