Bradley Tapp (born 16 January 2001) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Central Coast Mariners.

Bradley Tapp
Personal information
Full name Bradley Anthony Tapp
Date of birth (2001-01-16) 16 January 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Sydney, Australia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Central Coast Mariners
Number 26
Youth career
2018–2019 Blacktown City
2019–2023 Central Coast Mariners
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2023 CCM Academy 8 (0)
2022– Central Coast Mariners 21 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 November 2024

Career

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Tapp began his footballing journey by playing his junior football at Baulkham Hills Kookaburras, before he was signed to the academy of National Premier Leagues NSW club Blacktown City. Tapp was part of Blacktown City's U18s team who were crowned champions of the NPL NSW U18s competition in 2019.[1]

Central Coast Mariners

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Following his success with Blacktown City in the U18s, Tapp was scouted and signed by the Central Coast Mariners to join their academy set up. Tapp was named captain of the Mariners NPL first grade side for the 2022 season,[2] competing in the newly renamed NSW League One competition, the second tier in the National Premier Leagues NSW system. Under Tapp's captaincy, the team won the Premiership for finishing top of the table and achieved promotion to the top flight for the 2023 season.[3] Tapp also made his first team debut for the Central Coast Mariners in the 2022 Australia Cup, coming off the bench in a defeat on penalties to Sydney FC at Leichhardt Oval.[4]

Tapp suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 2022 NSW League One Grand Final, ruling him out of the entire 2023 season in which he was supposed to captain the Mariners NPL side in the top flight of NSW football following their promotion.

In the 2023-24 A-League season, Tapp made his breakthrough into a full time member of the Mariners first team squad. Tapp made his return from his ACL injury in a 9–1 defeat of Filipino side, Stallion Laguna, in the 2023-24 AFC Cup, while making his A-League debut a few weeks later against Macarthur FC. On 29 December 2023, Tapp was upgraded to a full A-League contract, his first professional contract, after impressing for the club across the first half of the season.[5]

Tapp was part of the Mariners' Championship, Premiership and AFC Cup winning 2023-24 season.[6][7][8]

Honours

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Central Coast Mariners

References

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  1. ^ "Blacktown City FC crowned Under 18s champions". National Premier Leagues NSW. 31 August 2019. Archived from the original on 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  2. ^ ""We want the three points more than any other" - Brad Tapp". Central Coast Mariners FC. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Academy Men's First Grade and U20s claim League One premiership and Club Championship". Central Coast Mariners FC. 8 August 2022. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Valiant Mariners defeated in dramatic Cup thriller". Central Coast Mariners FC. 31 July 2022. Archived from the original on 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Academy product Brad Tapp upgraded to A-League contract". Central Coast Mariners FC. 29 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Central Coast Mariners secure A-league Men's premier's plate with win over Adelaide United". ABC News (Australia). 2 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Central Coast Mariners become first Australian club to win AFC Cup". ABC News (Australia). 6 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Mariners defeat Victory in inspirational Grand Final showdown". Coast Community News. 27 May 2024.
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