Dylan Peraić-Cullen

Dylan Peraić-Cullen: Young Keeper Growing Up Fast in Australia

In a position where experience is usually king, Dylan Peraić-Cullen has been rewriting the script. The 19-year-old Australian goalkeeper has already accumulated an unusually high number of first-team games for someone of his age, making a name for himself at Central Coast Mariners — a club that has faced its fair share of adversity in recent seasons.

A Fast-Tracked Rise in Gosford

Peraić-Cullen entered the Mariners’ academy after impressing at a trial during a pre-season friendly in 2022, at just 16 years old — a period in which most goalkeepers are still developing at youth level.

His rapid progression earned him a scholarship deal with the Mariners academy and ultimately, a professional contract in November 2024, tying him to the club until at least 2027. At the time, the young keeper with Croatian roots emphasized the importance of the mentorship from former club captain Danny Vukovic, of Serbian descent, also now part of the coaching staff:

“Working with Vuka has been incredible. He was always helping us even when he was still playing, giving us advice, so to now have him coaching us full time, it has been great so far.”

In the opening game of the Isuzu UTE A-League season, Peraić-Cullen made his professional debut in a 0–0 draw with Melbourne Victory, keeping a clean sheet and becoming both Central Coast Mariners’ youngest ever starting goalkeeper and the youngest goalkeeper in A-League history to start a game and keep a clean sheet.

After this breakthrough, he retained the number one spot for the campaign, featuring regularly across both the A-League Men’s competition and AFC Champions League Elite fixtures.

Playing Style: Size, Agility, Presence

Peraić-Cullen stands out physically — his height (approximately 1.96 m) gives him a major advantage in covering his goal and dominating aerial situations. Beyond pure size, he has shown great agility, blocking also low shots frequently. His distribution could be better, especially with his feet, but for teams looking for a typical goalkeeper profile, he does it.

Mentally speaking, his confidence and bravery are evident. He is not afraid to put his body on the line when required and speaks with his colleagues constantly.

What truly sets Peraić-Cullen apart from many other young goalkeepers is game experience — something rarely seen at 19. By January 2026, he’s logged over 2,200 minutes in senior A-League competition alone.

Those minutes have not all come in easy circumstances. Central Coast Mariners have endured mixed results and defensive challenges over the past two seasons, meaning Peraić-Cullen has often faced a high volume of shots and difficult match scenarios — situations that would test goalkeepers far older than him.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Physical Presence: A tall and imposing frame (1,96m) that helps cover the goal and organise the backline. Blocks high shots on the goal with ease.

• Shot-Stopping Agility: Despite his height, he has shown strong movement and reflexes.

• 1-Versus-1: One of Dylan's characteristics is his great ability to quickly leave the goal and close down the space for the attacker. Given his height, he easily reduces the shooting angle.

Weaknesses:

• Command of Area: Has some work to do on his decision-making when leaving the goal to respond on crosses and set pieces.

• Distribution: His prowess when using his feet must be developed. Limits the options of the team when building from the back.

• Experience Against Top Strikers: More exposure to high-quality attacking talent will refine reading of the game.

International Recognition and Future Outlook

Peraić-Cullen has also been part of Australia youth setups, including selection with the Young Socceroos squad for international training camps, adding to his development off the club stage.

With a long-term deal secured and a wealth of playing time already under his belt, the trajectory for Dylan Peraić-Cullen is clear: a young goalkeeper gaining invaluable experience learned not just from training, but from real competitive adversity.

For recruiters and scouts, he represents a modern keeper profile who combines physical attributes with early maturity — a player with both present ability and long-term upside.