Sam Silvera, Joe Gauci and Harry Souttar are quick studies on the pitch but they had to be even faster to learn to manage money at an early age. As proud partners of the men’s national team, the Subway Socceroos, CommBank supports their journey—from facing red cards for spending mishaps to uncovering unexpected sources of wisdom. For all three, it’s about living in the now and enjoying the wins while still keeping an eye on the future.
Sam Silvera
Known as a dynamic forward, Silvera climbed from local Sydney clubs to the national spotlight, including a senior Australian debut in 2023.
Learn from experience
“You can have all the information and advice but it’s only once you start paying bills and managing your own money that you really understand what works for you.”
Factor in expenses
“Straight out of school I had to quickly learn about planning for real-life costs like car payments and utility bills—at first it was so easy to forget about them and I’d end up just scraping by.”
Heed good advice
“My mum was a big influence on me. She works at a bank as a human resources manager and made sure I wasn’t being silly with my cash. Living with older guys who were good with their money helped me learn about saving, cooking and being responsible.”
Create a buffer
“Yes, it’s fun to enjoy yourself but you need to put something away for a rainy day. Having savings helps you feel comfortable when unexpected problems come up.”
Have fun, later
“My advice to anyone earning their first few pay cheques is that spending money on nights out can wait. You will appreciate it more once you’ve earned the money to enjoy them.”
Joe Gauci
Adelaide-born goalkeeper Gauci went from local leagues to Australia’s Olympic squad, stepping up as a key player for Adelaide United and representing Australia on the world stage.
Prioritise needs over wants
“When I moved out of home in Year 12 and started my first professional deal, I really began to appreciate the fortunate situation I had at home with my parents’ support. I had to learn pretty quickly how to prioritise what was a necessity and what was a luxury.”
Live within your means
“As my career has progressed, I’ve kept my life pretty simplistic, which has been the best way to accumulate savings. My parents have invested well so I’ve been able to bounce ideas off them.”
Set savings targets
“For me, the aim has always been to save a specific amount each month. I have monthly goals for budgeting and have become quite motivated to hit those targets for saving, spending and managing bills. Over time, I’ve been able to accumulate savings, which have then allowed me to invest.”
Stay true to yourself
“I think just knowing what you need day to day is the biggest thing, especially in football. It’s important not to feel pressured into making decisions that don’t align with your current situation. I learnt to say, ‘I can’t afford to do that’ and I found that nobody’s going to have a go at you. Everyone has been in that position.”
