Tara Murray
It’s full steam ahead for Melton Phoenix after a slow start to the pre-season for the FV state league 5 west season.
The Phoenix have played seven games in the last month as they ramp up preparations for the season which kicks off on Saturday.
Coach Darren Traynor said things were starting to fall into place after a tough start.
“Early in the pre-season it was concerning and it didn’t look good as we didn’t have a lot of players and it was causing some concern.
“Come the second week of February everything started to come together. It wasn’t the pre-season we were expecting, but it’s all come together.”
Traynor said this year they would take in a younger player group, with the average age of the group between 18 and 22.
He said the majority of the players were locals, who were keen to play with their local club.
“It was something I was looking at probably a year ago,” he said of going younger. “It’s evenutated 12 months later than I had played.
“There’s a lot of younger guys and a couple of older guys who have been there through my whole time.
“There’s a couple of local guys who have been involved in state league 1, who are locals that have come back and want to enjoy their football.”
Traynor said being out in Melton and being a state league 5, at times it could be hard to recruit.
The Phoenix will take some confidence into the season, on the back of the Australia Cup.
The side is through to the fourth round of the knock out competition for just the second time.
In round three they beat Craigieburn City, in a thrilling penalty shoot out.
“It was a good result,” Traynor said. “It was very pleasing against good opposition.”
The club is drawn to face National Premier League side St Albans in round four.
Traynor said they were hoping for a good season in the state league competition.
“We’ve played seven games in the last four weeks,” she said. “It’s been a heavy workload.
“It’s a really tough league with some really good teams. We’re aiming to be competitive each week.
“Every club has aims for promotion, but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge.”
It’s an exciting time for the Phoenix with their new club rooms being officially opened to coincide with the opening round of the season.
