While defeat to the Bentleigh Greens brought to end an impressive five-game undefeated streak for the Melbourne Knights, there are encouraging signs that the best is yet to come for Andrew Marth’s side.
Severely depleted by the loss of a number of experienced players over the summer, the Sunshine North-based club turned to youth in their bid to consolidate another top six placing.
Right-back Nick Glavan was one of the new arrivals to the Knights dressing room and eight league games in, his acquisition has provided the side with plenty of stability and quality on the right-hand side of defence.
The 19-year-old started and played a full 90 once more against the Greens, and although the 3-1 defeat was disappointing to take in, Glavan heaped praise on his side’s overall battling qualities.
“I thought we battled hard tonight and even when we went down to 10 men we still gave it our all,” Glavan said.
“We copped three goals from set pieces, got ourselves back in it with the goal we scored, but I guess the red card killed us.
“But overall the boys worked hard tonight and we were fairly unlucky to an extent.”
A Ben Surey red card midway through the second half stalled the Knights momentum as they charged in search of an equaliser, after Marijan Cvitkovic’s skilful strike minutes earlier had halved the deficit.
But it wasn’t to be for the 2014 Dockerty Cup winners, whose overall record this season sees them placed on the periphery of the top six following three wins, three draws and two losses in eight outings, with Glavan pleased by his own performances so far – together with his team’s.
“I’m fairly happy with how I’ve been going and have had a run of good games to my name as has the team,” he said.
“We’re doing well and winning games in addition to keeping a few clean sheets, which is good for the defence, so I’m pretty happy both with my performances and the team’s.”
Glavan was one of two teenagers in the starting XI against the Greens – along with centre-back Ivan Grgic – with another three teens coming on off the substitute’s bench.
He believes the Knights squad is well balanced as a host of youngsters learn from the side’s more experienced vanguard, while also praising the warmth he received from the playing group upon joining the club last December.
“We’ve got a blend of older and younger players, which is something I think every team needs,” he said.
“The dressing room here is probably one of the best I’ve been involved with – a friendly vibe, good banter – and this has made it easy for me to fit in well with the rest of the playing group as they’ve been very welcoming.”
After progressing through the junior ranks at Nunawading City, Glavan was part of the NTC set-up in 2013, before making his first-team senior debut for Dandenong City in 2014.
He subsequently made 24 league starts for Hajduk under coach Ivan Duzel, catching the eye of Melbourne Victory alongside City teammate Damien Miskulin.
After featuring for Darren Davies’ side in the 2014/15 National Youth League season, Glavan consolidated his place on the right side of the Victory Youth defence over the course of the club’s inaugural NPL2 campaign, which resulted in promotion to the top flight.
Despite making 28 appearances for the club, Glavan was released along with fellow defender Milos Ridesic at season’s end, and admits that he was caught off guard by the club’s decision to part company with him.
“When I heard the news I was pretty disappointed given I’d played in every league game in a promotion winning season, so I thought I was guaranteed to stay there,” Glavan said.
“But things like that happen and I’m happy that I was able to join the Knights, where I’ve had a good season to date and hopefully can push on.”
With the move to the Knights Stadium proving to be a silver lining for the NTC graduate, Glavan still harbours aspirations of returning to the professional set up, and believes his current surroundings can go a long way in helping him reach such a goal.
“Definitely, as I guess all players aspire to play at the highest level possible. My personal goal is to get to the top as I believe I am good enough and hopefully I can put in a good season here and push on,” he said.
While former Liverpool and Scotland defender turned TV pundit Alan Hansen famously invoked the phrase that “you can’t win anything with kids”, Andrew Marth’s fledglings are determined to show others that they won’t be pushovers this term as they go in search of league and cup glory.
Central to any such achievements will surely be the determined Glavan, who, after effectively taming the likes of in-form attackers Sami Nour and Theo Markelis in recent weeks, is hoping to springboard back into the professional sphere by helping the Knights prove their doubters wrong in 2016.
The early-signs are encouraging for both player and club as they prepare for the stretch of mid-season games, which will go a long way in determining the success of this young squad.
Image: Steve Starek / Melbourne Knights