Melbourne Victory Youth coach Darren Davies was proud to see some of his youth team graduates get a call up to the Australian U22 side, whilst remaining unfazed over the prospect of a reduced squad over the coming weeks.
With Scott Galloway, Jason Geria, Nick Ansell and Connor Pain on their way to Oman, places have opened up in the senior side for the youth team players to step up.
In turn, that’ll mean less available players for Davies to pick for the youth team, but that’s a selection headache he’d rather have.
“For me that’s what it’s about – young players playing A-League, young players playing for their country ultimately,” Davies said.
“We should be proud that we have four players away with Australia and that means somebody else is going to get an opportunity to play and that’s what’s it’s about for us.
“Are we going to be short in youth team? Probably so, but that will give somebody else an opportunity to step up as did Christian Cavallo today as a replacement player I thought he was outstanding.
“People are going to get their opportunity in the first team, and people are going to get their opportunity in the youth team and that’s great for us.”
One of the players that might make the step up to the first team is Dylan Murnane.
The defender was handed the captain’s armband for the win against Brisbane Roar, and Davies was pleased with his contribution.
“I thought Dylan and Milos [Ridesic] today, central defenders, they were very, very good,” he said.
“Dylan’s been with us for a couple of years now and played first team football last year so as a senior youth team player I felt that he was very good.
Christopher Cristaldo came off the bench for the first team on Saturday night, something that also made Davies proud.
“It was great to see [Cristaldo] playing in the first team last night,” he said.
“I thought he was good [for the seniors] and I thought he was good again today.
“In fairness it probably took a lot out of him physically and mentally last night and obviously in difficult circumstances.
“We continue to say it’s what we’re about, what we want and for our first youth team player this season to get on the A-League pitch that was a very proud moment and it gives the other boys inspiration.
And despite a comprehensive result against Brisbane, Davies still found one aspect of Victory’s play that needed improvement.
“We had a few more chances than them in fairness and as I say it was probably that composure in the final third – the technical ability to score goals in the final third,” he said.
“We’re constantly practising, we’re constantly trying to improve and we’ll continue to do so.”
Melbourne Victory Youth make the short trip to Epping Stadium on Sunday to face Melbourne Heart Youth in the local derby.