Port Melbourne coach Eric Vassiliadis has brushed off a 3-2 home defeat to South Melbourne and chosen to focus on the positive outcomes from his side’s performance, rather than the result.
After staging a comeback to lead the former NSL giants 2-1, Vassiliadis rued a late capitulation which allow the visitors to run away with all three points courtesy of a quick-fire brace.
“I’m disappointed mostly for the players, because they need to be proud of our first 70 or 80 minutes,” Vassiliadis said.
“[South Melbourne] have come to our ground, and we’ve played them off the park. We controlled the game. I’m trying to be really proud of our young lads and the way they played – sticking to our game plan.
“In the end, it was a bit of inexperience and that intangible luck that cost us the game.”
Vassiliadis, a former VPL championship winner with Heidelberg United, says his faith in Port Melbourne’s capacity for improvement has bolstered his bright outlook on his side’s potential to push for honours, just one season after being promoted to Victorian top flight football.
In his view, the task at hand is to strike a delicate balance between pursuing the club’s footballing philosophy without sacrificing the results.
“My firm belief is we’ve got a lot more to improve than [South Melbourne]. We’ve got a young team, we’re a lot more volatile,” he said.
“We want to finish as high as possible. But my challenge is to make sure they maintain the belief and stick to the way we want to play. Once we get to where we want, we’ll be strong.
“But for now it’s the mental challenge. We’ve got to keep them up while these results are volatile. I’ve said to the boys it’s clear in my mind where we want to get to – and where we are in that process. We’re just pushing full steam ahead.”
Vassiliadis reserved glowing praise for two players separated by a contrasting decade of experience in football. He is convinced that Port Melbourne’s potent brew of Kevin Braniff’s overseas experience and Kamal Ibrahim’s precocious talent will stand them in good stead.
“Kamal Ibrahim and two or three other boys will be game changers in three or four weeks. It’s been no surprise to me at all,” the head coach said.
“[Kevin Braniff] has played at the highest level in Ireland. Probably what you don’t know about him is that he’s a super character and a super person. That’s a huge bonus.
“He’s scored three for us, but more so he gives us tremendous composure and experience. It’s a pleasure to coach him. I wish ultimately that our young players will get to his level. We’ll get there with our young boys but it’s a process.”
Although the inaugural NPL has not revolutionised the tangible matchday experience, the long-term development initiatives have not gone unnoticed.
“When you walk away from the stress of coaching and you think methodically, you realise that the game is progressing,” Vassiliadis said.
“The game is progressing, the game’s developing. There’s more media. I’m proud to be a part of it. But the most important thing for me is to win games of football.”
Port Melbourne will now look to pursue their first win of the season at home against Oakleigh Cannons on Friday 4th April. Kickoff is 8:30pm at SS Anderson Reserve.
Follow Steven Chang on Twitter at @Gixibyte.