With most of Melbourne Victory Youth’s more experienced players heavily involved in senior team action in the FFA Cup and A-League in the past week, coach Darren Davies was left with a highly inexperienced side at his disposal for the National Youth League clash against Brisbane Roar on Saturday.
It resulted in 2-1 loss to a much more fancied opposition showcasing the likes of Kofi Danning, Corey Brown and Devante Clut.
However, the Welshman praised his young brigade’s endeavour on the day, believing they shaped up well against their older counterparts.
“From our point of view, we probably had as young team as we’ve ever had on that pitch today, so the effort from the boys and the commitment they showed was phenomenal and I’m very, very pleased with them,” Davies said.
“Brisbane Roar have played the entire season in the NPL in QLD, yet neither side I don’t think really had a significant amount of possession or got the ball down.
“How young we were in comparison to the opposition, will stand us in good stead [for the future].”
Despite not being able to hold onto an early lead – and neither side playing fluent football – Victory’s mentor refused to blame the players, conceding that the gusty and weather-affected day made play difficult and the performance was not reflective of his side’s potential.
“No, I don’t think [it was a disappointing performance], not at all under very difficult circumstances,” he said.
“I don’t think it was a great game, I don’t think it was a very good spectacle if I’m being perfectly honest, but that’s got more to do with the conditions than anything else.
“It was a very scrappy game. However, today with the inexperience it was always going to be difficult, but what I will say is that every single one of those boys out there performed to the best of their ability and will only get better with time.”
With Lawrence Thomas the only senior aged player in the starting 11, Davies had the chance to give this season’s new faces – such as Victoria NTC signings Jonathan Vakirtzis and Lucas Derrick, and AIS’s Brendan Gonano – a prolonged run on the pitch, and the mentor praised each player’s input.
“We’ve had a number of players out of the NTC, that’s a credit to the FFV and [head coach] Boris [Seroshtan], and the boys have performed particularly well when they’ve come in. It’s up to them now to kick on with their careers,” he said.
“But let’s not forget Dion Paola who’s another 1998 born, then we have the 1997 borns – Tommy Deng, [Anthony] Duzel, Jordan O’Doherty in the middle of the park – that’s as young a team as you’ll see in the National Youth Yeague, the boys will only get better and I’m excited by that for the future.”
Sitting on four points after three rounds with a win, a loss and a draw, Melbourne Victory Youth’s next match is an away clash against Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday.