Life for a young footballer, especially at a new club, can often be a daunting experience.
Yet Fraser Maclaren is taking his first season at Bulleen Lions – and in the National Premier League system– firmly in his stride.
The 19-year-old shot stopper has made an immediate impact at Bulleen after signing from Beaumaris Soccer Club in the pre-season, already establishing himself as the Club’s first choice goalkeeper and playing every game so far in the league this season.
Despite putting in a number of solid shifts this campaign, the Lions custodian admits he was not expecting immediate game time when initially signing with the club.
“Bulleen approached me towards the end of pre-season and we signed. The process was pretty straightforward and the club have been very good to me ever since,” Maclaren explains.
“To be honest I wasn’t actually expecting to be the number choice keeper at Bulleen going into pre-season, but towards the start of the season I felt a lot more confident in being first choice.”
The well-spoken youngster is enjoying life at the Veneto Club, where he has been made to feel at home by his new teammates, coaching staff, and supporters.
“Life at Bulleen is great, I’ve got a great bunch of team mates who have taken me in from the very start, which I am very grateful for,” he says with a smile.
“They have been great to me ever since I’ve moved clubs. I get on well with everyone and so far I’m loving playing with the boys.
“My relationship with the coaching staff is also very good. They are all very approachable and are always open for a chat and a good laugh.
“The clubs atmosphere is great, the club has great support, they look after us and since the team is quite a young squad it has helped me in settling in.”
With not much first-team experience at a higher state level, and signing just before season’s start, the goalkeeper was forced to adapt to life in the NPL 1 rather quickly.
He’s adjusted with minimal fuss, impressing head coach Fab Soncin and being rewarded with playing every minute of the league season.
Maclaren acknowledges the new competition is a step-up in standard, but believes he is up to the task.
“NPL 1 is a big step up for me this season after where I was at Beaumaris with only a handful of senior games under my belt,” he admits.
“Beaumaris were in State League 3. At NPL level, the play is a lot quicker than what I have been used to, but the physicality of the game hasn’t changed much for me at all.”
Bulleen are currently sitting pretty in equal third spot, but could’ve been higher had it not been for a string of games where crucial points were squandered to late goals.
The shot-stopper admits results haven’t always gone Bulleen’s way this season, but remains focused on overcoming each challenge thrown his way.
“I feel that we have had a great start to the season despite dropping a few points when we could have won, but that’s the way it goes and after each game we as a team just move on and focus on our next challenge,” he proclaims.
“Every game this year hasn’t been easy, each team is very competitive. So far this season we have been in quite a few pressured situations but it’s been a good challenge for us.
“I think [personally] you’ve got to embrace the pressure because as you keep improving and moving up to higher leagues, there will be more pressure situations that you just have to become accustomed to.”
The ambitious Maclaren is confident that, once the team irons out some minor details in its game, with a young squad possessing the likes of current NPL 1 player of the month Joseph Katebian, it has the ability to push for a promotion berth this season.
“My personal ambition for the season is to either win the league or at least be in the top two so we can push to be in the NPL,” he declares.
“For this season and beyond, I will try to continue to improve myself in every aspect and then see where it takes me. There always room for improvement and more importantly I just play my role in the team as best as I can.”