Tara Murray
Early signs are good for Westvale Olympic in the FV state league 2 north-west competition.
The state league 3 north-west premiers last season, Westvale is hoping to consolidate its spot in the higher division.
Coach Bill Georgopoulos said things were looking good not just for the senior side, but also the club as a whole.
He said there had been a big push on social media and holding different events to help grow the club.
“We’re looking much better than last year,” he said. “The juniors are taking off a bit which is important for us.
“We’re a grassroots club, a community club. We had a successful year consolidating our position in state league 2 and see where it takes us.”
Georgopoulos said they had a young senior squad this season, as they were keen to build a squad full of young and ambitious players.
“I’ve kept a lot of the young boys from last year, seven or eight of them,” he said.
“With all the new players, we’ve pretty much kept the same mould of player. The average age is 22-23, we’re a very young side.”
Early match results have shown that Westvale is on the right track. It is through to the fourth round of the Australia Cup, where it will play Old Scotch on April 6.
The side started its regular FV state league 2 north-west season with a draw against Mill Park.
Georgopoulos said they could have come away with the three points.
“We could have won three-four nil went goal up and lapse of concentration and conceded the equaliser,” he said.
“We still had a chance to get the win. It was the first game and against one of the favourites.
“I spoke to their coach after the game and he said they didn’t deserve anything from the game. They had one half chance in the whole 90 minutes and they scored.
“It’s all about consistency with a young team. The team is playing well so far.”
Westvale is set to face Altona North on Saturday in the second round of the season.
Altona North is one side that Westvale knows well.
“Altona North was the team promoted with us,” said Georgopoulos.
“Both are aiming for their first win for the season. It’ll be a hard fought game against an experienced team.”
In other state league 2 north-west matches this weekend, Albion Rovers are set to face Mill Park and Western Suburbs are set to play Altona East Phoenix.
