MADISON RIGHT AT HOME
NORTH Geelong import Darius Madison reckons he has this whole living in Australia thing sorted now.
From driving to scoring goals, everything is looking up.
The 24-year-old American took a “leap of faith” and signed with the Warriors at the start of the year, following his dream of playing soccer professionally.
And while Madison struggled early, the forward is making up for lost time, netting six times in his past four games.
“It’s always a great feeling to get on the score sheet. At the beginning I wasn’t scoring as many goals as I would have liked to,” he said of his one goal from eight games to start 2018.
“I was getting used to my teammates, building a bit of confidence.
“Coming to Australia, it’s a new country for me, a new environment. It was just me getting used to the environment, that’s all.”
Madison said he did not talk to North’s former American import Kene Eze before coming Down Under, deciding to figure it out for himself.
“I just took a leap of faith,” he said.
“I’ve found Geelong and Australia pretty similar to America. The lingo is a bit different, but it’s pretty similar and I felt as though I have made myself at home.
“I’m staying with a few guys from Rangers. They’ve been very hospitable to me and I feel very welcome.
“Besides the first 15 seconds of my driving experience here, I have been great. First 15 seconds I pulled out on the wrong side of the road and it wasn’t too great.
“Thank God I looked around and got on the (correct) side.”
Luck brought Madison to North Geelong. Without a club, the speedy forward went through a number of combines in an attempt to attract attention.
One contact at a combine then played the middle man between the Warriors and Madison.
“He had contacts with North Geelong, he reached out to me with a message on Facebook, asking how I would feel about moving to Australia. We just went on from there,” Madison said.
“It’s a big decision, but I signed up to be a professional soccer player and if that calls for me to go across the world to continue my dream, then that’s what I’ve got to do.
“I want to play at the highest level possible, I don’t care where that takes me, whatever country it is. I just want to play in someone’s first division.”
Under new coach James Coutts, he and young star Jamie Noggler have forged an uncanny connection.
Noggler has three goals in four appearances.
The duo have a habit of setting each other up for goals. Madison reckons it is because they are good friends off the pitch.
“We are forming a great partnership. His father, Robbie, took me in and showed me around when I first got here,” he said.
“Me and Jamie have been hanging out since I’ve moved to Australia.
“I was waiting for him to get a chance (in the senior team). I know he is a really good player and I know he understands the game of soccer.
“I enjoy playing with him.” FLAT OUT: Darius Madison shows his desperation last week for North Geelong.