Ready for debut

A DEBUT with Melbourne Victory’s under-20s next year will be the next major goal on Anthony Leban’s checklist after a whirlwind 2018 from the star footballer.

A North Geelong Warriors product, Leban, 15, has spent the past few weeks training with Victory’s development team which will compete in the Under-20s National Premier League competition next year starting February.

It will be Leban’s goal to make his debut early in the new year, having earned a call-up by the A-League club following a stunning 12 months.

Leban is one of seven local sportspeople nominated for the Geelong Advertiser Junior Sports Star of the Year award, which will be announced next Monday night at the Barwon Sports Academy awards dinner.

The St Joseph's College Year 10 student was part of the school’s state titlewinning soccer team, being named one of the best players in the final which ended in a 6-1 victory, while he also made his senior NPL debut with the Warriors after dominating the Under-20 NPL competition.

Leban told the Geelong Advertiser in late October that he was looking forward to training over summer with Victory. “I’ll get the chance to go into AAMI Park, which is exciting, and it’s pretty full-on,” Leban said.

“It would be great to meet Kevin Muscat. There will be a presentation of our tops and it will feel real then.

“Until I play my first game, it won’t feel like I’m playing for the Melbourne Victory under-20s. It’s pretty special.”

But Leban added there was some sadness in leaving the Warriors, who had played a major role in his development.

“It’s pretty sad to leave North. I’ve been there since I was a child,” Leban said. “It’s pretty hard to let go, but then again, I’ve got a big opportunity at a prestigious club like Melbourne Victory.

“Being in the academy it’s a pathway to the A-League team, but it takes a lot of hard work.”