BRING IT ON
FINALS LOOM FOR OUR CITY STAR
TASMANIAN A-League star Nathaniel Atkinson only made his first-team debut for Melbourne City in December, but now he’s preparing for finals action against Brisbane Roar on Friday night. “It’s been a long journey from Tasmania to Melbourne ... but it’s all worthwhile,” he said.
RISING Tasmanian ALeague star Nathaniel Atkinson says even he did not predict his meteoric rise as he gears up for his first A-League finals campaign with Melbourne City.
The 19-year-old only made his first-team debut in December, but he has established himself as a regular starter alongside the likes of Bruno Fornaroli, and secured a twoyear contract extension in January.
Now he is preparing to take on the Brisbane Roar in an elimination final at AAMI Park on Friday night after City finished the season in third place.
“At the start of the year I was probably still in the youth team playing Youth League, I didn’t really have many thoughts of playing in the ALeague finals five months [later],” Atkinson told the Mer- cury. “It’s good to get an opportunity to play in the finals, and it’s going to be a great experience.”
Atkinson started his career with Riverside Olympic in the state’s North, before joining the NTC, and he was scouted from there by Melbourne City youth coaches.
“It’s been a long journey from Tasmania to Melbourne. I’ve been living away from home since I was 14 or 15, but it’s all worthwhile,” he said.
He credits his work ethic for his rapid rise this season.
“When the opportunity came, I think I prepared myself very well for it,” Atkinson said. “I know what I can do if I’m at my best, and I think I’ve still got a long way to go still, but I definitely think I can improve to a whole other level.”
An ankle injury in January threatened to keep him sidelined for an extended period, but he was back playing within five weeks.
“I think for me, playing week in, week out at the moment is probably my highlight [of the campaign],” he said.
“Any game time I was going to be happy with at the start of the year.”
Atkinson is embracing the extra pressure of finals, and is looking forward to taking on Brisbane.
“They’re obviously going to be dangerous, personally they’re the only team I haven’t played out of the A-League teams so it will be new for me, but we’ll study the team,” he said. “They’re definitely not a team that you can look past.”