NYL Head Coach John Aloisi believes the Australian Institute of Sport will provide a tough test when the teams face off at La Trobe University’s Sports Fields during Family Day this Sunday.
NYL Head Coach John Aloisi believes the Australian Institute of Sport will provide a tough test when the teams face off at La Trobe University-s Sports Fields during Family Day this Sunday.
Following a state-wide talent search, Heart-s NYL squad represents a selection of the leading emerging talent in Victoria featuring players from regional areas such as Wodonga, Bendigo and Ballarat.
With the team taking to the park for its first group sessions this week, Aloisi admits his side is up against it, but feels the AIS will provide an accurate gauge of where the team stands at present.
“We-ve only started training as a group this week, so it will be a challenge, but we are looking forward to getting the team together and playing games. It will be a tough test against the institute as the AIS live and train together every day of the week,” he said.
“They-ll be well organised and have the most talented players in the country, but it-ll be a good test for our players to see where they-re at. We-re looking forward to it and can-t wait for the game.”
Given Heart-s commitment to playing attacking, technical football and the 4-3-3 system, Aloisi is determined to develop the squad into the next crop of Heart senior players.
And he says results will not be on the agenda throughout the squad-s debut campaign, stating the ultimate test of the NYL team-s success will lie in the number of players who make the leap to the first team in the coming years.
“There-s a lot of preparing to do and a very short period of time to do it but we-re not just after winning games. We-re about improving players and that will happen with hard work week after week,” he said.
“You-ll see the players improve over time, and I-m just hoping come six or seven months, you-ll see massive improvement and hopefully a couple of them will be ready for a professional environment with our first team soon.”
Details
Melbourne Heart FC Family Day
La Trobe University Sports Fields
Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora
Sunday 25 September
11am-2pm
