In the days after signing on as Western United head coach, John Aloisi was on the phone to Connor Pain.
The United wide man, who played predominantly as a wing-back under former United boss Mark Rudan, was told his position was to be filled by an impending signing.
But that didn’t mean his role in the squad was to become any less significant.
Released from his defensive shackles, Pain has returned to an attacking role which has seen him score two goals in as many games on United’s four-game run of consecutive 1-0 victories.
“I think it was a couple of days after (Aloisi) signed, he gave me a phone call which I was appreciative of,” Pain told KEEPUP. “He let me know they were bringing in a full-back, and that ended up being Ben Garuccio. His vision for me was to play higher up the park.
“I’m pretty happy I’m there, but I did enjoy my time as a wing-back as well so if need be then there’s another role I can fill there I suppose. I guess versatility is a good thing in football.
“I tell you what it has helped: my appreciation for the full-backs and what they do.
“I think the appreciation for the full-backs in particular is something I’ve learned from playing as a wing-back, and learning how to help out in terms of cutting passing lanes and getting in the right positions defensively more so than anything.
“That’s what I was alluding to with defending from the front, myself and (Lachie Wales) who is starting at the moment on the wing, we know our jobs defensively as well, and it is really, really hard work.”
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Pain scored two goals in as many Isuzu UTE A-League rounds for the first time in his career after netting against both Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar in consecutive games to help send his side into second spot on the table.
He’s scored twice in successive Isuzu UTE A-League appearances before (2019), but those two appearances did not come in consecutive rounds.
“We work on a lot of structure, and those goals (I’ve scored) don’t come out of just playing off the cuff, they’re what we’ve been working on for months and months now.
“Even the (goal against) Melbourne City (by) Dylan Wenzel-Halls, it comes from us knowing where each other are going to be. I think that just comes with time, especially with a lot of new players and even myself playing higher up again for the first time in a couple of years, it’s going to take time to get used to. We’re just all hoping to get better and better.”
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Pain and United now turn their attention to a Round 6 clash with Melbourne Victory – the only side to have beaten the green and black this season.
Despite being the only game they’ve lost, Pain believes the 1-0 defeat in Round 1 was United’s best performance of the campaign to date – and one he hopes to replicate on Sunday afternoon at AAMI Park.
“We’ve still got a lot to improve on,” Pain told KEEPUP. “We realise the game we played the best in was the first Victory game where we ended up losing.
“I think it was just the high intensity from the first whistle. I think you go into those games, especially the first game of the season when everyone’s really excited to get going after so long, getting right up the pitch and putting them under pressure knowing they were going to be a really good side this year as well.
“If we can piece together the performance we put on against them against other teams then I’m sure we can go a long way.”
A win over Victory on Sunday afternoon would send United five points clear of the third-placed side on the table – and depending on the result between Sydney FC and league-leaders Macarthur FC, Aloisi’s side could find themselves on top of the pile by the end of Round 6.
The occasion provides added motivation to Pain, a former Victory player and boyhood supporter of the navy blue.
Pain departed the club in 2016 for a new start on the Central Coast. Back then his motivation peaked whenever he returned to face Victory due to his determination to show his former side what he was capable of.
But now the motivation is different; after watching on last week as a pulsating Melbourne Derby between Victory and Melbourne City played out in front of a raucous crowd at AAMI Park, Pain saw a bar being set by United’s neighbours, one United will leap toward with enthusiasm as they look to keep the pace – or perhaps set it themselves – in the battle for ascendancy at the top of the table.
“I was there at the first (Melbourne Victory) game at the old Olympic Park,” Pain said. “I used to be a supporter of theirs growing up, and part of the whole new wave of football.
“It was pretty exciting back then in 2005, I was a youngster back then but time flies.
“A few years later (I’d join the active support), a few of my mates from school used to go in there on occasions. It was a bit of fun to get around it.
“(Last weekend) I saw all the pictures, and I watched the game. It was pretty cool to see fans in general back in their droves, it was good to see the atmosphere they created.
“That’s what we need in this game. I think it’s really important these clubs that do have these really big fanbases get back to holding the flag in that regard, and for us to try and follow and replicate.”
Pain continued: “When I left Victory I felt like I had a point to prove in a way, going to the Mariners and coming back, those were the biggest games, when I used to play against Victory I was thinking there were still people there from when I was there, and I wanted to show them what I was about.
“I think now it’s more so that they’re a big club who have had a lot of changes as well and are coming back really, really strong with their new coach and all the new players as well. We know they’re going to be a force again. I think it’s just those big games you want to be a part of more so than any personal things going back a fair few years.
“I’m a Western player now, and would give anything for these boys and this club. I’m looking forward to the game, it’s going to be great and hopefully (the fans) all show up again to create the same atmosphere and make it a really good spectacle again.”
MELBOURNE VICTORY v WESTERN UNITED – SUNDAY, DEC 26
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