Central Coast Mariners young gun Tom Rogic is refusing to get carried away surrounding his performances since joining the Hyundai A-League, the possibilities for his future, or the prospect of overturning a two goal deficit to Brisbane Roar.
Central Coast Mariners young gun Tomas Rogic is refusing to get carried away surrounding his performances since joining the Hyundai A-League, the possibilities for his future, or the prospect of overturning a two goal deficit to Brisbane Roar.
Rogic has made a big impression since signing for the Mariners at the start of the year, with excellent performances being lauded by the media.
But the 19-year-old isn-t getting carried away by the positive reviews, and remains remarkable cool in the face of a major semi-final second leg against Brisbane.
“All the coaching staff and players around me are doing a good job of keeping me level headed,” Rogic said.
“I-m not really feeling any pressure – obviously I want to do my best and help the team so the only pressure is what I put on myself.
“It-s pretty awesome being involved in the finals, and a good thing to be a part of. Every player wants to play in the big games I-m just enjoying it.”
Rogic does have the benefit of being surrounded by experience; not only with players such as Alex Wilkinson and Patrick Zwaanswijk but he joined a squad that has already been through so much to be crowned Premiers this season.
“It-s unreal, players like Wilkinson, Hutchinson, and Zwaanswijk playing behind me gives me a lot of confidence and belief that I can do my job on the pitch. And off the pitch as well they-ve been really great, bringing me up through the club.
“At first I was a little nervous to come into a side that was settled and top of the table and I was questioning how much of a chance I-d be given. But the coaching staff have been great and it-s been a great place to train and play.
“[Graham Arnold-s] given me a lot of confidence to go out and play my own game and not worry about pressure. He always says to me, ‘the young boys shouldn-t have to play with any pressure; it-s the old ones that should have to deal with that-.”
And while Rogic-s future might be at the top of everyone else-s agenda, the young striker is staying calm about all his good press and the speculation that he might leave the Mariners at the end of the year.
“I-m concentrating on my own game, I-m quite happy with how I-ve gone in the a-league so far. I hear a little bit of the hype, here and there; sometimes it-s hard not to take a bit of notice but the A-League-s of a great standard now so to play as much as I have and do quite well it-s been pretty satisfying.
“I-m not content with how I-ve done just yet, I-ve still got a lot of things to work on to become a better player. It-s a good start my still a long way to go.
The past few months have happened so quickly and I-m just concentrating on playing. At season-s end I-ll make a decision on my future.”
And the super-cool teenager-s response to questions about the seemingly daunting task of trying to score three goals against Brisbane is similarly relaxed.
“It was always going to be tough; Brisbane is a great side in Brisbane, we knew that going into the match. But it-s only halfway and it-s not an impossible scoreline to turn around. And they-ve had to travel midweek coming into this game so anything can happen. Worst case, we have to play another game and have another shot.
“It would be great to have the advantage of a week off and a home final but it-s not the end of the world if it doesn-t eventuate from this match. Either way we-re still happy and in a good position.”
