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IT'S NOT often that a club like North Geelong Warriors rests its goal scoring hopes on a 17-year-old, but then Matthew Demo is no ordinary teenage starlet.
Demo looks set for a glittering future after exploding onto the division two scene this season, bagging four goals in his opening three matches, including a stunning hat-trick in last week's 4-1 mauling of Sydenham Park.
The dream start to the season has sparked hopes that Demo will be able to join Croatian professional side Hadjuk Split when he finishes year 12.
Demo spent four weeks training at the club, which has ex-Australia international Josip Skoko in its squad, last September. His impressive spell in Croatia could see him return for a shot at professional soccer, should his progress continue.
"The players (at Hadjuk Split) were good, but I thought they would be freaks and that I would struggle," said Demo. "But I did well and that gave me a lot of confidence. I learned a lot and improved my game.
"The lifestyle in Croatia was very relaxed and healthy too - there wasn't junk food on every corner like in Australia. I would love to play professionally overseas and then for Australia, although it's a long shot."
Demo's father Stan, Warriors' club president, feels the teenager can make the grade, if he applies himself.
"If he does well this year, we'll send him over to Hadjuk Split for a year or two to see how he goes," he said. "Even the youth teams there have three coaches, so it made him a better player while he was there. He dropped four kilos and he improved his technique a lot.
"He's very ambitious and he can't wait for training. He's got the ability, but it will come down to whether he keeps his focus on his game rather than other distractions."
Demo's goal tally is even more impressive considering that he has played up front by himself this season, without a fellow striker to share the workload.
Following the departure of leading scorer Daniel Dragicevic in the summer and a three-game ban for veteran forward Adrian Cervinski, Demo has been handed sole responsibility for spearheading Warriors' promotion push.
"I've got a bit of pressure on me playing up front on my own, but I'm pretty happy in that role," said Demo. "I've got to make all the runs myself, but I'm working a lot harder than last season to take my opportunity. The hat-trick last week was probably the highlight if my senior career so far."
Although he's an avid Arsenal fan who idolised Thierry Henry, Demo's teammates feel that his playing style is more reminiscent of Socceroo Mark Viduka. It's hoped that Demo will, one day, be able to follow in the hefty footsteps of the Newcastle target man.
Demo looks set for a glittering future after exploding onto the division two scene this season, bagging four goals in his opening three matches, including a stunning hat-trick in last week's 4-1 mauling of Sydenham Park.
The dream start to the season has sparked hopes that Demo will be able to join Croatian professional side Hadjuk Split when he finishes year 12.
Demo spent four weeks training at the club, which has ex-Australia international Josip Skoko in its squad, last September. His impressive spell in Croatia could see him return for a shot at professional soccer, should his progress continue.
"The players (at Hadjuk Split) were good, but I thought they would be freaks and that I would struggle," said Demo. "But I did well and that gave me a lot of confidence. I learned a lot and improved my game.
"The lifestyle in Croatia was very relaxed and healthy too - there wasn't junk food on every corner like in Australia. I would love to play professionally overseas and then for Australia, although it's a long shot."
Demo's father Stan, Warriors' club president, feels the teenager can make the grade, if he applies himself.
"If he does well this year, we'll send him over to Hadjuk Split for a year or two to see how he goes," he said. "Even the youth teams there have three coaches, so it made him a better player while he was there. He dropped four kilos and he improved his technique a lot.
"He's very ambitious and he can't wait for training. He's got the ability, but it will come down to whether he keeps his focus on his game rather than other distractions."
Demo's goal tally is even more impressive considering that he has played up front by himself this season, without a fellow striker to share the workload.
Following the departure of leading scorer Daniel Dragicevic in the summer and a three-game ban for veteran forward Adrian Cervinski, Demo has been handed sole responsibility for spearheading Warriors' promotion push.
"I've got a bit of pressure on me playing up front on my own, but I'm pretty happy in that role," said Demo. "I've got to make all the runs myself, but I'm working a lot harder than last season to take my opportunity. The hat-trick last week was probably the highlight if my senior career so far."
Although he's an avid Arsenal fan who idolised Thierry Henry, Demo's teammates feel that his playing style is more reminiscent of Socceroo Mark Viduka. It's hoped that Demo will, one day, be able to follow in the hefty footsteps of the Newcastle target man.
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