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NORTH Geelong Warriors forward Matthew Demo has taken a huge leap towards a professional soccer career after signing a youth team contract with Melbourne Victory.
Demo penned the one-year deal on Tuesday and will be part of the Victory squad that starts its youth league campaign against Adelaide next week.
The contract is reward following a sparkling season for the promising forward, who turned 18 two weeks ago. The powerhouse striker terrorised State League 2 defences throughout the Warriors' promotion campaign, playing every game and scoring 11 goals.
Demo had been on trial with the Victory youth team for the past month, bagging two goals in a friendly against Altona Magic last week.
"It's a big step up, but if I work hard enough, I'm confident I'll make it," Demo said. "It seemed unreal to start with, but now it's not about messing around any more, it's serious.
"The training sessions at Victory are much quicker and training five times a week will get my sharpness up. They have specialist striker coaching there which is awesome - they tell you right away if you're doing something wrong, but in a constructive way."
Demo's father Stan pointed out that star forward Danny Allsopp's recent departure from Victory, coupled with speculation that Archie Thompson might leave, could present the young striker with an opportunity in the senior team.
"He's got youth on his side and if he works hard there's no reason why he can't make the senior side," he said.
"Victory has got a shortage of strikers at the moment and they might have just one forward left. You never know.
"Matthew loves the Victory. He has a poster on his wall of when they won the (2007) grand final 6-0. Since day one, we've been going to watch Victory games, so he'll be more than happy to play there."
Victory's youth team coach Mehmet Durakovic said the A-League champions had tracked Demo throughout his impressive 2009 season.
"We were keeping an eye on him and he did very well for North Geelong," he said. "He's very strong for his age, he's got a powerful shot and he's technically good on the ball. He reminds me a bit of Mark Viduka and if he can be half as good as him, he'll do well.
"You have to crawl before you can run and he's got a long way to go to make the senior team, but he can have a bright future in the game.
"I've spoken to Ernie (Merrick, Victory's coach) about Matty and he'll come to take a look at him train. Ernie is big on developing youth players and last season we promoted three youngsters into the senior squad and a further two went to clubs overseas.
"There are a lot of good kids coming out of Geelong. I like to keep in touch with what's happening in Geelong and there are players we are looking at. The state of the game looks good down there."
Demo will take part in the 24-round national youth league for Victory, which ends following a finals series in March
Demo penned the one-year deal on Tuesday and will be part of the Victory squad that starts its youth league campaign against Adelaide next week.
The contract is reward following a sparkling season for the promising forward, who turned 18 two weeks ago. The powerhouse striker terrorised State League 2 defences throughout the Warriors' promotion campaign, playing every game and scoring 11 goals.
Demo had been on trial with the Victory youth team for the past month, bagging two goals in a friendly against Altona Magic last week.
"It's a big step up, but if I work hard enough, I'm confident I'll make it," Demo said. "It seemed unreal to start with, but now it's not about messing around any more, it's serious.
"The training sessions at Victory are much quicker and training five times a week will get my sharpness up. They have specialist striker coaching there which is awesome - they tell you right away if you're doing something wrong, but in a constructive way."
Demo's father Stan pointed out that star forward Danny Allsopp's recent departure from Victory, coupled with speculation that Archie Thompson might leave, could present the young striker with an opportunity in the senior team.
"He's got youth on his side and if he works hard there's no reason why he can't make the senior side," he said.
"Victory has got a shortage of strikers at the moment and they might have just one forward left. You never know.
"Matthew loves the Victory. He has a poster on his wall of when they won the (2007) grand final 6-0. Since day one, we've been going to watch Victory games, so he'll be more than happy to play there."
Victory's youth team coach Mehmet Durakovic said the A-League champions had tracked Demo throughout his impressive 2009 season.
"We were keeping an eye on him and he did very well for North Geelong," he said. "He's very strong for his age, he's got a powerful shot and he's technically good on the ball. He reminds me a bit of Mark Viduka and if he can be half as good as him, he'll do well.
"You have to crawl before you can run and he's got a long way to go to make the senior team, but he can have a bright future in the game.
"I've spoken to Ernie (Merrick, Victory's coach) about Matty and he'll come to take a look at him train. Ernie is big on developing youth players and last season we promoted three youngsters into the senior squad and a further two went to clubs overseas.
"There are a lot of good kids coming out of Geelong. I like to keep in touch with what's happening in Geelong and there are players we are looking at. The state of the game looks good down there."
Demo will take part in the 24-round national youth league for Victory, which ends following a finals series in March
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