Hilman Hambali

Originally submitted in Semester 1 2019 for the subject of Sports Reporting.

Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce is pleased with the club’s Olyroos but the players are in doubt to travel to Sydney for Saturday’s match.

City have three representatives for Australia’s under-23 team, Riley McGree, Nathaniel Atkinson and Lachlan Wales, who have returned from Cambodia last night after securing qualification for next year’s AFC U-23 Championship through a qualification tournament in Phnom Penh.

Joyce welcomed back the trio but will see if they will be fit to feature against the Wanderers.

“We’re pleased that they are back and unscathed. Pleased that they’ve done well. We’ll see how they will fit into the group this morning,” Joyce said.

Joyce says the mood has changed with the three players after returning to Melbourne.

“They are absolutely buzzing after representing their country. They are walking in last night ten foot tall. It gives them lift. That’s what they aspire to.”

Joyce said he is trying to support the younger players for the future.

“When we put challenges and demands on them and being a top pro and knowing the demands involved in doing that. [We are] to create a culture that enables them to do that. You see the rewards,” Joyce said.

Joyce says the experience will help the players develop and compared it to Belgium’s youth system where many players grew from.

“I was in Belgium when the golden generation was coming through. The federation had more control of the clubs [so] the best would train with the best every day, even with the kids,” Joyce said.

Melbourne City will travel to Sydney to play eighth-place Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday.

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Photo: Hilman Hambali