The electrician, 23, who played all his junior soccer in AWFA — Twin City, Diamonds and more recently Melrose, had followed the junior representative pathway that expires at 16.

Blessed with natural speed the striker, who shoots with his right foot, prefers to cross with his left was enigmatic at club level — torn between work, athletics and soccer.

But today he will play his third game for Murray United when they travel to Shepparton for the clash with the Goulburn Valley Suns.

Waters has “stepped up” in NPL1 — working at both ends of the field, providing a quality finish to score the clubs first goal in NPL1, turned provider for the second.

He said fitness and a new focus had improved his game.

“I’m impressed with how everyone has come together from the different clubs and it’s great to be back playing alongside Zac (Walker) after starting out together and playing reps,” Waters said.

“Slowly we are adapting to each other’s play — knowing where to run, where they put the ball.

“At Melrose I was mixing athletics, sprinting mainly, with soccer and so I probably didn’t have a great endurance base but I’m working hard on that now.

“To play with these guys makes you want to work harder, get better.

“I need to develop my confidence — I’ve got the speed but I need to relax a bit on the ball, I don’t have the skills of a James Coutts and he is someone you can really learn from.”

Waters said national premier league soccer was far more demanding than he had expected.

“I knew it would be step up but it is probably a bit better than I thought it was going to be,” he said.

“The ball is played around a lot quicker.

“The teams too are well drilled, a bit more physical — the Melbourne teams are well known for trying to bully their opposition.”

Waters said last week’s clash with Springvale was typical of the physicality of the NPL1 competition.

He was brought down in the box in injury time with many believing the challenge worthy of a penalty that would have given Murray United the three points.

“I would have loved it to have been a penalty — I don’t remember much of it,” he said.

“I do know it was a big hit, I know I’m still sore from it.

“It would have been great to get the win and to be honest the draw felt like a loss but we know it’s coming, know we are getting better each week.”