The best on ground in the club’s first clean sheet of its brief Premier League history against Nunawading City on Saturday said that no matter what happens in the remaining six rounds their first year was a huge success.

Woldemichael had overcome niggling injuries to play a part in a makeshift backline before being let off the leash closer to goals last weekend.

He repaid the coaching staff’s faith with his first goal in the senior competition and then turned provider for another.

It prompted senior coach James Coutts to label Woldemichael as the benchmark for others in the club.

The unassuming 20-year-old was playing down the compliment this week.

“I have no doubt I’m playing better individually but also as part of the team,” Woldemichael said.

“It was such a huge step up in class at the start of the year – most of us had come out of AWFA and suddenly you were playing against sides with just as much skill, just as much pace and generally who were much more physical.

“Because of that you almost have to think two steps ahead of the game to get any advantage and so it is demanding both physically and mentally.

“But the improvement has been across the entire squad and helped by having people free from injuries, it isn’t just me.”

 Woldemichael said a fully fit squad was a key to their second half of the year resurgence but also praised some mid-year inclusions.

“Finally getting Ryan Giles on the park and the arrival of Ash Dunn from England really turned our year around,” he said.

“They bring strength to the midfield and their knowledge and vision of the game makes a huge difference.”

 The CSU business student said Saturday’s tactical move forward was his preference.

“I think I’m at my best when I’m threatening the goal,” he said.

“But I’m more than happy to play a role in whatever way the coach wants me to and on Saturday that was part in attack and also as part of a plan to press their defenders.

“We were trying to exploit their style of play, the way they pass the ball out of the backline.

“In the end that plan worked and continued to build the faith among the playing group and coaches in what has been an up and down year – the fact that we are still pushing forward, working together and getting results is a real positive.

“If we can end the year playing good football, being competitive, then it has been a huge success and worth all the hard work.”