MURRAY United are climbing the NPL ladder at a surprising rate, post-season statistics show.
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Each of the club’s teams, across all grades, have climbed an average of three spots on the ladder from their debut year in 2015 to the 2016 season.
Though the senior team was an exception in 2016, struggling through the season to finish with just three wins and six draws, coach James Coutts said the results showed the Border franchise was on the right track.
We proved this year that we believe in our young players, it shows our junior coaches have done a great job so far.
- James Coutts
“This goes to show everything we've been talking about, our focus has been to develop every team at our club, from the under-12s through to the seniors,” he said.
“We're fully aware of the need to develop our juniors and local players.
“We've come a long way in a short space of time.”
United's under-20s team was by far their most successful in 2016.
Guided by the likes of Lewis Greenwood, Lionel Masudi, Connor Caponecchia and Harry Drummond, the team game within a whisker of winning the club's first silverware.
Eventual champions Box Hill United bested Murray on goals alone.
“We proved this year that we believe in our young players,” Coutts said.
“Our junior coaches have been doing a great job, particularly under the tough circumstances we had this season in terms of travel.
“The fact we've developed as well as we have is a massive plus for the club as a whole.”
While rapt for the positive steps the junior sides had made in 2016, Coutts was mindful that the senior team can't afford to languish at the bottom of the table again next season.
Things are looking up for them though – marquee signing Chris Lynch will return to Australia after his first stint on the Border was a failure to launch due to injury, while a number of other key players are more than likely to return.
But it is also clear that Coutts will first look to the club's local players to help guide the side up the ladder, buoyed by their strong performances at the tail end of last season.
“The fact that we're the only regional club to have positive growth like this is a huge achievement,” he said.
“The club isn't just seniors, it isn't just under-20s, it's a top to bottom organisation.
“We went all results to be positive and the seniors are a big part of that.
“But the juniors are the future of this club and we need to keep developing them as much as we can.”
In another off-season boon for the club, United will play two-thirds of next season's matches at home, dramatically reducing the amount of travel each week.
The club's junior and senior trials are also approaching.
Junior trials will be held on Saturday November 5 and Saturday November 19 at La Trobe, while senior trials will also be held on the 5th.