Harper Sercombe
For Altona City in FV state league 1 north-west the equation is simple, four points from four games and the title and promotion are secured.
Although coach Michael Calandrella said there is still work to be done.
“We’re looking to get these four points, we definitely know it’s not over yet and we’re not approaching these last four games like anything’s done yet,” he said.
“But four points is the goal and it’s the only goal.”
After finishing sixth in Calandrella’s first season at the helm last year, the club recognised it might take two to three years to be promoted to the National Premier League.
“To get this close after the second season, it’s an amazing achievement … if we can get it done after two years, we’ll be over the moon, it’s a big achievement for the club,” he said.
“It’s a tough league, state 1, it’s a very hard league to get out of and get promoted.
“I think it’s (the NPL) where the club needs to be.
“It would be an amazing feeling and an amazing outcome.”
Calandrella said the rapid progression seen over the course of the year is a result of off field changes and tactical shifts. He said they had made a few changes to the squad in his first season.
“Once last season finished we knew exactly what areas on the pitch we had to improve in,” he said.
“So in the off season I targeted a few players that I knew would help us in those areas, and they’ve been brilliant.
“We turned over about seven players from last season to this season. The new additions plus the core that we kept, they just gelled.
“We’ve got a great side, they’ve worked hard, they’ve worked together and they’ve all got one goal on their minds.
“I think the proof’s in the pudding about the results we’ve been getting.”
Calandrella said it has been a full squad effort to get to this point of the season.
“I don’t really want to point out any individuals because the whole squad has been so good,” he said.
“To point out just a few of them is probably a bit unfair, because honestly every player on the team has played a role and without them we wouldn’t be in this position.
“Like our back four, up to this point we’ve only conceded 15 goals all season and in the back four our oldest player is 24. So we have a young squad.”
City will face Upfield in a catch up game on Friday, where it hopes to end up only one point away from the ultimate success.
