Northern Rangers have plucked two teenagers from NPL Tasmania obscurity to build on the club’s fortunes for next season.
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Debutants Matthew Collins, 18, and Joe MacNevin, 16, will appear in Saturday’s home encounter against Clarence United.
Coach Lino Sciulli already has assured the pair a further game the following week against Kingborough Lions to coincide with Rangers taking on their bottom-two rivals.
Sciulli would not rule out bringing in more talent from the club’s under-18s side.
“It’s very important to see how they are going to go against the bigger, strong opposition,” the coach said.
“They have got a lot of imports that we’re playing against and they might even man up on one or two them.
“It’s important to see how they react and perform, but I have no doubts that we’ve picked some good lads.”
Collins comes into the side as a reliable left back in a year that Rangers has conceded 56 goals – the second most in the NPL competition.
He also admitted to nerves, but is hoping his pace and strength under the ball will trouble the Clarence attack.
“It’s exciting stuff – I’ve been looking forward to this moment,” Collins said.
“I’ve been working towards it these past few years, working my way up to the under-18s and now it’s a great chance to be able to play with the NPL guys.”
MacNevin is particularly a shock call-up after just the one fleeting championship appearance among men.
The year 10 Launceston Church Grammar student could not envisage earning a starting spot with the club’s senior lineup this season.
“I’ve always aspired to be playing at under-16s NPL level, but I definitely didn’t imagine being in the NPL side at the start,” he said.
“I like to play at the best I can, do the boys proud and hopefully get the win.”
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
