By Russell Bennett
TOMORROW night, Gembrook 20-year-old Ryan Scott will face the biggest test of his career so far – standing in goal against arguably Australia’s best team, the Melbourne Victory.
The young gun’s Bentleigh Greens side will take on the Victory at Kingston Heath on Tuesday (27 September) in the quarter finals of the prestigious Westfield FFA Cup competition.
The match will be beamed live on Fox Sports right around the country, and Scott can’t wait to showcase his talent on one of the biggest stages in Australia.
He has already moved forward in leaps and bounds to this point and he looks well on track for a long and successful professional career.
He shone against Green Gully in the final of the Victoria-wide Dockerty Cup last month – recording two incredible saves to thunderous strikes from Liam Boland, confirming his status as one of the best young keepers anywhere in Australia.
By his own admission, he went through a rough patch through the middle of the year in league competition – making a few blunders.
But that was hardly unexpected; given it was his first year as a senior keeper in the National Premier League.
And, since, that adversity has only served to help him succeed. He remained in goal for the remainder of Bentleigh’s minor premiership run and that has given him the confidence he needs to drive him forward.
“There’ll probably be 4000 people at Kingston Heath (next week) and we’ll be playing against the best in the country – I can’t wait,” Scott said recently.
“It’s a great opportunity for me – I’m the goalkeeper so I’ll be very busy on the night but I’ve got the chance to turn a few heads and even more-so it’s just going to be a great experience and something to give me a taste of what that next step is all about.
“It’ll be broadcast live on Fox Sports so the whole country will be watching. It’s something to look forward to and it’s a good opportunity to get my name out there.
“The long-term goal is to take the next step into a professional environment so all these opportunities that give you that taste and that drive to keep going are fantastic.
“I’d like to think that under a pressure situation I could step up to the plate and take it head-on. You can stand there and be nervous and worried but you might as well just get stuck in and have a go.
“I know my team mates have faith in me and have seen what I can do. They know I’m young and it’s a confidence position, so if you haven’t got that then it’s going to be tough. You have to be confident, and back your ability – which I do.”
The Bentleigh Greens will face off against the Victory on Tuesday from 7.30pm on Fox Sports 4 and Fox Sports 4HD.
