Having well and truly re-established himself as a first choice member of reigning Hyundai A-League champions Melbourne Victory, midfielder Leigh Broxham has already moved on to his next goal.
Having well and truly re-established himself as a first choice member of reigning Hyundai A-League champions Melbourne Victory, midfielder Leigh Broxham has already moved on to his next goal.
And that is to finally score his first goal for the Victory with the 21-year-old still to break his duck for Melbourne in 40 appearances to date.
Broxham would love to do it in this week’s testing trip to Perth – a venue where the Victory has only ever won once way back in September, 2006 – but knows that as a defensive midfielder his opportunities for goal-scoring heroics are often limited.
But that has not stopped Broxham from setting his sights high at a time when he is again enjoying regular game time with the Victory after a disappointing 2008/09 season.
“I have made 40 appearances for no goals and I need to contribute three, four or five goals a year – even from a defensive midfield role,” he said.
“A player like Mile Jedinak was scoring every three or games when was playing for Central Coast and that is something I need to add to my game.”
“I am not going all out gung ho to score but adding some goals through the year goes a long way for a midfielder.”
Broxham – a former captain of the Victorian under 16 team – debuted for the Victory when still a teenager and even came on as a second half substitute during the 6-0 grand final win over Adelaide in his debut season in 2006/07.
But after starting 16 games of the following season, last year he did not start a single game and in fact only made eight appearances as a substitute.
However after an excellent pre-season, Broxham has starred this season and has started in 11 of the 12 games to date while also earning the September nomination for the NAB Young Footballer of the Year Award.
Broxham says he is thoroughly enjoying being back as a regular member of the Victory line-up but with players such as Nick Ward, Tom Pondeljak, Robbie Kruse and Evan Berger to return from injury in coming weeks he is certainly not taking his place in the starting line-up for granted.
“I am enjoying my football but like anyone you are not going to play ten or 11 great games in a row,” he said.
“There have been a couple of games where I haven’t been happy with myself but I have been playing some of my better football throughout my career.”
“I am enjoying playing (regularly) again but trying not to take it for granted because when everyone is fit and available the team has such great depth.”
