From Tasmania to the AIS and now Melbourne Victory, it’s been a journey for Josh Hope to make it to the A-League.
The 19-year-old was one of the three Victory youth products recently promoted to senior A-League contracts.
“The commitment and the sacrifice of being interstate, this makes being away from everything all worth it,” Hope said.
“Hopefully I can impress and now it’s about doing the hard work.”
Hope moved from Tasmania to the AIS two years ago, and spent 12 months in the program before moving down to Melbourne.
Joining Victory’s youth setup, he impressed while playing in the NPL.
“Playing in NPL against the big bodies helped in adapting to the physicality of the game,” Hope said.
“It was definitely a step in the right direction in going towards the A-League, and playing in the NPL helped me in being more confident and better at what I do when I joined the first team.”
Hope’s chance with the first team initially came at the start of pre-season, when he was called in to train full-time.
The ability to learn from the experienced fellow midfielders has been an eye-opening experience.
“It’s a huge step up from the youth team and any other program I’ve been in.
“I’m learning off James (Troisi), Carl (Valeri), Broxy (Leigh Broxham), Millsy (Mark Milligan) and all the midfielders to start off with.
“But I can learn from everyone as a whole and I’m enjoying being around them.”
Likely to feature in the number 10 role when he does see game time, Hope’s goals for the season are simple.
“I want to get a few appearances. Then when I get those chances I have to take them and do well with them.”
Stay tuned to melbournevictory.com.au to get to know Victory’s newest youth promotions, with Pierce Waring on Thursday and Cam McGilp on Friday.
