By Tara Murray
It may have been a big few weeks personally for Western United young gun Dylan Leonard but he’s more focused on team success.
At just 17, Leonard became the youngest player to start an A-League Men’s semi final in the first leg of the two game series against Melbourne City.
Leonard said it wasn’t something he had even realised until he was in the moment.
“I didn’t realise until just before the game,” he said. “It doesn’t really bother me, I’m more focused on trying and going to win it.
“Being the youngest player is nice, a good little achievement but I’m more focused on going into the final.”
Leonard said this season had exceeded his expectations personally.
He said as a team, with a lot of young players, they had proven a lot of people wrong.
“I thought at the start of the season was to try and break into the squad and I did that second week in,” he said.
“Just been about working hard and trying to be a better player every day. To see how we’ve done as a team, lots of the boys have stepped up.
“A lot of people have written us off before the season even started. People were saying that we would finish last, maybe second last.
“To have gone out and done as well as we have, it’s exceeded a lot of people’s expectations.”
Leonard said it makes it a lot easier for him coming in with so many young players around him.
The semi final start was followed by Leonard being named in the Australian under-18 team to play in the UEFA Friendship Cup last week.
Leonard said that came as a surprise.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “To be honest I didn’t even know there would be an under-18s tournament just before it was announced.
“I was not thinking about it at all. I didn’t know what to expect.
“I haven’t really thought about it. I’m focused on going out and winning this game.
The week was capped off as he was named Western’s young player of the year at the club’s gala night on Tuesday.
Leonard was quick to say while it was nice, he was more focused on team success.
“I want to achieve something, achieve something with this team.”
Western has a big task ahead of them on Saturday as it tries to keep their grand finals hopes alive.
Western found itself in a less than ideal situation after game one against Melbourne City, down 3-0.
Speaking before game two Leonard said they still had faith they could do it.
“Obviously it wasn’t ideal going out and getting beat 3-0, but it wasn’t probably a reflection of the game and how we felt on the night,“ he said.
“We felt like it was a very equal game actually and they put away their chances and we didn’t.
“We could have been better defensively but I feel like we’re all very confident going into this game and that we’re good enough to go out and beat them and by enough.”
