By JARROD POTTER
FUNNELLING his discouragement into ambition after he was cut from the Dandenong Stingrays last year, Devon Meadows footballer Phillip Raso pushed back into the regional under-18s team for 2015.
Hard yards on the training track and performing strongly with the Panthers in Nepean football has paid off handsomely this week for the 183cm wing/midfielder.
Raso, 17, took his place in the TAC Cup for the first time in Dandenong’s cakewalk 78-point victory over the Western Jets.
“It was unbelievable actually – cause I worked so hard for three years to make it in,” Raso said. “I was dropped after pre-season last year and to work my way back into it had paid off and it was fantastic.”
It was a match played solely on Dandenong’s terms as coach Craig Black’s charges bagged 23 goals, even with a number of major outs for school football and through injury.
Wearing the Dandenong jumper for the first time, Phillip Raso showed he was capable at this level as his intensity at the contest and ability to jump under pressure will have definitely kept him in the coach’s mind for next round.
He relished the hard ball as Raso flew for anything in his area and impressed with his team-oriented approach, even to the detriment of his own game, and at times, his own body.
“It was different game of footy – it was a lot quicker and I thought I played a bit defensive, but we got up by 78 points,” Raso said.
“The speed and the intensity of it – that was a big factor – and it was a lot more contested footy.
“It was a lot more skilful and I think I was not too bad – was pretty good match overall.”
Raso has made a significant effort to become more physical on field – attacking the ball from inside the packs this year as opposed to waiting on the outside for the easy handball.
“Trying to be a bit harder at the footy this year,” Raso said. “I used to be more of an outside player, but trying to develop a bit more inside, and senior footy is helping me with that for sure.”
Raso will return to local football this week as the TAC Cup has a bye, before hopefully earning his second Stingrays selection when Dandenong hosts Northern Knights on Saturday 30 May, from 11.30am.
He is also part of Hallam Senior College’s football academy, which flew to Queensland this week to face Palm Beach.
Raso wanted to thank Hallam Senior College, Dandenong Stingrays, Devon Meadows and his parents for their continued support.
