While the international break may be the perfect time for fringe players to stamp their authority on the senior set-up, for Melbourne City forward Marc Marino, he took a week’s head start, sliding home his first ever senior goal in the win against Brisbane Roar.
The tall-bodied and technically gifted forward has been in scintillating form in the National Youth League for City’s reserves, where he’s created chances aplenty for himself, but has just lacked the finishing touch.
There were no question Marcs over that last Saturday as the young man slipped free of his marker to slide home a goal, fresh off the bench.
“It’s good to get a goal – I knew Browny [James Brown] could find me because he has the quality to do that and I just slid in and put it away. It was a top feeling,” Marino said.
“I was a bit nervous when I came on [against Sydney] but in my second I felt a bit better about myself, and building on from here I hope it can get better.”
Marino has already surprised himself with his impact on the senior side, after having had a taste of things to come in the Round 1 draw with Sydney FC.
“Just hoping to get a bit of game time under my belt. I’ve already got more than I expected so hopefully I can build on that, get more games, make my mark and go from there,” he said.
“I knew it’d be tough, having big names like that in the club, but I just kept working hard in training.
“There’s been a few injuries so I got my turn and I’ve just built from there. Obviously having players like them around me helps me a lot in training.
“I know having older players in front of me, I’ve just got to work hard coming off the bench. Like the other night, I did all I could, I ran and it all paid off, so hopefully it gets better.”
The goal culminated in a first win of the season, a 3-1 result against Brisbane Roar, which Marino hopes will help start a snowball of results to push City into the higher echelons of the league.
“Everyone’s been buzzing around the club this week. Obviously we know we can’t get ahead of ourselves, it’s only our first win of the season.
“It’ll be massive if we can [beat Central Coast]. We didn’t start [the season] too well, we’ve got to catch up and hopefully get ourselves in the top five.”