Winning Edge Presentations Rising Star of the Month (NPL or NPL 1, Rounds 1-4) - Matt Millar (Dandenong Thunder)

If it wasn’t the school holidays, we might have interrupted Matthew Millar in the middle of his last period on a school day.

But luckily for us, Millar was on a two-week break from studying for his VCE when he took a call to find out he had been named as the inaugural Winning Edge Presentations Rising Star of the Month.

FFV's Alen Delic caught up with the Dandenong Thunder full back-cum-midfielder to find out how he felt about receiving his award.

AD: How does it feel to be named the first NPL rising star?
MM: It’s unreal. It’s a little overwhelming. Going into the season I wasn’t sure if I was going to get a start, and now I’m suddenly getting an award. Unreal.

You’ve come a long way since you first broke into the first team last year. What’s been the catalyst?
I didn’t have that much of an off-season because I was with Melbourne Heart and that kept me fit. It was good; I played a couple of games and that was an achievement. Coming into the NPL, it meant that I felt a lot more confident in my ability and more composed.

What’s it like to have made the move into midfield? Enjoying it?
It’s a lot better to get on the ball more. Getting up and down the pitch is good. I’m really enjoying it.

Can you talk me through your goal against Green Gully?
It’s all a bit hazy. I just remember getting the ball in the middle of the park, looked up and there was nothing really in front of me. I just ran, kept on running and it sort of opened up for me. I just took it on and hit it and it went in. it all happened so fast.

How have you found the atmosphere at Thunder this year and working under coach Dean Hennessey?
He’s a good coach. He gives you a lot of confidence in your ability. He’ll let you know what he wants from you and everything’s really clear on the pitch.

Are we going to see you in the squad on Thursday? Any reason you were missing this weekend?
I copped a tackle last minute against Hume City and because of the short turnaround I didn’t want to risk getting injured again and being out for too long. But if all goes well, I should be in the squad this week.

The Rising Star of the Month is voted by FFV’s match reporters in a 3-2-1 voting system for each match. The highest ranking player U20 (NPL or NPL 1) is awarded the Rising Star of the Month.