Brandon O’Neill celebrates his 18th birthday next month, but coach Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson gave him the best present last Sunday against the Mariners, a spot in the 15 man match-day squad.
Brandon O-Neill celebrates his 18th birthday next month, but coach Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson gave him the best present last Sunday against the Mariners, a spot in the 15 man match-day squad.
While the teenager didn-t come on, O-Neill was humbled and thankful.
Having spent the last two years under Gareth Naven with Glory Youth, O-Neill has impressed in the midfield. Through-out this campaign, O-Neill has also showed maturity beyond his years when invited to train with the senior squad.
Born in Western Australia, O-Neill has grown up supporting Perth Glory and says training with the likes of Liam Miller and Jacob Burns has been a great learning curve.
Brandon, tell us about your call up into the senior team
It was a great experience, I didn-t think this time would come, being this young.
When did you find out you-d be in the squad?
Just after training on Friday. Ian asked me to come to his office and I had no clue I was in the squad so he brought me in and said, Brandon you-re in the squad for this week and I couldn-t believe it
How did you sleep the night before the game?
Yeah not too bad actually, I had a nice dinner and got the proper food into me so I slept like a baby that night, so it was good
How did you find the match-day experience?
It was quite good to be up close and personal with the game. Warren (fitness coach) kept telling me to go and warm up so I thought I was going on and when Jacob Burns went down. I was the first to be called to warm up so I thought I was going to come on but the boys got up and that-s all that matters.
Tell us a little bit about your junior days?
I spent most of my juniors and then senior days at ECU Joondalup and then I went to NTC (National training Centre) where I developed even more as a player. From there I played for Perth Glory, the home town team that I love.
And finally Brandon, how have you found training with experience players like Jacob Burns and Liam Miller
It-s a great experience to learn how to develop into a player through them because they have been there and done that, and to hear the knowledge that they have and to pass that down to me is a great experience and I-m humbled
