New Victory 'keeper to grasp A-League shot

Matt Acton's circuitous football journey has taken him from Brisbane to Myanmar and the Philippines, but Melbourne Victory's new goalkeeper is keen to make the A-League home again.

Matthew Acton

Matthew Acton during his time with Brisbane Roar Source: AAP

Acton kept a clean sheet in his Victory debut against Newcastle last week when he filled in for first-choice stopper Lawrence Thomas, who remained in doubt with a finger injury.

It was only the second clean sheet of Victory's season and the 24-year-old could get the chance to further press his claims against Perth on Friday night at AAMI Park.

"That's out of my hands ... I came here not expecting to play straight away, so whatever they decide to do (it's fine)," Acton said on Wednesday.
"If Lawrence is back, I'll support him 100 per cent."
Acton signed with Victory until the end of the season after No.2 keeper Alastair Bray suffered a serious shoulder injury.

He was still playing with United Football League club Kaya FC in the Philippines in August when he trialled with Victory, who went with Bray as the back-up to Thomas.

The Queenslander spent time at the Roar, behind decorated keeper Michael Theo, early in his career, but has since played with Yangon United in Myanmar and featured in his last game for Kaya in mid-October.

The searing heat and stifling humidity of southeast Asia are hardly ideal conditions for football, but Acton doesn't see his time there as some sort of professional exile.

"Some might see it as a weird sort of a move but I went there with the mindset of just playing as many games as I could," he said.

"I've played in some difficult countries to play in and it's made me realise a lot about myself as a person and as a footballer.
"So I'm definitely better off this time than when I was last in the A-League.

"I've just got to work hard at Victory now. I've felt the disappointment of having to leave the A-League, but it also gave me a great opportunity (to travel).

"I've experienced a lot as a footballer and I'm still very young so I really want to knuckle down and try and stay in Australia for as long as I can."


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2 min read
Published 2 December 2016 11:34am

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