By JARROD POTTER
WHILE it was only a handful of seconds, Kieran Dover has already got a taste for the A League’s bright lights after his Melbourne Victory debut on Saturday night.
Trading his Dandenong Thunder gear for a Victory jersey this summer, Dover, 17, from Pakenham, earned the briefest debut in the Victory’s A-League 0-0 draw with Sydney FC as injuries and international duty ravaged the starting line-up.
Called on by coach Kevin Muscat in the 93rd minute, Dover admits he barely got near the ball as he traversed the Melbourne midfield, but loved every one of his brief seconds on the pitch.
“It went very quick – warming up then going back to the bench as I didn’t think I was going on, but Kevin (Muscat) started shouting my name and I couldn’t get my jumper off quick enough,” Dover said.
“Got on and it felt really quick – I was on there and then it was over, felt like a really short time but it was a great feeling.
“There was nothing I really did on the pitch except run around… when I was running on the feeling and the experience was just great.”
It’s been a memorable 2014 for Dover with his continued selection in the starting line-up for Dandenong Thunder’s NPL team – in Victoria’s highest ranked competition below the A-League -also showing his capabilities.
“The whole year has been exciting,” Dover said.
“With Thunder and Dean Hennessey (coach) playing me week in, week out it helped me get to where I am now.
“He trusted me and Matty Millar as well – just trusted us as did (Dandenong Thunder technical director) Stuart Munro.”
It’s been a long road to get to the Victory, following his family immigrating to Australia in 2010.
He left England with an already glowing junior resume following junior stints with Sunderland and Middleborough.
Dover hopes he can get back to the motherland eventually to pursue elite soccer opportunities, but he’s thrilled for the time being in the Melbourne Victory line-up and any chance to add to his limited A-League career.
The Victory square off against the Brisbane Roar at home on Friday night.
