Melbourne Victory's Scott Galloway against Perth Glory. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun
MELBOURNE Victory's youngest player, Scott Galloway, believes punters will be in for a torrid Sunday evening.
Central Coast Mariners have been backed in heavily to win tomorrow's A-League semi-final, shortening to $1.33 to qualify and $1.72 to win in normal time at Bluetongue Stadium.
Victory has drifted to $3.15 and $4.15 respectively with TAB, partly due to its youthful squad. But baby-faced fullback Galloway, 17, boldly declared the visitors would prevail.
"I think we'll beat them. We'll be up for it on the day and we're hoping a few people lose their money if they bet on Central Coast," Galloway said.
"Last time we went there it wasn't a result you want to remember (6-2 loss) but you can't forget how much it hurt. It was devastating.
"At the AIS I'd experienced big losses before, but at A-League level it doesn't happen too often and we were pushing for top spot.
"It hurt everyone deeply, but now it's time to make up for it. We haven't beaten them this season and this will be the game we beat them."
Ange Postecoglou has balanced squad regeneration with short-term ambitions.
"We probably lost more games than we wanted to, but I'll balance that out with the fact that we've used more players than we probably should in a year," he said.
"But that's been our philosophy; if we've had to make a choice between players we've always picked for the future. Maybe that's cost us a few points, but it will gain us a few points in coming years."
Like Andrew Nabbout, Chris Cristaldo, Connor Pain and Nick Ansell, Galloway was thrown in the deep end but he hasn't skipped a beat since debuting in the February 2 derby against Melbourne Heart.
Galloway has started 10 consecutive games and become Postecoglou's first-choice full back, after the coach also experimented with Dylan Murnane and Jason Geria since Adama Traore's season-ending injury.
"When I signed it was my dream to play, but I honestly never even expected to play this season," he said.
"But getting the time that I have I've been over the moon about it; it's been unreal, especially my first finals experience.
"The derby was different to anything I've ever experienced. Still, for me it was the best atmosphere so far."
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