Strikers Meredith Wary Of Old Club
Words: Steve Pitman & Michael Flynn
Image: Michele Pitman
Brisbane Strikers sharpshooter Rhys Meredith expects another stern challenge to his side’s Premiership hopes when they face a resurgent Olympic FC this weekend.
Strikers come into the match on the back of an impressive six match unbeaten run in recent weeks and are yet to be defeated in capital derbies this year.
However, they face a relatively unknown prospect in an Olympic side that has bounced back from a poor start to the season - when Strikers prevailed 4-0 - to win five of their past seven outings.
Meredith, who spent parts of the 2014 and 2015 season with Olympic, said he was not surprised by his former club's turn-around.
“Olympic have had a resurgence since they’ve had a new coach. They seem to be playing well and they’ve definitely got players in the side that are dangerous on any given day,” Meredith explained.
He added, ““I think they just needed a reshuffle and obviously they’ve got a bit of structure in there with the new coach coming in - they always had the players, they just needed the structure”.
However, Meredith was quick to point to his own side’s exploits this season and suggested they are only just beginning to gel as a unit in the attacking third.
“I think we are just gelling as the year goes on,” he said.
“At the start of the year we were grinding out the one-nils or two-ones and as we’ve started clicking more at the end of the year you’ve seen more goals come.”
“I don’t see why that can’t continue.”
Meredith is equal PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland top scorer this season alongside FNQ Heat’s Jamie Carroll with twelve goals to his name.
He said he was eager to push for the Golden Boot after overcoming a lean mid-season spell that saw him troubled by hamstring problems.
“I think that’s behind me now and I’m just starting to regain my full fitness,” said Meredith.
“That probably took me about two-to-three weeks, as it does when you’ve been out for almost a month.
“But I’m starting to find my feet again and it seems like a good time, with a big FFA Cup game coming and the business end of the season, to really get results.”
PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 17
Brisbane Strikers v Olympic FC
Saturday, July 9 | 6:00PM
Perry Park, Brisbane
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