Finals football is just around the corner – and not many would be more pumped for it than star City midfielder Connor Metcalfe.
Having missed out on the 2021 Finals Series due to Socceroos duty and hotel isolation upon returning to the country, Metcalfe is raring to go as he looks to help the Club add more silverware to its trophy cabinet.
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“Missing out last year is definitely a big motivating factor for me,” Metcalfe told media on Tuesday morning.
“Last year I was just sitting in a hotel. It gave me goosebumps to watch the boys lift the trophy and celebrate, so it would be really special to be there this year and hopefully win it and end my time here on a high note.”
It was announced in February that this would be Metcalfe’s last season at the Club, with the midfielder to join Bundesliga.2 team FC St. Pauli after having first walked through the doors at City as a 15-year-old.
“It’s been amazing, really,” he said.
“Looking back, I would never have thought this could all happen, but I guess the hard work pays off.”
Metcalfe will soon be the next City Academy product to make the jump overseas, in particular joining a couple of past teammates and good friends.
“It’s pretty amazing to think back to when we were all 14 or 15 and kicking the ball around late at night,” Metcalfe said.
“Seeing guys like Nate (Atkinson) and Denis (Genreau) not just go over there – but do well over there – is just amazing and it goes to show how well run everything here is and that the Club really does have a lot of faith in its young players.
“I’ve had a fantastic seven years here and I’d just love to finish it off with another trophy and go out with a bang.”
He’ll be unlucky to ever face another season that’s thrown up as many curveballs as this one, but Metcalfe said he couldn’t be happier with the way he and the Club had tackled all the challenges they’ve faced this campaign.
“It’s been good… it’s been tough… it’s been a long one,” he said.
“We’ve had game after game and it hasn’t really felt like we’ve had a decent break, especially with going to Thailand (for the ACL).
“The Premiership was a great way to top off the season and on a personal level, I was very grateful to be awarded the Alex Tobin Medal.”
It follows last season’s Harry Kewell Medal and being named City’s Rising Star the season before, highlighting his consistency and strong performances with City over a breakout last few years.
While he may be into his final appearances in City blue, the only thing on Metcalfe’s mind currently is Wednesday night’s Semi Final first leg. The team travels to Adelaide to face the Reds at a not so happy hunting ground, City not having won at Coopers Stadium since 2018.
“They’re really difficult to play at home,” Metcalfe said.
“We know they’re a strong team and when their fans get behind them, they really use it to their advantage.”
City twice took on Adelaide away from home this season, and both contests played out in a similar fashion to result in 2-2 scorelines and a share of the points.
That being said, these matches are ancient history now and the focus is solely on the matter at hand; getting the job done over Adelaide and qualifying for a third consecutive Grand Final.
