It has been a crazy year for Ballarat soccer star Brandon Lauton.
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After making his A-League debut for Melbourne Victory in November, the first-year player has endured everything from injury, overseas travel and coaching changes, before having his season derailed by the global pandemic COVID-19.
Now back in Ballarat, the 20-year-old sat down with The Courier to talk about one the most surreal years of his life.
"I've my fair share of excitement that's for sure," he said.
"The rules aren't clear on what we can do at the moment, but as much as I can, I try and get down for a kick.
"I've got a big backyard and have everything I need to tie myself over."
Lauton played 12 games for Victory in the 2019-20 season, cementing himself as the second Ballarat player to play at the country's top level.
Making his debut for the club in a 3-2 loss to Western United, Lauton said the experience was a big learning process.
"It was a massive learning curve for me," he said.
"Reflecting on it, you don't realise the things professionals have to do to stay at the level that's expected of them.
"It's mainly stuff off the field, the lifestyle and discipline that you don't see when you watch games."
After taking time to adjust, is wasn't long before Lauton found a regular place in the line-up at left-back. Reality set in for the 20-year-old when he was named in Victory's round six squad against top-placed Sydney FC.
The match was a highlight of the season for Lauton, who lined up against world-class veteran Milos Ninkovic.
"He is one of the best players the A-league has ever had, so that was pretty cool," he said.
"The game itself was great too, playing in that atmosphere, it was quite hostile but it's always fun."
Lauton was later named in Victory's 26-man squad for the Asian Champions League, getting his first taste of international action.
After opening the AFC with a win over a Thailand club in February, Lauton found himself on a plane to South Korea for a clash against FC Seoul.
It was there he took his first shot on goal. Sadly the strike was wide of the mark, but the moment was one he'll never forget.
"I think I was a bit too excited," he joked.
Lauton's rookie season came to an abrupt end on March 15 when the club was forced into quarantine after its clash with Wellington in New Zealand. A month on, Lauton still doesn't know when he will play his next match for Victory.
Despite the disrupted season, he was hopeful he had done enough to stay in the side going forward.
"I think so, but I'd like to do more and solidify a spot," he said.
"It's about having the confidence to be comfortable at all times and that's when things starts flowing, when you're confident."
Victory had won only five games from 21 matches when the season the came to a halt. The club was 10th on the competition ladder.
