A MINDSET from Young to back themselves more certainly suited youngster Patrick Hislop, who capped a fine season by being named the Pascoe Cup player of the year.
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The 18-year-old was dynamic all year from the left wing, scoring at least one goal in all bar one game to help guide the Lions to another finals campaign.
They were eliminated in the first week of semis, but Hislop still walked away with some personal silverware.
"I've moved around a little bit but I played the full year on the left wing which was good," he said.
"I felt I played OK, I was scoring most weeks and that's probably been my biggest struggle the last couple of years, actually finding the back of the net," he said.
"But this year I felt I found another level with that, and I think I scored in every week bar one.
"It was just about having the confidence in the guys behind me so I could push forward and put myself in goal scoring positions.
"I was a bit calmer in front of goal and not scuffing easy shots, which I've had some trouble with."
Young has been regarded as a defensive team which likes to sit back in recent seasons, but Hislop said the strings were loosened a bit this year which suited his attacking focus down to the ground.
"This year we definitely changed the way we play. We turned a new page and weren't playing a long ball hit and hope style," he said.
"We started to keep possession and were playing better footy, and it's something we'll take into next season.
"We haven't relied on grinding out wins and being that stubborn team at the back with solid defence. We tried to move away from that, and back ourselves a bit I suppose.
"We've now got the skill in the team to take it on a bit more.
"When we went to Griffith (2-all draw with Hanwood) we started backing ourselves and trusting each other, and we built from there."
Hislop is currently completing his HSC and is unsure whether he will play with Young again next year, or return to Wagga City Wanderers after spending 2019 with the National Premier League Two club.
"I'm still unsure about next year. I'll definitely be in Young but whether I stick around and play with these boys or go back to the Wanderers (I'm not sure)," he said.
"I really enjoyed my year there last year but I wasn't going to play both given I'm studying my HSC, and the rules have changed anyway.
"I'll go to Wanderers trials and have both as options."
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