A-League: Lawrence Thomas hits reset button in pursuit of back-to-back titles

Victory goalkeeper says his club has the right culture to defend its A-League title

Lawrence Thomas is not resting on his laurels at the Melbourne Victory. Picture: Getty Images

Lawrence Thomas finished the last A-League season as the hero of Melbourne Victory’s championship success and with his reputation enhanced as one of the best goalkeepers in the country.

But the likeable 26-year-old is adamant neither he nor the club are going to rest on their laurels as the new season kicks off this week.

Thomas says he has worked harder than ever during the long pre-season and is even more aware of what is needed to be a success.

“On a personal note, I love the whole process of training and working hard as much as I do playing on a weekend,” Thomas said yesterday.

“For me, it has been an opportunity to push the body to a point where you probably won’t do the same during the season.

“You need to be fresh for the games. With (goalkeeper coach) Jess Van Stratten here there are new ideas and different experiences. He has been overseas, so he has that experience as well.

“The individual details he has helped me with are something I’ve not done before so it has been a brilliant off-season for me.”

Victory fans will never forget his man-of-the-match heroics in the 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets in the grand final in May.

He made crucial saves and had his head bandaged, then his jaw, in separate incidents that left him battered and bruised. It was no surprise he was awarded the Marston Medal for best player.

Lawrence Thomas battered and bruised during the A-League Grand Final. Picture: Getty Images

Thomas says that night is now forgotten as Victory look to become the first club since Brisbane Roar in 2012 to make it back-to-back championships.

He wouldn’t nominate which teams would loom as challengers, instead drawing on the culture at Victory and his own standards.

“It comes down to setting standards at the club, the daily culture, the attitude, the preparation,” he said. “The biggest thing I have learned is to concentrate on yourself as a player and the club.

“I learned that two years ago after we lost the grand final to Sydney FC and how different things can have an effect.

“I remember I made a save, got a touch to the ball, but it came off the post and was tapped in (for the qualifier). I thought afterwards that maybe there was something I could have done better, maybe eaten better … there are such fine margins between winning a championship and not.

“That is why we don’t look too much at anyone else, we always try to lead the way and stay above your daily standards.”

It is the same attitude the club will carry into its opening game of the season, the Melbourne derby against Melbourne City at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

City won the first round encounter 4-1 in 2016 and 2-1 last year. However, Victory came back to beat City in their remaining two clashes in both seasons.

According to Thomas, they will be looking to start Saturday night’s opener with much greater intensity than previously. “We need to fight hard. I am sure it will be fiery and intense early on.”