Erik hears roar from home

Martin Greig • Published 25 Feb 2010 14:00 0 Comments

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Aussie Dream: midfielder Erik Paartalu has enjoyed his time at Morton but will return to his homeland with the offer of a contract from Brisbane Roar.

TON midfielder Erik Paartalu has agreed a contract with Australian A-League side Brisbane Roar to return to his homeland at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old has been in Scotland for four years but will return home after agreeing a three-year deal.

Paartalu had spells with Gretna and Stirling Albion before signing with Morton in 2008.

"I now have the opportunity to go back to Australia and be part of a successful team," said the midfielder who has scored three goals this season.

"I would like to get my name known more in Australia and maybe get into a national team squad.

"That is a big incentive for me. I know the new coach [Ange Postecoglou] from my time with the under-17 Australian national squad. He is a well-respected coach in Australia,

"I am originally from Sydney and Brisbane is a 12-hour drive but I think it will work out very well. I have been over in Britain for four years now and it will be nice to go home and be closer to my family.

I have learned a lot about myself on and off the field in the last few years but I would like to go and test myself in Australia."

Roar had a poor season last year, finishing second bottom of the league, but Postecoglou has ambitious plans. "He wants to build a squad to challenge for the title," said Paartalu.

"That is possible because Adelaide finished first last season but ended up last this season. If a club can get a good squad together then they have a real chance of challenging for the league. A few of the boys at Road have got call-ups to the Socceroos squad. Hopefully it will be a good environment for me to push my career on."

Paartalu reflected fondly on his time at Morton. "I would have liked to stay at Morton for longer but there comes a time in your career where you have to make a big decision to test yourself further.

"There have been a lot of ups and downs at Morton since I've been here. I have had some great highlights, like when I first arrived and helped them to stay up.

"I also scored a few long-range crackers that I'll always remember. I would liked to have played a bit more but there has been a lot of chopping and changing since I've been here. I am here until the end of the season and I will give my best until my contract expires."

Allan McManus, the Morton co-manager, said he wished Paartalu well. "He's a great lad and whether it's a good move for him financially or in terms of going home, we wish him all the best. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to start discussing contracts with players."

Postecoglou was pleased to add the midfielder to his squad for next season. "We've got a lot of similar-type midfielders at the club, good attacking runners, but we don't really have a good defensive-type midfielder.

''Eric has a bit of size about him, he's good in the air, he's good at set-pieces - he fits in with the other midfielders we have, but also provides something different.''

l The Lighthouse Morton Travel Club are taking names for the bus to Ayr on Saturday 6 March.

Any visitors wishing to travel should phone David on 07719548046.

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 25 Feb 10

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