Kalms a crucial cog in City’s defence

A RISING star at Melbourne City Football Club, Ryan Kalms has devoted hundreds of hours working on his skills.

As centre-back he is a key cog in City’s structure. It’s not just about shutting down opponents, but also helping to organise the defensive structure, and linking with the midfield.

“A goal for next season is to be more attacking through the midfield when I can be, but also knowing defence is my main role,” he said.

Another pre-season stint for the Strathfieldsaye-based teenager kicked off this week at the club’s Casey Fields base in Cranbourne.

He’s attended four or five training sessions a week there for the past few years and is approaching his fifth season with the sky blues, where he’ll move to the under-21s for the 2023 championship campaign.

Kalms’ outstanding play for City in its run to the NPL under-18 championship in 2022, and being rated among the top 30 in Australia for players born in 2006, has earned him a scholarship in Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year award.

In 2022, he played in 17 matches as City’s under-18s marked an impressive record of 17 wins, three draws, and two defeats.

He first took to the Beischer Park pitches to play for Strathdale when he was four. After first playing as a midfielder and then striker, he has found his niche in defence in recent years.

His play for Bendigo City under-13s in NPL West in 2018 caught the eye of talent scouts.

The young soccer star’s greatest supporters are parents, Adrian and Kirsty, and siblings Aidan and Ella.

“It’s a long trip from Bendigo to Cranbourne for training, so mum and I will move to Melbourne in the next few months,” he said.

“I had a few back issues last season, mainly because of spending so much time in the car. It’s going to be challenging moving to a new school and leaving friends in Bendigo.”

Goals for the 16-year-old include playing for the Joeys, the national under-17 team, and eventually in A-League.

As a scholarship recipient, Kalms goes in the running for the Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund to be announced at the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year gala presentation in February.