Olsen back home with the Sharks
Nick Olsen’s return to the Sutherland Sharks is more of a homecoming than most transfers in this season’s National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.
After playing for Sydney United 58 last season, the 22-year-old midfielder decided to return to the club where he played his junior football and debuted as a 16-year-old.
“I had a chat to [Sharks head coach] Grant Lee and it’s home for me – I grew up close to the area, played most of my youth career there and the club looked after me,” he said.
“When the opportunity came that they were interested in me coming back, I jumped at it.
“The group of lads that were there also helped me make the decision. I know a lot of the boys there and the football they play is really good.”
Olsen is now a six-year veteran of the National Premier Leagues, having also played for the Western Sydney Wanderers junior teams and junior national sides.
After leaving the Sharks in 2014, Olsen went to APIA Leichhardt Tigers for the 2015 and 2016 seasons before shifting to Sydney United 58 last season.
He said he had a “great experience in every club I’ve been with”.
“The decision for me to come home was because I grew up there but I had a lot of good experiences, made a lot of friends and I played good football for every club I’ve been to,” Olsen said.
“I think as a player, playing at different clubs matures you. You get to see different sides and the way that football is played at different clubs and it definitely helps your game.”
Olsen has settled back in quickly at the Sharks. Despite a first round loss to the Rockdale City Suns, Sutherland defeated Sydney FC in round two with Olsen scoring the deciding goal in the 2-1 victory.
Olsen said he feels the Sharks are building towards a return to the finals and reclaiming the possession-based football that brought the club success in the past.
It won’t be easy, with a tight season already emerging just two rounds into the season.
“This year there have been a lot of really good signings at every club and I don’t think that you can really pick who will win each game,” Olsen said.
“The competition level is really high this year and I think from the first two rounds, you can’t write anyone off and anyone can win. No game’s going to be easy, that’s for sure.”
-By Andrew McMurtry
