Braedyn Crowley cannot wait to get back on the park.
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Keen to press claims for a return to A-League, the former Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City striker joined Bentleigh Greens in the Victoria NPL last year after three impressive seasons in the Northern NSW competition.
But the opportunity soon turned to frustration as COVID hit and the 25-year-old spent more of 2021 in lockdown than playing.
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The two-time NPL NNSW leading scorer has returned to Maitland, where he played in 2020, and is itching to get the season started after round one was postponed last weekend.
"It was bad timing to go last year," Crowley told Australian Community Media last week ahead of the NPL NNSW season launch.
"We only got through eight games in Melbourne, so the last game was somewhere around July and then I was in lockdown for three months.
"I finally got back to Newy and those pre-season games have felt like normal games for me because I've just been eager to play."
In Maitland colours, Crowley scored 13 goals for the Magpies in a COVID-hit, shortened 2020 regular season. He then starred in the play-offs with four goals as Maitland made the grand final, which Edgeworth won 1-0, from fifth place.
Last year Maitland were in the hunt for the premiership and another finals showing when the season was cut short due to COVID. Lambton were crowned premiers on 38 points, one ahead of the Magies (37).
"[2020] was my favourite season I've had," Crowley said. "I was just the most relaxed, enjoyed my footy and if I came back to Newcastle I was always going to come back to Maitland. It's a great bunch of guys. Good coach. And, with the Maitland women coming in, it's going in the right direction. The future is massive for Maitland.
If I came back to Newcastle I was always going to come back to Maitland.
- Braedyn Crowley
"I was watching on BarTV last year and I felt for the boys. Lambton had a great year, but the fact that it got cut short just before finals has given the boys that edge this year to really go out there and prove something, that we were coming last year and we want to win it this year."
Crowley plans to have impact again, in a season he hopes could lead back to the A-League.
"I was at Melbourne City around four years ago now and I wanted to go back there last year and just give it another shot," he said.
"I still love football and I still want that to be my job. I've still got that fight in me to play professionally.
"I'm ready to go for this season. I'm pumped up for it. I just want to get it underway. It's going to be an unbelievable NPL season. We've brought in a few good players for each team, so it will be a good competition."
Maitland play newcomers Cooks Hill at No.2 Sportsground on Friday night.
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