Travis kicks off Cup mind games

Former A-League favourite Travis Dodd wasted little time starting the mind games with Bentleigh Greens after his MetroStars were drawn against the Victorian NPL powerhouses in the Westfield FFA Cup round of 32.

In one of the big all-federation ties of the opening round, Dodd's South Australia’s MetroStars will host John Anastasiadis’ troops, who were FFA Cup semi-finalists in 2014.

“They are a very good team and have got experience in the cup as well,” Dodd told www.theffacup.com.au.

“The good thing is we have the advantage of playing at home which I think is going to be a massive thing at this stage.

“John Anastasiadis has already come up and asked me what our surface is like that we play on.

“I’m already starting the mind games, saying ‘we play on grass but it could be synthetic’…we’ll keep them guessing.”

After an inconsistent start to their domestic season in the South Australian NPL, MetroStars appear to be timing their run perfectly for a tilt at an FFA Cup run.

Dodd was injured during Perth Glory’s run to the final in the inaugural addition of the Cup in 2014 and admits it’s a buzz to be involved in the competition with MetroStars.

“I’m certainly looking forward to it. These are the games as a player you are desperate to be involved in,” Dodd said.

“There is a buzz. Not just the fact the A-League clubs are involved but the fact it’s on the national stage now and all the games are televised.

“It’s a buzz for everyone to be involved, from the players to the volunteers, to the support staff. For the hard work they put in throughout the year, they get the recognition they deserve.

“We probably didn’t perform well [in the SA Cup Final] but we were able to get a result.

“At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how you get the result as long as you do and now we have the chance to crack on and hopefully go on a Cup run.”

This is the second straight year the MetroStars are involved in the Cup, making it through to the last 16 in 2015, before being eliminated by Oakleigh Cannons.