Avondale FC striker Bruno Fornaroli has been named the New Balance NPLM Victoria Player of the Month for May, receiving the most votes from the commentary team after a stunning run of form in Rounds 11-15.
The 38-year-old has been in scintillating touch for Avondale, netting eight goals in five matches including two hat-tricks, the most recent coming in a crucial home win against Bentleigh Greens last weekend.
"Obviously, this makes me happy, but especially because of the results we've been getting in the last couple of games, winning games and being part of this is important for me," said Fornaroli.
Having made over 200 appearances for A-League clubs and with more than 100 goals to his name, Fornaroli says he knew the expectations were for him to hit the ground running.
But he says a period of adaptation in the league has been key to his recent form in front of goal.
"Coming from the A-League, everyone expects that you score goals for fun, but it's not easy, it's different football, a different way to play," he said.
"It takes time to adapt, and also adapt to the new team and the new teammates and the way we want to play.
"But I think in the last couple of matches I found a way to move and play and adapt my style to the NPL, I think this is why the results [have come].
"But, obviously you cannot score goals without the help of your teammates."
When asked to pick a favourite between his two May hat-tricks, he characteristically pointed out the team value of the performance against Bentleigh.
"Probably the one against Bentleigh, because those three points was massive for us," he said.
"Bentleigh beat us in the second round, so it was really important for us to make a statement and say, 'we play at home now, it's important points', and I think the hat-trick helped a lot to make that happen."
With those three points against Bentleigh, Avondale now sit firmly in the top four of the Senol NPLM Victoria, Fornaroli with no doubt the squad has the quality to go even higher on the table.
"We have the confidence to fight for first spot, we are not far from there and still a lot of games to play," he said.
"We believe in the squad we have, we believe in the players, we believe in the club and the style, the football we want to play.
"It's difficult you know, I realised that everyone can beat everyone in NPL so for us, in this second [half of the season], we have to be consistent.
"If we do that, we will have good chance to sit on the top."