EASTERN Ranges footballer Ben Cavarra doesn't like to set his goals too far ahead.
But the two things he is keen on this TAC Cup season is helping the Ranges become a winning side and to get a game with Vic Metro in the AFL under-18 national championships.
The 17 year old of Lysterfield and St Joseph's College in Ferntree Gully said he entered the 2013 season feeling as good as he ever had about a football season.
"I had a full pre-season and worked on all parts of my game," Cavarra said. "I'm feeling a lot fitter and a lot stronger and I think that is the same for a lot of the boys. Everyone has been working together and trying to get better."
Cavarra also noted the Ranges had a much stronger playing group this season and top-age players had worked closely to make their bottom-age teammates feel part of the team.
The skilled midfielder and forward has started the year well after being named in the preliminary Vic Metro squad but now he hopes to get in the Ranges side in round one and play himself into top form.
"I want to play in round one and hopefully cement a spot in the ones," he said.
"Hopefully, then I can get a game or two with Vic Metro but I don't like to set my goals too far ahead.
"I just want to play that first game and then reassess from there.
"To even get named in the Vic Metro squad is a huge honour and privilege. We play against all those other players so to be named among them is a huge honour."
Cavarra said he learned a lot from getting playing time last season as a bottom-age player but went on to win the club's best and fairest award.
"Playing in my first few games it gave me an idea about where I was at and that I needed to work a lot harder to play well consistently," he said.
"I realised that I had worked hard to get to the TAC Cup but I had to work twice as hard to stay there."
The Ranges have spent the past few seasons playing out of Box Hill City Oval as they struggled to find a venue which had all the on-field and off-field facilities expected by TAC Cup sides.
The Ranges will still play several games at Box Hill this season but will also play two matches at Bayswater Oval, including a twilight game using the ground's new lights.
"I'm very excited to play at Bayswater," said Cavarra, a former Ferntree Gully junior.
"I never got to play there in my junior career and it will be good to play in front in our local community. It's also good to play a little closer to home because we always have to travel a little further for our matches."
The Ranges face Oakleigh Chargers at Visy Park, Carlton this Sunday at 12.30pm.