JOEY Katebian has made scoring look ridiculously easy over the past two years.

The Melbourne Victory captain has netted 29 goals this year, 12 more than the next most prolific attacker in National Premier League 1 East — Goulburn Valley Suns’ Craig Carley.

Alongside Richmond’s Tom Cahill, the 19-year-old was the leading NPL1 goalscorer last year while playing for FC Bulleen Lions, finding the back of the net 26 times from 21 matches.

Katebian’s scoring rate of 1.3 goals per match makes him the most lethal striker in Victorian soccer’s top tiers over the past two years, boasting a record that stacks up against South Melbourne talisman Milos Lujic and Heidelberg United’s Dan Heffernan.

His form has Victory on the cusp of the NPL1 East title in its maiden campaign.

The side sits six points clear of Richmond with five matches remaining in the 2015 season.

“We definitely want to win,” Katebian said.

“It’s our focus to develop as players physically and mentally as well because the NPL is much different to the National Youth League and the A-League set up.”

Katebian inherited the captain’s armband when former Victory youth skipper Thomas Deng was elevated into Kevin Muscat’s senior squad.

The Ivanhoe resident has also had opportunities to train with the seniors, but competition for striking spots is fierce at the reigning A-League champion.

Veteran Archie Thompson, Besart Berisha, Kosta Barbarouses and Fahid Ben Khalfallah provide Muscat with a bevy of attacking options to call on, with Connor Pain waiting in the wings.

Katebian has been told to bide his time and continue his scintillating form as he presses for a senior opportunity.

“I haven’t had many discussions (about the A-League), I’ve just been told to keep doing what I’m doing and not focus too much on the future at the moment,” he said.

“(I’ll) just enjoy my time here and we’ll see what happens after this season.”

media_camera Joey Katebian puts in a tough challenge during a match for FC Bulleen Lions. Picture: Mark Wilson.

Katebian’s chance in the blue and white came after a long junior career at FC Bulleen.

He joined the club at about seven years of age, progressing through to the senior squad by the time he turned 16.

Katebian said physical strength and fitness were two of the key attributes which had underpinned his rapid development.

“As a striker, you have to be able to be physically strong, especially playing in the NPL,” he said.

“Basically (being) physically strong ...(and) football intelligence as a striker is a massive one.”

Katebian gave a snapshot of his undeniable striking prowess over a five-week hot streak throughout June and July.

The attacker scored 15 goals in five matches, sending the net bulging on five occasions against Nunawading City in Round 15 to kickstart his remarkable run.

He put three goals past goalkeepers from Brunswick City and Goulburn Valley over the next two weeks, before terrorising Nunawading again with four strikes in Round 20.

“That was a good few weeks for myself and the team, we pushed to a six-or-seven-point lead at the top of the table,” he said.

“The goals were a bonus but I was happy just to get the wins.”

Katebian, George Howard and Jordan Brown found the back of the net as Victory defeated NPL1 West title threat Moreland Zebras 3-2 on Saturday.

Melbourne could all but sew up the NPL1 East crown when it meets its greatest threat Richmond at Kevin Bartlett Reserve on Friday night.