Instead the 20-year-old is in the thick of pre-season with Richmond Eagles and looking ahead to the launch of a tough 2013 VPL campaign in less than a month.

It's not exactly what he had in mind when he left Ange Postecoglou’s talented squad in search of regular first team football.

The youth international joined Victory in 2010 and made 31 senior appearances for the club, but notched up just seven outings in the current season.

When the Glass Rabbits of Thailand came knocking with a contract offer, it seemed like the perfect solution.

But he was unable to nail down a deal under the club’s then-coach Aussie Phil Stubbins - and was forced back to the drawing board.

“I was disappointed at the time, I think it’s fair to say, but things like that happen in football and there’s no point dwelling on the past too much,” Franjic said.

“You need to look at the present and the future and I guess everything happens for a reason. I’ve got to move on, hope for the best and try and do the best I can.”

Not one to wallow in what could have been, the young defender is already looking to parlay a solid season with the ambitious Eagles into an A-League return.

The one year deal gives him an opportunity to play alongside some familiar faces including former Victory youth player and ex-Melbourne Heart first-teamer Kliment Taseski.

And there is plenty to like about the outfit under the guidance of head coach Jean-Marc Imbert.

“I heard they were reshaping the way they were going run things down there,” he said.

“It was appealing to me because they were trying to play a certain brand of football and it seemed the best option for me to try and have a good season and take things from there.

“We’re looking to playing a passing game, working through the back into the midfield and upfront and really starting to get the ball down and play it around – trying to play football I guess in the right way.

“It will be interesting to see how we go and already in pre-season we’ve got better from week to week so that’s a positive.”

Franjic is certainly a key element in Imbert’s plans for the club, which last season finished just outside the finals playoffs.

“(Petar) is exactly the sort of player that Richmond has been working hard to attract to the club and will fit in with the style, structure and pattern of play that will characterise the club going forward,” Imbert told the club’s website recently.

As far as the player is concerned, he's taking one step backwards to move two steps forward.

“Overall I had a great time at the Victory – I’ve got no complaints from that side of things – I just look at this now as another challenge in my football career,” he said.

“The opportunity to play regular games, even though at a lower level than the A-League, is still good for me as a younger player who’s still learning the game.

“Hopefully this will help me to become better and improve as a player and then potentially to jump back into the A-League.

“I haven’t planned anything too far ahead except to look forward to the VPL season with Richmond, play the best I can and contribute to the team and club.

“For myself at the moment, it’s about taking the season as it comes and playing some good football.”