The desire of the Hoppers Crossing players to climb to the top of the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 2 north-west has been evident from the outset, according to new coach Shaun Barbara.
Barbara has inherited a self-driven squad that is willing to put in the extra yards, which has made his transition to the club much easier.
“The players have been absolutely superb,” Barbara said. “They’re committed to training, they’re there early, they stay back late, so they’re doing the best they can to prepare themselves for this year.
“They’re not so much trying to prove anything to me as their new coach, but to prove to themselves that they can continue to succeed.”
Barbara is a young senior coach at 31, but has plenty of coaching experience.
A full-back with Green Gully, Richmond and Whittlesea Ranges, Barbara had his playing career cut short due to illness and injury.
The Werribee resident wanted to stay involved in the game he loves, so he has spent the past three seasons in coaching roles, firstly as a senior assistant at the Bulleen Lions and then leading the under-20s at Avondale. He has also coached Victorian under-age teams.
“Like anything, you’re always one injury away from your career going on hold,” Barbara said.
“Injury and illness put that on the back burner, so I just took up coaching and have never looked back. It fills the void for me to be a part of the game that I love. To be honest, I feel a greater satisfaction as a coach than I did as a player.”
Most of his former clubs are at the top tier NPL level, but Barbara has not viewed his move to Hoppers Crossing as a step down.
He has been super impressed with the professionalism of the Reds.
“I’ve worked with NPL clubs for the past three to four years and I wouldn’t class it as stepping down,” Barbara said.
“In relative terms to the league, it is going down to state 2. But, in my opinion, Hoppers has been as professional as any NPL club that I’ve been at.”
Barbara has big shoes to fill at Hoppers Crossing He follows successful Reds coaches Steve Iosifidis and Alfonso Opazo, who have led the top side to promotions in recent seasons.
Barbara has his own ideas about how to run the club, but is grateful to have taken over the Reds in a strong era built by the former coaches.
“I don’t think you have that level of success with ‘Iosa’ and Opazo without having good organisation,” Barbara said. “Going in there as a new coach, you are going to do some different things.
“Getting the boys’ understanding and trying to do the things as a team and as a club is always difficult … I’ve tried to prepare some games against some strong opposition to really test the lads and put them under as much simulated game day pressure as possible.”
Hoppers Crossing made the short trip to Point Cook for a friendly match on Saturday the sides playing out a 1-1 draw.
