#30 Noah Botic: Faith and Football

In this episode of the Huddle Within Podcast, Socceroos and Austria Wien star striker Noah Botic enters the huddle. We discuss his journey as a professional footballer, settling into life in Vienna, and the cultural experiences that come with it. Noah also touches on the role of faith in his life and how it has impacted him on and off the football pitch!

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Settling in Vienna

07:21 Exploring Vienna and Cultural Experiences

10:34 Faith and Community in a New City

13:32 Language Challenges and Adaptation

16:32 Transitioning to a New Football Environment

19:31 Preseason Training and Performance Insights

22:30 Reflections on Australian Football vs. European Football

28:40 From Benchwarmer to Star Player

32:41 Navigating Transfer Opportunities

36:08 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Football Transfers

41:00 Celebrating Success: The Hat Trick

45:54 Reflections on Western United's Future

54:25 Faith and Football: A Personal Journey

01:01:15 Finding Purpose Through Adversity

01:06:01 Navigating New Challenges in a New League

01:11:50 The Excitement of Football: Premier League and Beyond

01:17:18 Outro

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
What is going on everybody? And welcome to this week's
episode of The Huddle Within podcast.
If it's your first time tuning in, if you've been here from the
start, thank you so much for listening to another episode of
The Huddle Within. We've reached 30 episodes, which
is a massive milestone and your support has been greatly
appreciated and those that have been listening in have

(00:22):
definitely motivated me to keep on going as this is a quiet new
podcast. As you can probably tell, we
talk about a different range of topics and sports, which has
been quite phenomenal. We've had many fans, friends of
mine, we've had different types of guests and it's been, yeah, I
guess a hell of a journey to getto 30.
And we're not slowing down. We're going to continue to build

(00:44):
up episodes every single Wednesday and yeah, I guess try
to talk about sports as much as we can on a deeper level, but
also on on that fun level as well.
We most recently had the start of the NFL season, which is
really exciting. The Saints did lose their first
week, which is unfortunate, but hopefully we bounce back in next
week's game. The AFL finals have begun.

(01:05):
Collingwood got up and to those 108 fans on my TikTok that said
that we were going to lose and warm nuffies, we hit the nail on
the hammer or the hammer on the nail for that matter.
Always some say always sometimesfor some reason say nail on the
hammer and proved most people wrong, especially Adrian who did
say that losing ranking was a four goal turn around when we

(01:28):
lost to them by three points. We did beat the Crows by exactly
4 goals, so that was quite remarkable and maybe it was a
fluke, maybe we were Nafis, who knows, but again, we were proven
right and the Pies are going to a prelim, they're going to be
taking on Jeddah, Gold Coast or the Brisbane Lions, which is
quite exciting and hopefully we can get that 17th.

(01:49):
But I went to see Jelong in person and they look pretty
strong. So quite worried about them.
But again, AFL is ramping up andNFL is ramping up and NBA starts
next month and we're on the international break for the
Premier League. So it's given us a bit of a
break to sort of digest other sports.
But again, as you can tell, I love my sports and it's been
it's been great speaking about all those different types of

(02:11):
sports as well. For episode 30, which of course
is a special episode, we had to bring on a very special guest,
our first athlete on the podcast, which is great as well.
Professional footballer Noah Botich from the time of this
recording is currently in the Socceroos team.
He hopefully will play tonight against New Zealand.

(02:33):
He didn't play the first game but he's about to play in the
second game. Hopefully as they take on as the
Socceroos take on New Zealand, the All Whites.
And by the time this recording gets uploaded and onto Spotify
or wherever you get your podcasts, you'll be able to
obviously find out the result. Whether Noah gets his debut or
scores a hat trick. At the time of this interview,

(02:55):
he wasn't selected for the Socceroos, so we didn't speak
about it. The interview was done about a
few weeks back and this was evenbefore the Pliers even made it
to the prelim. And also unfortunately, before
we found out that Western Unitedwill officially not be
participating in the A League this season, potentially not
even the NPL and next season, which is quite sad.

(03:17):
But it still seems as though they're keeping their club and
their youth if they do decide tostay.
So it's a bit of a loss, but we do speak about that.
And yeah, we dive into all things Western United, we dive
into all things Austrian, his new team that he signed for and
also his personal life, especially his his faith as

(03:38):
well. And that's where I did meet
Noah, met him in my local parishhere.
And yeah, we became good friendsand I managed to get him on on
the podcast to talk all things Noel Bottic.
So I guess without further ado, enjoy the listen and I will
catch you guys after. Cheers.
Welcome to the Huddle Within podcast, where we go beyond the

(03:59):
surface to uncover the real impact of sports on our lives,
whether it's lessons of resilience, the passion that
fuels us, or the stories that connect us all, This is where
the game gets personal. I am Daniel, a regular sports
fan just like you, and together we'll explore what sports truly
means beyond the surface. So step right into the huddle
and let's get into it. What is going on, everybody?

(04:36):
And welcome to another episode of The Huddle Within podcast.
I'm so excited to introduce my guest for today, none other than
Mr Noah Botich. What's going on mate?
Nothing much for me. What's going on with you?
Thanks for thanks for having me.Can't wait to Can't wait to get
started. No, no worries, I'm good, I'm
good down here in Melbourne. How's up there in Vienna?

(04:58):
It's currently what, 10 AM thereat the moment. 10:00 AM 10/14 to
be exact. But Nah, it's good.
It's the weather's a lot more better than Australia is right
now, man. I've seen some videos, it's been
raining constantly every day andstuff and here it's been nice
and sunny, man 25°, thirty degrees.

(05:19):
So I'm living here, man. Love and how is how is it
settling and stuff? Yeah, good.
Sort of pretty good. Just moving to my apartment for
the last two weeks and stuff like that, buying furniture and
whatnot, just getting all settled in.
My mum was down here to help me sort of with that.

(05:40):
Being a new country, you know, it's not easy.
You know, you're going to have that financial sort of help and
that, you know, company with youand stuff.
And I feel like my mum is just the best at that.
So now it's been good, good little area close to the city,
close to where I train. So just it's, it's perfect, you
know what I mean? You're telling me off camera how

(06:01):
you're sort of travelling to andfrom training?
Man, I'd love for you to let that out in the public.
It's because I'm new and stuff like that and everything's so
much like more closer. If it was a city like Melbourne
then fair enough, I'd get a car.But like in Vienna, it's
everything's within like with a train, especially like 20

(06:23):
minutes of each other. So it's so like, you know,
compact, tight, close and especially me being 10 minutes
with a car, got a scooter. Nice.
So, and I see, I see so many people with scooters and and
bikes and stuff like that. A couple of our team mates have
scooters and I've asked them about it and they go, yeah, man,
it's like it's, it's good, it's the best.

(06:46):
Even some of the players have said, oh, you don't even need
the car just because, yeah. And they've got cars as well.
And they go, oh, it's, you know,not necessary because everyone
just uses public transport or uses.
It'll take 10 to 15 minutes at the same time with a car to get
the training. And then to the city, I'll just,
you know, it's like 2-3, four stops to the city with a train

(07:09):
and it takes another 10 minutes as well.
So it's it's yeah, yeah, it's quite easy.
It's easy. Well, for sure, do you, do you
ever like when you pull up with the scooter, you see someone
else coming from another direction and your teammates
sort of just wave at them? A.
Couple of times because I, because I get in early, as early
as, you know, kind of I'm, I'm feeling at the time.

(07:30):
Then I kind of go past some people and I'll, I'll ride in.
And the first day when I did getit, people were like, oops,
sorry about that. People were like smiling and
laughing at me. They're going, oh, I finally got
a scooter and stuff like that. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's, it's so much easier. It's better.

(07:50):
But now I've had it for a coupletimes.
Everyone's like they used to be sitting on now so.
Nice, yeah. It's enjoyable.
For sure, for sure. And how do you, how do you find
the city of Vienna? Is that your first time you've
been there? Probably like yes, I think I
can't remember when I was when Iwas younger, when I was eight or

(08:11):
nine years old, I went on a family trip with mum, dad,
brother and my my grandpa from my mum's side.
I think it was like 2 1/2 monthsor something.
So we just went all around Europe and I can't remember if
we stopped in Vienna and like stayed here or if we drove

(08:31):
through, but I think I remember being one of the two.
So then probably not staying here until then.
So this is the first time probably staying here and, and
probably seeing it, but I can't remember much of it because, you
know, it's like 17 years ago. So like the memory's not there.

(08:55):
But yeah, first time probably seeing the city.
I've been out a couple times walking through the cities and
stuff like the the 1st, when I first got into the, the city
centre area, I thought, where's the, I didn't know like what
station they sort of get off at.And I saw one with like a
cathedral and I was like kind ofin the centre of the city.

(09:15):
So I was like, yeah, might as well go there and check that
out. You're talking about Saint
Stephen's Cathedral? The one in the centre?
Yes. Yeah, I've been there.
How nice is it? It's really nice.
It's. Unreal, man.
It's so nice. Like the the stairs that you
take to go up and it's just kindof like right in front of your
face. Yeah, yeah, but from the station
you turn around and stare. Exactly.
It's so nice, like, like I wasn't expecting because it was

(09:37):
the day where I was. I was going to church in the
city, not at that church, but itwas like a Croatian church just
maybe a 10 minute walk from there.
So I was like, I'll get off at this station and then went up,
saw her and I was like that like, that's unreal.
So many people, they're just tourists and stuff taking
photos. And I thought this is so nice.

(09:58):
It was a good day as well. Like blue skies.
It was so nice. But yeah, city's beautiful man.
You know, inside the cathedral as well.
I did. I did a couple of times.
It's so nice that the thing was there was a couple like
construction, like scaffolding, sort of stuff like that, which

(10:18):
took away a bit of that beauty and stuff like that, which is a
bit disappointing like because with the photos and stuff like
this, like a a blocked off area at the front of the church.
I mean, you've got the mass and stuff in behind.
Yeah. So people are taking photos from
behind that gate and you can seelike the scaffolding just right
there. And I'm just like, that's just,

(10:38):
that's not really what you want in a in a church, but is what it
is. Yeah, when I went to Basa, there
was actually scaffolding at the front.
And what? Like.
Tripped me out was that there was like a massive Samsung
billboard in front of the church, like you've, I'm talking
to Barcelona Cathedral when I went three years back.
I haven't got a photo, but maybeI'll show you after the call.
But they literally had like the Samsung Galaxy like

(11:01):
advertisement right in front, which was like crazy.
I'm not sure whether the church did or whether it was the
building company. Yeah, I'm not joking.
That's what I mean, like especially in front of the
church and stuff. You're thinking, yeah, yeah,
something going on here. It doesn't seem crazy.
Oh, we're going into that direction of church and it was
something that I wanted to speakout in your faith and not
obviously off camera. We met through the church in

(11:21):
our, in our parish, in our community.
And just wanted to say sort of, I guess if you found your
church, you talked about the Creation Church and how's that
sort of going? Yeah, it's good.
We, I mean, I've got a creation church I used to go when I was
back in sitting with my family. I don't speak a lot of Croatian.
Like I understand very bits of it, small bits of it, but like

(11:44):
long conversations. I've got no idea, man.
Like it's never really grew up speaking the language.
I did when I was younger, but then kind of fell out of it.
And then my dad, you know, he, he looks like like all these
sort of different researches about churches and stuff I can
attend and stuff like that. I was like, might as well go to

(12:07):
this one. So when my mum was here, went
together a couple times and stuff like that.
And and then she also looked up a church that was like an
English church, which I was like, I might as well go say
that. I haven't been to that.
But she went to that. I think it was about a week ago.
So she experienced that and it was, it was a nice church.

(12:29):
Like she took some photos on theoutside, like it was really nice
inside. It was big as well.
So whenever I get the chance formy next Mass or whatever, I'll
probably go to that Nice. Just because for me it's easier
like to understand the verses and speaking and stuff like
that. So I can take one that
information. Yeah, it's a lot easier.

(12:50):
But I do like the creation churches as well, like the with
the songs and stuff and the hymns when the the priests, you
know, sings the, the the praise and stuff like that.
It's really sort of just calmingand and yeah, it just did so

(13:11):
holy, you know, it's really holyand wholesome about that.
So it's. But yeah, so is.
It in Croatian. The The Crow Vista, the the Crow
Like Church. Yeah.
Do they speak Croatian? Because obviously it's in in
Austria, they speak German. Do they have Croatian and German
services? The in that specific one it is a

(13:34):
Croatian church. OK, so it's just holy Croatian.
Yeah, it's holy Croatian becauseCroatia is like pretty much
right next to Austria borders Austria.
Yeah, it makes sense. And Vienna's, like closer to
that sort of border, like Zagat is only like 3-4 hour drive.
OK. There's like a massive community
here in Croatia. Sure.

(13:56):
Yeah. In Vienna, Sorry.
Yeah, like when I went out, liketo the city, you can always hear
like every three or four people that you're walking past speak
in Croatian. Yeah, you know what I mean?
It's just it's massive here. So yeah, it's good to sort of my
dad keeps telling me like, oh, get around the people and stuff

(14:17):
like that. It's hard to when I when I don't
know the language and I'm like, I'm by myself and I'm.
I'm new to this and stuff like that.
Yeah. But no, it's it's really cool to
sort of see that stuff. Sure.
Yeah, I guess it keeps you kind of close to sort of your roots
and your nation, which is which is always good, yeah.
And like it would, it would helpif I did state creation and
stuff, but I'm just like it's, it's, it's not easy, man.

(14:42):
Yeah, it's not easy, but. You already got German to learn
and I know that you've you're pretty decent in German from
what you've told me. So how's in German?
How's your German been since? It's since it's, I've picked up
again a bit of it, like I've remembered since what, four
years ago? Yeah.
But even in that like 2 year period where I did learn it,

(15:09):
like it wasn't like, hey, so it was just like to get by, like
even long conversations, I stillhave no idea.
Like it's the short ones that I can get by, like the, you know,
hello, how you doing, blah, blah, blah.
And then sort of just going around outside the city ordering
stuff, asking for directions to certain places and stuff like
that. So I can get through that.

(15:29):
And then the long conversations,like of course, when we had a,
we had a meeting with like your way, like FIFA and stuff.
They come to each teams and theytell us about the regulations
and rules before the season starts.
And obviously that was in German.

(15:50):
And I'm just like, like they hada video and stuff like that,
like a projector screen on the on the, you know, on the
projector talking about certain things.
So some things would be in English because they find it's
universal language for every team and stuff, but they'd be
speaking in German and I'm just like, and it was a thick German

(16:12):
like action like accent, sorry. And I'm just like, I'm sitting
there like just. What's going on?
I'm like. I've no idea what this guy's
talking about, man. I'm just, I'm bad for something.
So I had like, someone sort of telling me what he was saying,
which helped, Yeah. But yeah, it was just, it was
funny, but yeah. They relatively speak pretty

(16:34):
good English I know in Germany and Austria which is why it does
help. The German language just always
makes me laugh because it just reminds me of remember that
video? Very viral video of like Germans
when like each language has sortof a similar word.
Like if you got it in French ambulance, Spanish in ambulance,
the same English in ambulance. And then what is called the it's
something shuffle waggon or something in German, it's a

(16:55):
completely punkin waggon and everything else is just like.
The literal translation is sick waggon.
Sick Waggon day, Yeah, and. Then you got every other country
just saying ambulance, ambulancia, yeah, you know,
something like this. And then you got German.
It's just going on the complete opposite directly and I'm just

(17:16):
like. Oh.
Sure you did, man. But yeah.
For sure, yeah. And how are you finding your
time sort of being in there, obviously with new teammates,
new culture, obviously an improvement from I guess your
playing career being in Europe and whatnot.
So how are you finding sort of that transition as well?
Good, good, finally good. I mean, I'm used to it from when

(17:38):
I was in in Germany. Obviously it was different back
then because the the area of Hoffman was a lot smaller.
Like it was like only a couple 1000 people living in that
village and stuff. So not many people spoke
English. We can get by and stuff, but not
many players as well spoke English.

(17:59):
So you can't really interact with them as much.
So here's a lot more better, like it's a biggest city ever.
A lot more people speak English.So you can get by.
A lot of the players speak English.
They really welcoming the helpful with me sort of getting
used to the environment and stuff like that, situating here,

(18:22):
helping with, you know, bank accounts and and you know, stuff
like that helping with the area.And, you know, he's letting like
some players, I let him know if you ever need anything, just let
me know. And I'm like, that's, that's
good to know. You know, that's what you want
from like a team as especially being a new player come from

(18:45):
from Australia and stuff like that.
You want somebody to put their hand out and stuff like that and
you know, offer a helping hand whenever it may be, which is
nice. The football side of things,
it's because it's a new club. It's always going to be tough to
sort of find your footing straight away because new

(19:07):
environment, new style of play sort of.
So you got a sort of new playersgot to use to the players
understand how they play and youcan sort of be on the same
wavelengths and stuff like that.But as a team, the football
itself, it's not been the best. Like we got knocked down the cup

(19:27):
in the the first round, unfortunately we got knocked out
of the Conference League qualifiers, which was just two
days ago unfortunately by one goal.
I think it's like 5-4 aggregate.And then in the season we we've
got a draw and then a loss in the first two games.

(19:48):
So it's not been the best of starts, but it's still early on
in the season. So hopefully we're able to turn
things around, you know what I mean?
So it's, yeah, that's the plan, hopefully.
Yeah, for sure. Well, I think you had a pretty
decent offseason or pre season, I would say a few goals under
your name. So that's also good to have
getting the confidence forward. Yeah, yeah.

(20:10):
How you feel about obviously getting those goals early on and
how's your body looking at the moment?
How's pre season? I know pre season is maybe
probably more intense, but not as long as I guess the A league
was. So yeah.
How did you feel kind of going into a summer pre season as
well? Going into this summer pre
season, it was when I first got here and first started playing
like I was just I was knackered because like I had so much I had

(20:37):
how long was it like a good month?
Like 3 to 4 weeks where I was just back in Australia.
I wasn't sort of training or anything.
I was just resting like resting my body because I was just like
I felt like I needed it and stuff which is really good.
And then when I came here, like I feel like personally the

(20:57):
intensity of the sessions compared to Australia are the
same. If anything in Australia, I feel
like it's a bit more, bit more running.
Like usually after each session we'll do like a A2 kilometre run
at like 8 minute tempos like andit's just like a random circles

(21:17):
and stuff like that. So in Austria they don't do a
lot of that, a lot of testing and stuff like that.
But as the sessions are still intense like but yeah, pre
season was good. Played some games.
We I think I got 45 minutes against her for Berlin, which is
good. Had a couple of chances to keep
put off some unbelievable saves me like it was it was

(21:41):
heartbreaking. But then we had another game
against the third division side.I think we ended up beating him
six nil, scored two goals there,which is good just to get off
the mark and stuff like that. A couple goals and then first
official goal was in that cup game when we lost the first

(22:02):
round, which was a header, whichis the first goal, which was
nice. Unfortunately we did lose that,
but it's what it is. And now the preseason was good
again. It's so much more short.
I mean, like it was. It's Australia.
It's 16 weeks in Australia, yeah.
Tell me about that preseason, please.

(22:24):
And it's very, it's just a long man.
Like it's, you feel like it's never going to end.
You feel like it's, it's a season in itself, which is just
insane. And here it's only like 5-6
weeks. Like I've told a couple of the
players how long the preseason and stuff is over there.
And they just look at me like, like, first I think I like, are

(22:46):
you joking? Yeah.
And then they say I'm not joking.
And they're like, are you serious?
Yeah. And I'm like, yeah.
And there's 16 weeks and they gothat's.
That's got to be the longest preseason, right?
I think it is. Yeah, in the whole like football
division across the world. Honestly, like I feel like it's
even in any sport. Yeah, could be that, that's that

(23:08):
16 weeks time. Honestly, so I won't be
surprised if it is, but it's yeah, but and by the end of the
16 weeks some players would eat like their bodies would break
down as well because it's just that long yeah.
So it's yeah, I don't get it, but I'm I'm happy to be in in

(23:28):
playing Europe with the pre seasons 5 to 6 weeks now.
Yeah, it's so much more better. Like the season's already under
way. Exactly.
And Australia is still another two months away.
Yeah. I find that, I find that we've
probably Australian football is very predicated on sort of
fitness and intensity because obviously that's lack a bit of
the the ball skill as well. And I think in contrast to sort

(23:50):
of Europe, a lot of the focus issort of on ball playing and, and
moving the ball, But that's alsocomes with that sort of
intensity. I think that's very valuable.
And I think personally, that's where I think, and you have to,
you don't have to comment on it is where we sort of miss the
mark in, in how we kind of approach pre seasons and
whatnot. Because I find as though that if
you're moving the ball, and thisis for me as a coach as well, if

(24:10):
you're moving the ball in trainings and you're focused on
sort of the intensity with running with the ball, it's a
very different fitness to sort of just running track.
I, I do marathon runs and I still guess out playing in my,
in my state league football. So I can definitely see the sort
of difference. And I'm sure in Germany, Oh, not
in Germany, sorry. In Austria, yeah, even Germany
as well. But in Austria, where you're
playing mainly, the main focus is is that pool playing

(24:32):
intensity and sort of moving theball, getting, getting as many
touches as you can and sort of working in sort of that
environment. Yeah, of course it is 100%.
Like the difference with Austriaand Germany as well is like I've
spoken to some people like even he, like he told me in Germany
they do a lot more running and Ican't remember that when I was
over there for 2-2 years. They do a lot more running there

(24:57):
compared to here. So I don't know what the reason
and and stuff is for that, but you know, it is what it is.
Each country, each team does their own way of pre season
stuff like that. But yeah, especially in
Australia it's it's a lot more fitness based, a lot more
running based. It's especially being hot and

(25:18):
stuffing or cold and stuffing pre season, more like your
fitness will get better as the season goes on because it's
you're playing in like 30° here and stuff like that.
You just you get used to and stuff like that.
So we actually had a game here, our second season game where it

(25:38):
was like almost 30° here and a lot of the players were
complaining about the heat because they're not used to it
during the season. It's always winter here.
Yeah, usually being cold and then I'm playing in 30° and I'm
like, oh, this is kind of awful.Yeah.
And I'm just like, yeah, they were like just blowing and stuff

(25:59):
like that. Even I was blowing as well.
But like, I'm just like, yeah, it is, it is what it is.
And yeah, but here in in Europe it's a lot more ball focused,
like with decision making and, you know, execution of pass and
stuff like that, you know, sort of going forward with the ball
as much as possible. So yeah, that's obviously a

(26:24):
bigger difference. But then again, like the the
intensity I feel like is is the same if not Australia is, is
sort of takes that sort of the lead in my opinion to be honest.
So. It's good to know that means
probably going in a sort of right direction there without
football and players like yourself that are moving on to

(26:44):
Europe. Means that the league is
funnelling some pretty good players, especially after your
season. Unforgettable 15 goals.
Tell me if I missed the assist. I think it's 616 there I missed.
Wednesday. I forgot the Melbourne City
goal. Yeah, 16, my bad.
That's that's totally gonna get my facts right.
And what is that? 6 assists or 7 assists?

(27:07):
6/6. Six, yeah, yeah, so that's 22
goal contributions. I think that's extremely
impressive. Like I look at the sixteen goals
and I think that's amazing, of course, as your job as a
striker. But then I look at the six
assists and I think what's very underrated about your game is
your unselfishness in front of goal.
You've been able to find playersin that position, but you're so

(27:29):
lethal there. So talk to you about that season
and sort of how how'd it go? Like how do you think that you
went? And obviously where'd that come
from in the sense that of your confidence and I guess
continuing to score goals like how you felt?
Yeah, obviously felt good scoring those goals.
Obviously it's over a long period of time.
So it's like you've got to be consistent week in, week out to

(27:50):
to get to that, those sort of stats and stuff.
Obviously each game is going to be different.
Like some games you're not goingto score for a good 3-4 games
and some games you'll score fivegoals in three games.
So it's it's always like a, an up and down roller coaster.
Anything can sort of happen. But I mean, even at the start of

(28:12):
the season, like we didn't have the the best of starts, you know
what I mean? Like I was coming back from an
injury from pre season or from the last last season and my
whole pre season was just tryingto get, you know, back to, you
know, it was like all like rehaband stuff like that, trying to

(28:33):
get back from that. So then essentially my the
season for me was like my pre season in a way.
So like my first four or five games, I was coming off the
bench and stuff. I was getting like too many
opportunities and stuff like that.
But I knew if I just, you know, perform well or just keep
putting the work that was eventually going to be starting

(28:56):
stuff like that. And that's what we spoke about
with with the the coaches. Well, with Eloisi, you know,
we're going to have two up front.
So obviously it was Suki and myself, while I was able to, to,
to get match fitness up like properly and stuff like that.
And by my first game where I started in that season against

(29:20):
Adelaide for, you know, 60 minutes I played the first half,
I was knackered man. Like I was, my legs felt so
heavy. I was stuck in mud.
I couldn't Boo. I was just like, this is this is
killing me, man, this is killingme.
But the more games you sort of play, the more you get used to
it and stuff like that. So for sure, I feel like the

(29:41):
turning point for that season for us was against Sydney FC
when we we beat him 4-3 I think it was and we scored like the
87th minute to win it. Like previously before that we
had like a couple draws. I think we had one win, but then

(30:02):
like draws and losses and stuff like that.
So that was definitely a turningpoint.
Then from there started going ona roll and just obviously
started winning games, you know,game after game.
And then we'll have like an odd sort of loss here and there,
which is mainly against Melbourne City.
I think. Like they would stop by with
your team man. Like they just.

(30:22):
Yeah, they had that number, I think.
Yeah, final. I know if you were playing
though, it could have been a different game and I'm still
upset. That it.
Wasn't at Ironbark Fields. I'm still a bit dirty about how
Melbourne City had two home games essentially.
And yeah, it's a good sharing, yeah.
It's, it's, it's, it's criminal,man.
Like because it gives you an advantage, man, like we're used

(30:43):
to the environment, you know, wetrain there and stuff like that.
It's a. Game there either all season I'm
pretty sure, correct me if I'm wrong.
No, we lost one game. One game, yeah.
I think it went against Auckland.
We lost two nil there. Yeah, OK.
That was the only loss, I'm pretty sure.
I think that was the only loss, yeah, I can't remember.

(31:05):
I think we had like a couple draws and stuff, but majority
were wins. But yeah, now going back to the
season, it was, it was good. Like I was just telling myself
like, just enjoy it, enjoy your moment.
Don't like kind of overthink things like you're going to,
you're going to score goals, you're going to, you know, have
games where you don't score goals.

(31:26):
So it's just like just make sureyou're in those right areas to
to score and stuff like that, which is, which is what I I made
sure and, and you know, go off the goal.
We just kept them coming and youbuild that confidence when you
score and stuff and it just there's a lock on effect, I
guess. And it just carried on and until
the end of the season and it wassort of a risk and stuff because

(31:50):
it was the end of it was the last year my contract.
So obviously we'll kind of gone off a risk of like I've like I'm
hoping we don't get engine and stuff like that.
And the club was talking to me about extending my contract and
other teams overseas were offering contracts halfway

(32:13):
through the season in the January transfer window.
So I was like, do I, do I go there and just like secure an
extension for my contract and stuff like that.
So all those things were kind of, you know, in the back of my
mind and stuff and all that. I want to make sure that I'm
going to do the right thing for that period of time.
And then I just said, you know, I'll stand for the rest of the

(32:34):
season because I knew I can score more goals here.
Yeah, for sure it was going to be the right decision and I
guess it was so. Yeah, talk to me about you told
me about the mid season, your sort of mid season move.
You're close to making a move to2nd league Dutch competition
during the mid season and give sort of an insight to I guess
people listening and how the movements of professional

(32:56):
football can be when you're about to sort of move and then
the transfer that doesn't happen.
Yeah, it's full on men. Like it's a lot of people don't
see the this side of it. Yeah.
They just see the side of, you know, he's playing, he's in, you
know, the one he loves. He gets paid, you know, good
amounts of money. But I'm like it's, it's not all
that and stuff like that. But with that situation, it was,

(33:21):
it was sort of brewing for like a month or two before that, like
a little bit like there were some clubs here and there, but
not like concrete and stuff likethat.
And then when they when they didopen, there was there was a
couple teams from the second division of of Netherlands and
stuff. And so yeah, there was a team

(33:47):
that wants to sign me and I was like, and I was pretty keen on
going. I think I was going to go and
then I think then next weekend game they got an injured player.
So then the majority of their money had to be spent on that
position. So then they didn't have enough
money to buy out me and and stuff like that, pay the club

(34:09):
for for myself and then obviously for my wages.
So then that that team was kind of, you know, done with and then
there was another team where things just didn't work out with
transfer and stuff like that. And then there was another team

(34:30):
where trying to remember how what is it?
Again, it was like they were were ready to sort of pay for
the transfer and stuff like that.
And at the moment, like at the time, you sort of get a sense
for knowing if this club's goingto be the right club or not.

(34:51):
So I was like in my mind, in my gut feeling, I just like, it's
just didn't feel right, I guess.So I was like, and to be honest,
it was like 3 days, 3-2 days before the window closed.
Yeah. So it felt like, it almost felt
like, oh, we're just like rushing.
Yeah, you had everything packed,didn't you?
Like all your stuff? You need to go.

(35:12):
Yeah, pretty much. So like took everything out of
the locker in the club, packed all my suitcases in where I was
standing at the house and stuff like that.
And all my clothes was like all these suitcases.
Everything was like at the door ready to go and stuff like that.

(35:32):
And then like it like things just had to get sorted, like
like my passport, like Croatian passport.
I had. To get sorted and it was like a
really small time frame to get things sort of done.
And, and I just feel like it wasjust sort of it was too rush in
a way, in a sense totally. So we we thought, you know, like

(35:56):
we don't think it's going to be the right decision.
So we'll just, you know, play the rest of this season and
obviously hopefully everything goes to plan, which thankfully
it did for sure. But yeah, that's just the the
sort of the other side of football, I guess.
Like anything can happen within.Of course it's 2-3 days, man.

(36:17):
Like even one day. Yeah.
So it's. I know of a lot of conversations
we had, especially off like the pitch and stuff saying that you
never know when you can move, you can leave to to like Europe
in the next day or so or anything can happen random.
It's crazy. Just a funny one for me.
When, when you sort of got rid of your stuff in in University
United unpacked and when you came back, did you sort of do

(36:38):
the Jordan Belford, Leonardo DiCaprio, Wolf of Wall Street
when you came in saying I'm not leaving?
No, I mean, I was thinking aboutit.
I was thinking about it, but like there were like a a couple
players like that did say like my locker was empty and stuff

(36:59):
like that. Yeah.
Like, obviously they, they had like a feeling of potentially
could leave and stuff like that,but they didn't know, like it
was confirmed and stuff. Yeah.
And you know, they asked me is like when they saw me like
repacking my, my locker and stuff like that.
They kind of had like a small ontheir faces in a way.
They were like, you know, I'm glad he's not leaving and stuff

(37:21):
like that. So I was like, you know, like
the boys didn't have any sort ofsort of hate against me for like
not wanting to go overseas because they, they understand
the situation and stuff like that.
Like footballs. They they know what it's like
and stuff. So which is good.
So yeah, maybe for, you know, different.

(37:43):
Circumstances. Yeah, and he's not as guilty to,
you know, if I did go there, I'dbe letting him down and stuff
like that. But I guess that's just
football, man. Of course, these things.
Can happen, yeah. You truly made it up, by the
way. Yeah, you just got to, just got
to deal with them, play through and then and it's what it is.

(38:03):
That's it, that's it, and you made it up to them.
You were talking about the firstgame against Adelaide United or
you said you were struggling andyou got cramps and then the last
game you played against AdelaideUnited was a completely
different story. I was there at the game,
unbelievable performance. I think it was two goals and I'm
trying not to be biassed, but they put a hat trick and
obviously we take that, you takethat.

(38:23):
I'm taking the hat. Trick.
Yeah. How was it?
How's it feeling in the final two?
Yeah, your youngest ever to score a hat trick in the final?
Well, there's some record. I don't know.
I think one of that, I think in a final there's like 5 players
that have scored a hat trick. Yeah.
Youngest, I'm not too sure I could be.

(38:44):
Yeah. So.
Late company? Who was that?
Like Archie Thompson's one. Jason Cummings, yes, another one
he scored in the final against. Yes, I remember that.
The two others I can't remember.Yeah, Mauricio was probably
would have been one. It could have been, yeah, it
could have been no surprise. Even my client could have been

(39:06):
one. I can't remember.
But yeah, now it was a good feeling that it was a close game
and tight game. 32 the the atmosphere was, was really good.
Like it was a night game as wellas what you want late game and
especially being an iron market,again, like it just helps when

(39:26):
we're playing there, we're used to playing there, training there
and it's just you feel at home there.
So yeah, those, those goals are just, again, like I said, I was
just doing my job to make sure Iwas in those right areas.
Board just falls to me as I justget a get a quick shot off and
stuff like that. And, you know, they're winning

(39:49):
the the the third goal really kind of baffled me a little bit
because I almost felt like the keyboard was like, you know,
unfair for you can like move your keeper left and right and
stuff like that. Yeah.
And I felt like the cable was just like his positioning looked
a bit a bit. It was, it looked a bit off.
Like it's almost like he moved his joystick to his right and

(40:10):
just opened up the new post. And I'm just like, wait, wait a
minute. Is he like trying to bluff me or
something? Like he's trying to like he's
trying to make me go that way. Yeah.
But that wasn't like the case. He's just, he's positioning
just. It wasn't good in general and
she was like, all right, this knee post is open, let me just
go for it and I shoot and like the ball where it hits the net,

(40:31):
it like hits the middle of the goal.
So it wasn't even like heaps farto that new, new side and it's
still winning and I was just like, all right.
You take it. I'll take it.
I'll take. It, I'll take it is, it is.
But yeah, and I was first. Professional hat trick is got
the ball and stuff back in Sydney.
Nice. I've got to sign ball the

(40:54):
players and stuff, which is nice.
So yeah, hopefully, hopefully many more of those.
For sure, yeah. I'm looking forward to that as
well and keep it on that journeyas well.
Just wanted to take a moment to thank you guys for tuning into
another episode of The Huddle Within podcast.
If you do enjoy episodes like this or this episode
specifically, be sure to leave acomment and a five star review

(41:18):
wherever you do get your podcast.
It'd be also great if you could like and subscribe wherever you
do get your podcast so we can continue to show this out to
people that see sports exactly the way that you do.
But without further ado, let's get straight back into it.
Before I sort of get into what Ireally want to talk about, I do
want to have to sort of mention this.
I know we've probably spent 36 minutes not mentioning it, but

(41:40):
just for the basis of sort of people listening on.
And I guess we know about the unfortunate news of, of Western
United not being, I guess, theirlicence renewed, but they still
have a chance to sort of, I guess, get their licence back.
And there might be a potential chance for an appeal of a new
owner coming in. I know you're not playing there
anymore, but just wanted to sortof get your your feelings on it

(42:00):
and if anyone's could have reached out to you on that as
well. Yeah, it's Santa gaming.
Like it's the the sad thing about it is like a lot of people
are like, I've got a couple messages, but like they they
understand the situation. Like obviously I had no idea

(42:20):
this was going to happen and stuff like that.
But a lot of people are like, oh, like you left the club, you
know, you didn't sign another contract for next season, you
know, stuff like that. Like I'm not sure if I'm looking
at it like a bad sort of compliment or like a, a good
thing, like saying like, oh, lucky you did leave because, you
know, you potentially couldn't be playing at all.

(42:45):
But again, like just for me personally, like I'm, you know,
I feel like it's just got its timing.
You know what I mean? Like he's put me in the
situation where I'm able to go overseas and stuff like that and
take this opportunity which which I have.
But then on the other hand, it'sunfortunate to see that they are
in this position because I play there for like majority of my

(43:08):
professional career for years. So it's it's hard to see the
team that you played for not potentially could get, you know,
liquefied and, and, and, you know, potentially go go bankrupt
and stuff like that. But I've been speaking to a
couple of the players there, youknow, just, you know, what's

(43:28):
happening, what's going on. Even they're like like unsure.
Like he's saying the coach doesn't know as well.
Like a lot of stuff isn't been fed back to them, I guess until
they know for sure, concrete information, when they receive
it and they'll know. But I mean, it's good to see

(43:52):
that they're still sort of training and keeping their heads
high even against the game against FC, you know, with all
these things going on this to able to push through and play
and in my opinion, hopefully notlet that get to them.
You know what I mean? Just playing away.

(44:13):
But it's unfortunate for playerslike Garuccio and Jane
Kachowski, new players, they're not able to, you know, be
registered and play because there's literally I thought, why
aren't they playing this FC game?
And then obviously when this information and stuff came out,
then I was like, oh, OK. I remember there there being a

(44:34):
band for a year and a half wherethey can't, you know, sign or
play players that they that theyinitially signed and stuff like
that. Like not even previous players
that are out of contract they can't re sign them.
So any new players that were signing new contracts?
Oh wow, so the existing ones that were like up for contract?

(44:56):
The new new only new players that like their contracts were
running out for that season and they had to sign new contracts.
OK, they can't play. But if if if it was like just
contract extensions, OK, then I think they could still play
until their previous contract would would run out.
OK, OK. So if you had, if you still had

(45:17):
a year left on your contract andyou sign another two year
extension, see there for three years all that all up, yeah, you
can still play that year until that new, new contract is signed
I think. Yeah.
OK, I'm not 100% sure if that's,that's the case, but that's just
kind of how I'm thinking about it.
Yeah. But yeah, like, man, I'm, I'm,

(45:38):
I'm praying everything, everything works well for them.
And and it was a bit unfortunate.
Like they, they had a plan together.
They had a, an agency and a group, American group coming in.
And that would have been a, a big help with the, the, you
know, getting out of this situation where new ownership
and stuff like that. They had got money.

(45:59):
But then unfortunately, I think it was the IPO.
They just didn't like approve and accept it.
They, they thought that it was not going to be good for the
league that they just come in there.
They were going to be focused onthe football aspect of it of
itself. Like they thought they they were
just coming in looking at it from a business point of view.

(46:22):
Yeah, sense and I guess the IPO just didn't feel like that was
the right way about going in right fit for the for them and
for the league, I guess, which is a bit unfortunate, you know,
because they're in this situation now puts them in this
situation now where they're having to appeal and potentially
find other potential buyers. So hopefully there is a buyer

(46:45):
out there that's that's going tobuy them And, and it's it's
unfortunate for the the players there and the staff as well
there. Like they could potentially lose
jobs. Yeah.
And just you know, where, where they're going to go from there
and stuff. So exactly it's just I'm praying

(47:06):
everything works out for them. And like the, I'm not sure if
you heard, but like the appeal they said was happening Friday,
which was like yesterday and. They're going to have a result
today. I don't even know.
I haven't checked if there's anynews to be honest.
Yeah, yeah. So I'm guessing what in the next
couple days they should be I'm. Gonna have a look right now

(47:27):
actually. Yeah, there's like a live
outcome we get on this, on this probably.
Like as soon, as soon as you look it up, it just pops up
right there, just like, yeah. Well, I will talk about sort of
because I've, I've been seeing online now there's nothing, no
update as of yet, but are probably expecting to see one
very soon because they've logically appealed officially.
A lot of people are saying like the club was destined to fail

(47:48):
and all that to begin with because they shouldn't have got
the licence. But I live in the Melbourne
western suburbs, so I'm someone that's been a local living in
the West my whole life. I can't say I'm the most like
die hard, a league supporter or football Australian supporter
out there. But what I can safely say about
the club of Western United, whatever issues or financial
hardships they're going through right now, the long term sort of

(48:11):
project and kind of and kind of aspirations that they had I
think were a great sort of idea and vision.
Because you've got an emerging western suburbs and people don't
know Melbourne. Western Subs is probably one of
the biggest emerging suburbs in the world, honestly, across the
whole world in terms of the growth and whatnot.
And definitely in Australia too.And the opportunity to have a

(48:32):
football club there. And if they were to create a new
stadium opens up that and peopledon't like it, the business
opportunity. But there's a, there's a,
there's a chance for that to be a new CBD or a hub where people
from the West can sort of commute to there.
And it can start with football and football having advanced
stadiums can sort of grow there and you have a community there.
So for now, they probably don't get fans exactly.

(48:54):
They could have fans in the future like the world's going to
keep going like in this is how clubs get formed.
Australia is a young country. We might be, they might be
struggling right now, but let's say 50-60 years down the track,
we might have a western suburbs of maybe a 34 million
population. And then the football develops
and gets better like clubs like Barisha, Dortmund and Germany is
a bigger country than us. We're going through financial

(49:15):
struggles as well. And Bayern Munich had them to
bait them out and it's frustrating me that no one
really sees that and understand that there is more of a long
term gain and, and it's sad you don't like whatever it is, it's
a professional club. You don't want it to go down.
You don't want professional clubs to stop being part of the
professional leagues. Like whatever situation it is,
any sport. So it's kind of my two cents on

(49:35):
it. Yeah, like even I was going to
touch on the with the versus Dorman sort of financial stuff.
Even Leon, I think they they. They went down the division.
Yeah. Well, like they they had done
another full story. But I think like PSG, like the
financials and stuff like that weren't, weren't doing the best.
And Legon were potentially saying, oh, if you if you're not

(50:00):
able to sort of pay out these finances and stuff like that,
that you have to get relegated to Division Two and stuff like
that. And, and I think their deal for
Barcola when he got sold to PSG was like in installments.

(50:22):
So like every year they'll get in a certain amount and stuff
like that. So the good thing was, and I
respected so much from PSG, theypaid out their instalment in
full for the next, you know, three years or whatever it would
be. So then they give Leon that
those finances to be able to stay up in, in League 1.

(50:43):
So obviously it's happening, like I said, it happens in all
over Europe and stuff like that as well.
So it's, yeah, it is what it is.But yeah, like you were saying
for that Western community, I think it was like a, it was a
long term project. Like like we the club would be
talking to us, the chairman Jason would be, you know,

(51:06):
talking to us about the vision of what they want to take the
club into the the area. I think in the next 5 to 10
years would be a big sort of council hub area.
Like I think I said within the next five years, 500 half a mil
people would be, you know, potentially moving out there
without potential housing and stuff like that.
It's growing massively here. And, and, and schools and, you

(51:29):
know, parks and stuff like that for families and stuff to grow.
And then obviously that being around the football stadium,
it'd give them a reason to sort of, you know, support a team and
get behind the team and hopefully potentially brother
club. So that was the plan and stuff
like that. And you can see it here in in

(51:51):
Europe and stuff like even when you go to England, the stadiums
where they're located, it's not like a.
City, it's in the neighbourhoods.
Exactly. It's in the neighbourhoods, it's
got housing and stuff like, you know, around it.
So it's built around the community, even though like
football's been along around a lot longer than Australia has.

(52:11):
But that's just, I feel like that's how we have to sort of
that's the direction we have to go in, you know, I agree.
Building stuff around that that that instead of just starting,
you know what I mean? So it's, yeah, it's a tough one.
I, I sort of 100% agree for you because I think going to the
city can be a bit of a drag for families, especially like taking
their kids there, needing to take the train or if they're

(52:32):
driving, finding parking, you'rein combat with, with other
things that are going on in the city, especially we've got AFL
in Melbourne, NRL in obviously NSW and Queensland.
Other sports are playing at the same time.
And it's what I like about MPL as well.
If you're living like 10 minutesup the road, you can just drive
there and the only sole purpose of your travel is for football
and that's where people are going to be congregating.

(52:53):
So it kind of gives you that that feel and it happens, like
you said, around the world, evenespecially in England, they're
all in like random streets, likeyou could have a football
stadium 2 minutes away from yourhouse.
And it sort of creates that environment and it makes our
sport very unique and it's builtoff history.
So yeah, it's a shame. It's a shame that Western United
is obviously at this stage losing their licence.

(53:14):
But we do pray for them and I think the only limelight that I
have is that, and you don't haveto comment on this, but you are
technically the the club's longest or most goals and I
could potentially finish that way.
But that's probably me being insensitive and it's.
It's it's like, it is true, yeah.
But it's it's, yeah, it's. More than that for sure.

(53:36):
Yeah, it's more than that. Like it's hard one to sort of
have emotions and stuff about it.
Of course, going back to the thelicence and stuff with Weston,
I'm not sure if the the whole club itself, their licences
potentially being stripped away or if it's just the owner Jason

(53:59):
of him having the licence to be able to own that club in the A
league. OK, is what I've heard.
So I think if they do get buys and stuff like that and new
ownership, then they've still got that licence to be able to
play in the league and stuff like that.
I don't know if that's 100% sure, but I think that's what

(54:20):
the situation is to be honest. So don't quote me on it, but
yeah. That's hard.
That's a good. That's a good sort of silver.
Lining, actually, I hope, I hopethat's the case for the club for
sure. Someone can come in and buy it
and they can start playing A league games again, but we'll
move on. I wanted to talk about,
obviously you scored a lot of goals in the A league last
season and it's something that I, I really wanted to bring up

(54:43):
on this. And I guess it's your, it's your
faith. It's something that I think goes
really under the radar. We know in all your press
conferences, you always mention your Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. We're always seeing sort of you
doing the cross sign or pointingup to the sky.
And I suppose that's for obviously thanking God for your
moment and whatnot. And I do take my faith quite

(55:03):
seriously. It's, it's how we met as well.
So it's something that is reallyimportant to me and very
important to you guys, know, as a very faithful and devoted man.
And apart from his football, he's very dedicated to his faith
and study. Yeah, we all do.
We're not perfect. And that's the thing that I
guess we want to know. But it's, it's great to see
because obviously some of your age being close to God and

(55:26):
whatnot. And I guess that's an
inspiration for kids as well. Looking forward to say that you
can be a football player and still believe in God and stuff.
And it's, it's pretty amazing. Talk to me how I guess that's
sort of impacted you and, and how that like how much that
means to you and and that support as well when you're on
the pitch. Yeah, it's impacted me
massively, like especially from the, the last season, like it's,

(55:51):
well, my whole life, it hasn't been like since I was younger.
Like we used to like we're Catholic and stuff like that.
We used to go to like normal Sunday church and stuff like
that. But we didn't sort of as a
family, we didn't look too much into and how important it is.
Like we go to church Sundays, wego to church on, you know,

(56:12):
Easters and and Christmas and stuff like that and we'd gather
around and stuff like that. But we didn't know the, the, the
true importance of those events,you know what I mean?
And how much they meant. It's, it's only recently, in the
past couple years, we've actually started, like we,
including myself and my family started really opening our eyes

(56:36):
to it, you know, with some research and stuff like that.
And, and specifically my dad, he's like, you know, big on like
this stuff like knowing past history with this and, and doing
researches and listening to videos about faith and stuff
like that and, and different events that have happened.

(56:59):
So I get a lot of my informationfrom him.
Yeah, which is, which has been helpful.
And then I'll say just also doing my own research and stuff
like that. But it's it's it's been huge for
me, especially for the past couple couple years.
It's more so happened since after COVID.
Like that's kind of, and I'm sure there's a lot of people

(57:22):
it's like open their eyes to everything really.
But yeah, in every situation, I always, you know, give glory to
to him because again, like he can just from the research and
the evidence and stuff like thatand just from faith and stuff

(57:42):
like that. And you see the sort of impact
it's had on people's lives. You hear sort of different
testimonies and videos about what people have gone through,
what they've experienced. And you just feel like this.
It's, it's not just like nothinghas just come from nothing.

(58:04):
You know what I mean? This is the world here for
reason, for sure. We're here for purpose and, and,
and God's given that purpose to each and every one of us.
And it's up to us to to try and find them something.
And obviously with me through football, I'll try and give that
same, that same purpose and drive for him.

(58:26):
You know what I mean? Like I'm like we spoke about
this before, like wanting to be like, oh, is this something more
like that we have to do? Like even like like we said
potentially come in like priestsand stuff like that when we
spoke about this. Yeah, yeah, I do.
Or like, is there something like, is there a specific reason

(58:47):
like we're on this earth like tobe closer with God, like a lot
of people say, or like, do we gointo sort of priesthood?
Is that, is that how we're goingto be closer?
Is that? The only outlet, it's like
that's how you feel sometimes when you're the only one that's
faithful. Yeah.
Yeah, exactly. But I'm like, is that the main
reason how you can be faithful? But I'm like, there's so many
other reasons and other ways. Like I feel like you can do that

(59:11):
through your through your job and, and, and what you do in
life. Like I always say that God's
given you a time for reason to not waste it.
And obviously that talent is forme, he's being football.
So I was looking in a way that how do I glorify him through

(59:31):
football? And obviously that's with, you
know, praying before games and stuff like that, doing the sign
of the cross, you know, asking for, for strength and for
healing during games and, and, and obviously after interviews,
you know, glorifying him. And, and so that it sort of gets

(59:54):
out there where, you know, potentially kids can see that
and, and they sort of inspire that, which hopefully brings
them close to the God. And so that's the kind of way I
look at it like I, I've got a story where.
That's a really story. But like when I was at Weston
last year, there was a family that came up to me after one of

(01:00:16):
the games and she said she was with a kid.
She's got two kids, boy and a girl.
And she ended up saying like, because of you and like, like my
kids and stuff, they see you pray during the during the games
and stuff and after the games. And it's brought them closer to

(01:00:38):
wanting to play as well. Yeah, you know what I mean?
Like, that just puts a a smile to my face, you know, I'm able
to bring others closer to go through what I'm doing.
And, and that's the most important thing in, in my
opinion. That's that's your mission.
So as you said before, obviouslyas as young Catholics, we always
feel like we need to hit that priesthood or sort of go above

(01:00:59):
and beyond to really share that faith.
And I think you're doing it on aplatform where many thousands of
people, and if not in the future, hopefully millions of
people are seeing that. And that's, that's a journey in
itself. And that's something that I
think you'll put on this earth to do.
And it's, it's amazing to see asamazing as someone that's.
Yeah. Yeah, exactly.
Hopefully that's that's what I'mtrying to do.

(01:01:20):
But obviously, like I said, likewe said before night, everyone's
perfect. I'll be the first to put my hand
up and say that, you know, there's always that times where
you have doubts in certain situations and stuff like that.
And like recently with football getting knocked out in certain
tournaments and start in certaincups and qualifiers and not

(01:01:44):
obviously it, you know, you start to get frustrated and
angry with that. But I always just say like it's
it's in Gold's hand. For sure just.
Just put all that stress that hetakes that away from me and it
just puts me in a more calm state and at peace with with a
lot of things. And and that's how it was sort

(01:02:06):
of in different situations and hard times.
I'm able to sort of get through that to that it's.
Amazing. And all those of God had a
feature on there which is amazing.
Had that sort of yeah for you seeing that?
During the hat trick. Yeah, big page by the way, by
for those who don't know about 300 and 1000 odd people,

(01:02:28):
obviously it's a page where people are posting athletes like
NOLA, especially footballers that are very devoted and and
faithful to them. So give them a follow for sure
if you're someone that wants to see professionals that do this,
because there's a lot that that talk about their faith and they
share that to the world. And that's something that I
think gets really unnoticed in in, in culture and sort of media

(01:02:48):
as well. So bottage was another feature.
So yeah, talk to me about that. Massively like I I saw it like I
just got I saw the Instagram like they just they post it and
I thought, oh, well, this is this is mad.
You know what I mean? Like they're always posting
about always see like the place from Crystal Palace, like
because they got a massive they beat into their their faith, a

(01:03:10):
lot of their players. Shield FA Cup wins for a reason,
I would say. For me, yeah.
You know, like, see what I mean?Like anything, when you've got
God on your side, anything is possible, man.
Like who'd they be in the FA Cup?
They beat Man City I'm pretty sure.
Oh the guy they beat City and then in the community they beat

(01:03:31):
Liverpool and they're two top English teams, 2 giants and they
don't mean the. City.
I might have been wrong. I have to double check that and
verify it, but you keep going. I think I think it was city.
I think it was city but yeah, see what I mean two big giants,
English giants and they go on and and beat them.
Yes, it was city. I think that's just through

(01:03:52):
having faith and belief in God that, you know, to give them the
strength to do that and stuff like that.
And when they're together as a team and, and, and united by one
strong belief, you know, anything's impossible,
anything's possible. So it's, it's really, really
wholesome and, and amazing to see.

(01:04:13):
Yeah. And also you obviously being on
there with those guys, it's quite no, there's no steep fee
either. So yeah, it's pretty awesome
too. Yeah, it's pretty.
It's pretty cool, but it's. That's it.
That's great. And anyone in the in your new
team that's sort of into the faith or what?
No. Have you really spoken about it
with sort of the the new guys there?

(01:04:37):
Here, I haven't really opened upor asked anyone really about it.
There is actually another player.
He doesn't speak much English, yeah.
But there is another player that's big into his faith as
well. Like he's got a, you know, ball
is is AI think it's balls and gold.

(01:04:57):
They do like merchandise for like shin pads.
Yeah, different like socks and stuff like that.
So I actually saw him he's got apair of shin pads as well.
And he's got a pair of kind of like, you know, plays put like a
white paper in their arms. And so balls and gold did one
where they've got their symbol and branding on that sort of

(01:05:22):
tape and stuff. And he and he's got like a roll
of, of that tape and stuff. So yeah, now that's that's
that's nice to say. Yeah, for sure.
But yeah, everyone that's watching Austria and this season
look out for Noah when he scoreshim doing a points to the sky or
sign of the cross because I'm pretty sure that's going to
always happen every time he steps on the pitch for sure.

(01:05:44):
That's it, man. Yeah, that's it.
Yeah. And and how you feeling about
the season. Obviously we spoke a bit about
the the end of the start of the season not being the best, but
how you feeling kind of going toit?
What are your expectations with this group and sort of your own
personal expectations as well? Good expectations for myself.

(01:06:05):
I'm not like really high becauseI'm obviously like it's a new
season, new country, new football.
It's obviously it'd be nice to score as many goals as possible,
but I'm not going to have, you know, put my head down and put
myself down if I don't hit a certain limit.
Like I just want to play the best football that I possibly

(01:06:26):
can help my team as much as I can, you know, to hopefully win
the league. They they came so close last
year to win the season. They'll like I think they'll
like a win off like it was the IT was the last game of the
season. They were two one up and if they
won that game, then they would have won and then they conceded

(01:06:49):
in like the last minute. So then they drew that game and
then just didn't have enough points to the winner and stuff,
which is which is gut wrenching.But yeah, not like expectations
are high for this season, obviously coming back from
almost winning it last season asa team.
But yeah, like I said, we haven't had the best of starts,

(01:07:10):
but I mean that's same thing happened when I was at Western
United, didn't have the best starts until the FC game and
then that's when things turned around and then we ended up
coming 3rd and making the semis.So yeah, like I said, anything's
possible. And obviously with Austria VN
being one of the biggest clubs in Austria, a lot of eyes and

(01:07:34):
attention and stuff was going tobe on these games and stuff.
So hopefully, like the, the mainissue is that we we all stick
together as a team and not sort of start pointing fingers at,
you know, players and stuff likethat and calling players out,
because then that would just only divide us.

(01:07:55):
So you always got to, especiallyin the team's sport, you're
going to stay together even whenthings are going bad, because
then eventually you always you'll get out of that, that,
that hole eventually. And that's just kind of football
and how how it goes. 100 percent, 100% and explain to me
sort of how the Ocean League works.
It's hella confusing. Like I've got.

(01:08:16):
I know they're. Sort of.
These are like top 6. Top six and then there's like a
bottom 6 and there's like a tournament.
Yeah, I got it. I got it.
It's so cooked. So before I came as well, I was
looking as well, and I was just as confused as you were.
I was like, this doesn't make any sense.
There's like a full team, There's like a table and then it
splits off and I'm like, like, what's going on here?

(01:08:37):
Yeah, there's 12 teams in the inthe league and so you versus
each team twice. So which makes up 22 games
obviously and then added those two, those 22 games, whatever
position you finish. So obviously if it's top six
then you go into the Championship table.
So like NBA, so like a playoffs,you get seeded.

(01:09:00):
Yeah, you sort of get seeded in a way, but it's but there's
after the playoffs, like after the season, once you're like in
those seeds, it's like not knockout games, you know what I
mean? Yeah, it's like another table in
its own, like of itself. Yes, 22 games.
Yeah, yeah. Of the 22 games you get split

(01:09:23):
off, but let's say we do make the top 6IN those in that top
six, you verse each team twice again.
OK, so then it's pretty much just a fight for the for the
title essentially. So your main objective in the
1st 222 games is to make top 6 be as high as possible

(01:09:43):
obviously. And then for the next 10 games,
then you're just versing teams in your top six group
essentially. How many groups?
There's two groups. There's two groups and then
there's top six and there's the bottom 6, so then the bottom six
are versing the other five teamsthat are in that.
At that point it's relegated. Bottom 2 gets relegated.

(01:10:07):
I don't know if it's bottom 2, Iknow it's at least one.
I think it's just one because I know one team gets promoted.
OK. So it's pretty interesting.
Yeah, Yeah. So I think they do that in the
Netherlands as well that I've heard.
I think potentially when I was going to go over there in
January, like I said. So I looked at that and then

(01:10:30):
before I came here I saw it and I was like, yeah, I was, I was
confused as well. But say overall it's 32 games.
So I guess a little bit more than than the A league, which is
obviously good. But yeah, that's how it works.
It's completely different to anyother league that I'm used to,

(01:10:51):
like the Premier League or Spanish league, French league, I
think. I think it's just a way to get
more games in. Yeah, know.
What I mean? And make big games too, like the
top 6. Yeah, yeah, that's what I mean.
Like especially with only 12 teams in the league.
So it's just a way to get more, more games and stuff.
And I think it's a good, good concept.

(01:11:13):
Yeah, it reminds me of could youimagine, like the top six in the
Premier League, like the Big 6 going at it in this playoff?
Like, how cool would that be? I know they'll never do it, but.
That's what I mean. That's what I mean like it like
it just splits off into like 3 different groups.
You're like a mid table. Yeah, Yeah, but I think it only

(01:11:34):
works with a smaller amount of clubs in a league.
Yeah, for sure. Like if there's a 20 lead, 20
team lead, then it's a bit more difficult, but I think I think
it's perfect for a smaller, smaller league like Austria.
Yeah, 100%. Well, before we sort of wrap it
up, we've obviously talked aboutyour career, your fave, your

(01:11:55):
personal, all that type of jazz.But we, I do want to sort of
quickly touch on Premier League excited.
Obviously from this recording, only one games happen for the
Premier League starting. Suppose you'll be watching a
bit. We're both United.
Fans probably keep that quiet. I'm going to be watching so many
now because it's a perfect time.Yeah, I remember when I was at
1:00 AM, three AM, 5:00 AM. It's going to be like 5 time

(01:12:20):
here. So yeah, I'm excited about that.
And that's just not just with the Premier League, with any,
any league as well, any sort of football, European league,
Champions League, Spanish league, German league starts.
And I've got a, I've actually got a sort of an app where

(01:12:40):
someone's helped me. You sort of it's like a yearly
thing. You pay $150.00 but you're able
to get any channel from around the world.
Do you want to? Do you want to watch?
That's cool. Football, yeah, I've got, I can
watch channels from Australia, Ican watch channels from the UK,
from the US, any sport, any channel documentaries, movies,

(01:13:03):
series. So I was like the best thing
there. So like yesterday we watched,
watched Liverpool versus Bournemouth because I'm a real
game. Yeah, Perfect time. 9:00 PM
yeah. And yeah, just popped it on one
of the UK channels and I startedwatching it.
Yeah, it's I've got, I've got some Meno in my like Supercoach
draught because Supercoach is yeah, they've got, they've got

(01:13:25):
Premier League for Supercoach now.
So. Oh, really?
It's really cool. So now I got some Meno and he
dropped me like 23 points and I'm currently leading the
league. It's quite early, but.
He's like, he's so good. He's good, man.
Like he's so powerful, yeah. Massive man.
Like you can't get the ball of players like that, man.
Like he's just explosive big as well, but fair play when scoring

(01:13:48):
two goals. I thought they were going to
come back, man. Yeah.
And then and then they just got a lucky drop to him.
It was a good finish. But yeah, it would it would have
been interesting to to see them lose that game.
Yeah, for sure. I know you're probably not
turning on the Australian channel to watch your your
Essendon Bombers. And talk to me about that man I

(01:14:12):
was, I was actually watching. I was that training man.
I was watching one of the players, they asked me like,
what are you watching? I go AFL and they go, what's
this? Oh my God, it's a sport in
Australia. And I was teaching him the basic
rules that he's watching. He's looking at like, what the
hell kind of a sport is this, man?
Yeah, you didn't. You didn't introduce him to a
good game. Not a good team to to introduce

(01:14:33):
him to the Bombers unfortunately.
No, I was just, it was just the only game that I was on, I
guess. But they will turn around, don't
worry. We had a long list of injuries
this season. Again, we've always got big
expectations at the beginning ofeach season.
And then just, I don't know, we've got like some curse on us,

(01:14:53):
man Something, everything was just not going our way.
We've got certainly debutantes, you know, making their
appearances and stuff like that.But hopefully things turn
around, man. I don't know.
But Collingwood. But you know, you know what, I
think I feel like Collingwood intheir situation.
You just some Collingwood fans, I'll give this to them that they

(01:15:16):
don't admit the situation they're in is a dire one because
it's like, I don't know man, like a couple games then.
Look at the time of this recording, once this is over,
we've got Adelaide Crows right after this that's got a strain
on the TV and we're going to winthat game.

(01:15:38):
I'm calling it now, We will win that game.
Where's? Where's that game at?
It's. At Adelaide Oval, we haven't
lost there in 10, we haven't lost to Adelaide in 10 matches,
the last 10 we've played and we have the best record at Adelaide
Oval. So I'm fully confident that the
Pies are going to turn around tonight.
Maybe it's my bias, but I'm telling you, we're going to get
it done, Adelaide. Throws me in the top of the leg.

(01:15:58):
We're a good. Team getting it done, I don't
care. No, no, no.
I'm. Delusional like.
That you never know. Yeah.
What time's that game on? About 10 minutes from now to be
honest, so if you have time you might be able to watch it on
your new $150.00 multi channel TV that you're gonna.
Get it, man. It's honestly unreal.
Yeah, it's so good, man. Like to get rid of any every

(01:16:19):
channel, Yeah, and just get thisstuff.
We'll have a behind the scenes, we'll have a behind the scenes
chat about it after this for sure about it.
But yeah, it's been a it's been a great episode, Noah.
It's been a pleasure having you on.
I know we've been meaning to have this call or this podcast
episode for a long time, and I know you have a really.
Busy, yeah, like I said, just a couple weeks now man, it's been

(01:16:43):
been hectic here so. Yeah.
So I really appreciate you taking the time out of, yes,
you're busy schedule, being in anew country, in a new club, and
to come on and jump on the huddle.
And I really hope the best for you this season.
I'm obviously going to be watching very heavily.
I'm meaning to come to Europe soon, hopefully by the end of
the year. So we'll definitely try to come
to Vienna and come watch a game for sure.

(01:17:05):
So yeah, excited for your journey.
God will be there for you, of course.
And yeah, thank you so much for being on again.
No worries man. Thanks for.
Talking me, yeah. Cheers, guys.
So that's a wrap for this week'sepisode of The Huddle Within
podcast. I appreciate you for tuning in
and being part of this communitywhere we go beyond the game and

(01:17:26):
into what really matters. If this episode resonated with
you, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it
with someone who sees sports just the way that we do.
And hey, I'd love to hear from you.
Connect with me on my social medias, which will be linked
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be part of a future episode. Until next time, keep that
passion alive, stay in the huddle, and remember it's always

(01:17:46):
deeper than the game. Cheers.