Photo: Smile for Peter
Following his departure from Bulleen Lions earlier today, Dominic Barba has been appointed as Port Melbourne Sharks’ new head coach.
The position was vacated by Eric Vassiliadis at the end of the 2016 NPL Victoria campaign after his side fell from a finals position after 11 rounds, to picking up just eight points out of a possible 45 throughout the remainder of the season to finish just three points off a relegation play-off spot.
Barba revealed how the move came about and understands the challenge that lies ahead of him with this new squad, and is focusing first and foremost on survival for 2017, and is hoping to push on from there.
“It came to my attention Port were looking for a new coach and they wanted to speak to me about whether I’d be interested,” Barba told The Corner Flag
“Naturally they understood the challenges I had at Bulleen and whether that would work for me moving forward. The opportunity came to speak to Port Melbourne and they worked out if I would be the right fit.
“Our number one objective is that the status of Port Melbourne is retained at NPL level, but we also build on it and challenge ourselves.
“Port Melbourne has been a big club, there are a lot of things that need to come together for us to preserve that, but Port Melbourne is also a big club in terms of what it has achieved over the years.
“It has been a club for many players to make the step up to a higher level including overseas, so it does have a pedigree about it.
“We also need to focus on the 16’s, 18’s and 20’s group as that will be significant for the club as well.”
Barba – a former VPL referee – has held previous coaching positions at Moreland Zebras and Clifton Hill, before his appointment as Bulleen Lions coach for the 2015 NPL2 season, where he earned promotion at the first time of asking, finishing six points clear atop the NPL2 West ladder.
He led Bulleen to top-flight safety in his second stint coaching in the Victorian top flight – coaching two games for the promoted Moreland Zebras in the 2012 season before Joe Palatsides took over – with an 11th placed finish.
It’s this ability to get instantaneous results that he believes stands him in good stead for his new role at the Sharks.
“My experience in senior management, having instantaneous success where I go, I’m able to achieve things when things are a little difficult,” he said.
“Plus working at senior and junior level and being able to merge those two worlds together I think was the pivotal part for [Port Melbourne] to consider me above anybody else.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity. Port are very strong in many areas. City central, great location, the club has been around a long time and it’s very proud, good family atmosphere – it has all the right attributes.
“It knows where its place is in the league but it certainly has the character to compete at this level and attract the right personnel to make the club truly significant.
The newly-appointed coach instilled strong defensive stability with Bulleen, with the club conceding less than a goal a game in their promotion winning season in 2015 – the best record in the league – while in spite of their lowly league finish of 11th in the 2016, had the fifth best defensive record in the top-flight.
Bulleen Lions announced the resignation of Barba earlier this morning, thanking him for his efforts throughout his time in charge, before wishing him well for his future endeavours.
The change of management at the Sharks also sees popular assistant manager Semi Sivic depart the club after four years working in the backroom staff.