FC Bulleen Lions have looked interstate to bolster their NPL Victoria squad, signing former Newcastle Jets midfielder Josh Barresi for the rest of the season.
Drawing comparisons to Tom Rogic from former boss Phil Stubbins, Barresi looked the part as he netted on his debut for Bulleen this afternoon with a tidy shot on his left boot.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to see his side steal a win, with the game finishing in a 1-1 draw with Northcote City.
The AIS graduate has spent time in the NYL system for the last four years, spending two years with Western Sydney Wanderers before moving to Newcastle Jets for the 2014-15 season.
Serious injuries have hampered the progress of the 21-year-old attacking midfielder, who suffered a fractured back during his time with the Wanderers, which kept him out for a large chunk of the 2013-14 season
He then suffered an ACL injury in a pre-season friendly against Juventus in his first year with the Jets, recovering to play his role in Newcastle’s second place finish in Conference B of the National Youth League in 2015-16.
Barresi was one of six players to leave the club in the off-season, with Enver Alivodic, Leonardo, Cameron Watson, Ryan Kitto and Brandon Lundy all departing; the latter joining Northcote City last week.
The club is proving a hot-spot for NPL Victoria news as Heidelberg United goalkeeper Pierce Clark heads the opposite way to link up with Scott Millar’s men.