Feature Image: Natasha Morello
Freed from the shackles on Monday night, well-cultured youngster Jordan Templin netted what proved to be a match-winning brace for Bulleen Lions on Monday night.
His first two goals in the NPL could not have come at a better time for the 21-year-old, who has taken the road less travelled on his way to the top rung of Victorian football, opting to step back before progressing forward.
“The boys were at a bit of a low before because we were playing good football, coming against teams and thinking we can win those games, but dropped points because of counter attacking goals – so it was good to get the result,” Templin said.
“The boys have been amazing to play with and it’s good to connect with players that play like yourself. We found that tonight it was easy to connect, we didn’t want to put the ball into the air to battle, we wanted to play good football, get forward and score goals.
“As far as the goals coming, I’ve been performing more of a defensive job recently in midfield so it was good get up front and get some goals on the board.”
Templin’s journey in the sport has stretched across five countries and a number of leagues within the footballing pyramid. Born to a Filipino father and Australian mother, the youngster globe-trotted in his formative years, spending time training with high-profile clubs across Europe such as Ipswich Town, Club Brugge, APOEL and most recently Hercules – then in Segunda B, the third tier of Spanish football.
“The biggest difference between here and Europe is the culture. It’s 24-7 over there, while here it’s not a lifestyle – we train and go to games,” he said.
“That’s where Australian football needs to grow, as soon as it does, there won’t be a difference. In terms of player quality, there are some really good players here, it’s just about them trying to get that lifestyle on board.”
His start in Victorian football came with the Bentleigh, where under the watchful eyes of John Anastasiadis, a then 16-year-old Templin was given a first team debut in 2012 – in a VPL Elimination Final no less – coming on as a late sub as the Greens fell 1-0 to Northcote City.
Templin spoke about the hardships that he experienced during his stint at Bentleigh, which saw his progress severely halted due to serious injury.
“I was young when I was at Bentleigh, about 16 when I was being pushed through the seniors.
“There isn’t anything against the club, they gave me all the opportunities possible. I was training with them, starting in pre-season but I copped a couple of injuries, broken legs, so I dropped out.
“The opportunity came to move to South Hobart and play senior football for the inaugural NPL season in Tasmania, where we got into the finals.”
Signing with the Tasmanian Victory League powerhouse, Templin’s stint in the Apple Isle saw him line up alongside former Box Hill and Bentleigh midfielder Caleb Ludlow, as well as Heidelberg’s Kostas Kanakaris. Coached by the highly-regarded Ken Morton, Templin blitzed the league with South Hobart, finishing 15 points above nearest competitors Devonport.
A move to Nunawading followed, where the versatile forward won the 2014 State League 2 Best and Fairest in a tight tussle, edging out then Berwick City attacker Orlando Mejias by a solitary point. This prompted a move to Malvern City, where he played two seasons in the highest tier of the State Leagues.
While Templin always believed he could climb to even greater heights, he explained his decision to remain in the state’s third-tier, with the social aspect of football helping the youngster refresh mentally after a gruelling injury toll at the highest level. Lining up alongside some of his best mates at Malvern, Templin stressed the importance of waiting for a club that was the right fit for him, which Bulleen seemingly offered at the start of this season.
“You can get thrown back into the deep end, but often you see players get re-injured. After injury, the mental side of things lapses, so you want to get that positive mentality back.
“Being around mates is a really good thing. That’s why coming to Bulleen, the atmosphere with the club and the boys has been really amazing.”
“It’s always good to play against the best and this is the best in the state,” Templin added, before discussing the youthful feel of the Bulleen dressing room.
“As far as being one of the more experienced boys, we’ve got some guys to help to help alongside me to form a good leadership group – it’s a real team effort. Because we’ve got such a young base, everyone has just got to pick each other up and communicate, so things have been really good so far.”
Coach Aaron Healey has shown plenty of faith in his young squad this season, none more so than Templin, as the former Dandenong City coach admitted he’d kept a close eye on his progress, finally landing his man in 2017.
“I’ve tried to sign Jordan for the last few years,” Healey said.
“I think he’s a very good player and I finally got him this year. I think he keeps on developing, going from strength to strength and he’s got good technical ability.
“He’s a worker, great physiology and I’m happy with what his output has been this season. Hopefully he’ll get bigger and better.”
“He was down at Dandy City – while that was a really good level to go to, I just looked to take a couple years off away from the top level playing with mates at Malvern,” Templin said in response.
“This year, Aaron told me ‘it was the third time, you at least have to come down’. I met all the boys and it felt like the right fit and it’s gone well so far.”
Templin has experienced the full complement of emotions in football. From the heights of training with some of Europe’s elite, to the lows of serious injury, it’s been a wild ride. He’s a firm believer in “taking a step back to go forward” and with the promising form he has shown this season, there’s no reason to believe that next step forward could be a big one.