When the Bentleigh Greens stepped onto the surface of then Bob Jane Stadium in March 2010 to take on South Melbourne in the second round of the 2010 VPL season, they were facing up against the former NSL Champions in a league outing for only the third time in their 24-year history.
Back then both clubs were experiencing contrasting fortunes, with the Greens adjusting to the rigours of top flight football following on from their promotion into the VPL that season, while South were struggling in mid-table obscurity after their 2006 Grand Final win.
Six years on and both sides are now firmly entrenched as competition front-runners following two highly successful seasons in the NPL, which saw both win silverware. The Greens also captured the minds of football fans across the country following their run to the FFA Cup semi-final in 2014.
When the two walk out on the redeveloped surrounds of Lakeside Stadium this Sunday, only one member from that 1-1 draw in 2010 will feature. Jack Webster has survived the vast array of changes that have ensued at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex since first joining the club in 2010 as a teenager by following his former manager Andy O’Dell from Sunshine George Cross.
The Englishman has entered his seventh season with the club where he is vice-captain, accumulating a total of 135 league appearances and scoring 6 goals in the process. Over that time, he has established himself as one of the competition’s most consistent defenders, despite the number of different partnerships he has formed at the heart of the Bentleigh backline.
He marshalled the defence with fellow Englishman Aron Wilford for three seasons before spending 2014 partnering Jamie Cumming, in addition to a short time playing alongside current incumbent Ross Archibald. But it was his partnership with Steven Topalovic last season that proved instrumental in the Greens’ success, and despite his absence this campaign, Webster sees many familiarities between the current Cannons defender and Archibald.
“It’s good, as they are similar players and we have started well by not being troubled too much at the minute,” Webster said.
“It’s only early on in the season, so we’ll need to continue that form when we come against better players, but so far so good, meaning I can’t complain.”
The duo’s task at the back is helped by the formidable presence of club captain and good friend Wayne Wallace in front of them, as well as that of the in-form Troy Ruthven, with the pair dictating proceedings from the middle of the park and reducing the workload on the defence.
“They’re big boys who win a lot of headers and offer plenty of protection for the back four by dealing with the midfielders coming through, so it’s all working well at the moment,” Webster said.
“Having said that, we can still work better as we’re not a finished article yet.”
The Greens sit level on points with South Melbourne at the top of the competition ladder, with their rivals ahead in first place on goals scored. An uncharacteristic 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Oakleigh Cannons has been the only blemish so far, with a hard-fought 0-0 draw away to Hume City emphasising their solidarity at the back when confronted against quality opposition.
New additions Danny Dixon and Ryan Paczkowski have impressed in recent weeks, although marquee signing Kamal Ibrahim has been held back by a niggling injury. With options aplenty across the pitch following a strong start, Webster asserts that it is still too early to compare the class of 2016 with Bentleigh squads of previous seasons.
“It’s hard to say that at the minute, given we’re only six rounds into the season, and we’ll get time to judge that at the end of the season with reference to what we manage to achieve,” Webster said.
“But there is plenty of potential in the team as we’ve got plenty of depth with a good bench and a strong number of good players.”
After arriving down under as a fresh-faced 18-year-old in 2009, Webster is now 25 and entering the prime of his career. He was one of two Greens who earned plaudits from the sidelines of former Adelaide United manager Josep Gombau when the Catalan cast a keen eye on proceedings at Bentleigh’s Round 2 fixture against Dandenong Thunder last season.
With FFA Cup experience against A-League opposition also under his belt, Webster has not given up hope of playing at a higher level should such an opportunity arise in the future, although his immediate focus is on the fortunes of Bentleigh.
“There are always ambitions to play at a higher level, but at the moment I’ve got to just keep on doing what I’m doing here in Bentleigh and get on top of that ladder,” he said.
If he is to forge a professional career in the next few years, he will replicate the feat of his older brother Bryon, who features in defence for London-based League One outfit Milwall, the former home of Kevin Muscat and Tim Cahill.
But for now, his attention turns to Sunday when he will again be tasked with the responsibility of marking three-time Golden Boot winner Milos Lujic and countering the attacking threat of Chris Taylor’s side, who have a league-best 19 goals in six league outings.
Whatever the result be Sunday, there is no doubt that Webster has come a long way since first stepping onto the field as a Bentleigh player, but one must feel that the best is still yet to come from the Englishman, who has a burning desire to constantly improve.
Image: Graeme Furlong