Image: Skip Fulton
It only requires a quick glance at the ongoing coverage surrounding promotion and relegation to get a sense of the nationwide regard in which the standard of the NPL is held. Despite this, A-League sides desperate for proven talent both on and off the field often overlook the nation’s second tier for both playing and coaching staff.
But NPL products James Robinson and Joey Katebian are making that exact transition at Brisbane Roar.
Not a minute too soon, either. Given the resources City and Victory have at their disposal, it inevitably means there will be talents who miss out. Joey Katebian’s career so far appears evidence of this sentiment.
A Bulleen Lions product, and Melbourne Victory’s NPL captain and golden boot winner in 2015, Katebian is one of the shining lights representing Victoria’s burgeoning youth systems.
Perhaps it’s a shame that the stature and pressure upon Melbourne’s big two rarely allows young stars a chance, but what other clubs lose, Brisbane Roar have demonstrated they’re willing to retrieve.
“(Brisbane’s) a good environment,” says Katebian. “I’m enjoying it at the moment, the aim is to push into the first team, so for the game time, I need to step up myself.”
Having appeared for the Roar’s senior side sporadically, Katebian admits A-League requirements differ substantially from the NPL.
“The jump from NPL to A-League standard is quite big, fitness especially, they want you playing 90 minutes at full capacity. But I’m getting there, and it is enjoyable.”
While travelling thousands of kilometres to chase professionalism throws up unique challenges at the age of 21, Katebian’s determination and positivity underscores his experience up north. He’s not missing the NPL, that’s for sure.
“Footballing wise, I can’t say I’m missing (Melbourne),” Katebian says. “Up here I’m with the first team environment, training every day, not in and out. That’s the most positive thing about moving up here.”
Katebian’s positive attitude may be partly due to the connections who have been assisting his adjustment. One such link is manager John Aloisi, who in his former role as Victory youth coach mentored Katebian and clearly predicts a bright future for the young forward.
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James Robinson, Brisbane’s other bond to the NPL, is experiencing a similar transition to Katebian’s, albeit with the understanding of an experienced journeyman already behind him.
Robinson shows when evaluating the worth of a competition, there’s more than just playing quality to take into consideration.
For its not just playing development that leads to calls for a national second division. The broader quality of Victorian coaching speaks greater to the class evident in football across the sporting capital of Australia.
It’s an often-repeated assertion that Australia’s depth of coaches vastly outweighs available opportunities at a national level, but it’s been a fortunate circumstance for Victorian football – Huss Skenderovic being the other NPL head coach to be involved in a national league club in Adelaide United.
Former Victory midfielder Robinson, who similarly to Katebian came to national recognition after plying his trade in the Victorian leagues (with Richmond SC), is now another flying the Victorian flag at the Roar, albeit as head coach of their venerated youth side.
His rise through the coaching ranks has come surprisingly swiftly, especially considering his rather steep learning curve. Robinson joined the Ballarat Red Devils in 2014 as their inaugural player/manager and failed to stave off relegation in his first season.
But if Robinson’s confidence was hit, he didn’t let on. By the end of 2015 a vastly improved Ballarat side finished fourth in the second tier, just missing out on promotion, but enough to secure the 33-year-old NPL 1 Coach of the Year.
Robinson’s style and man management drew as much praise as the results, and after another year of coaching experience under the belt in a competitive NPL2 West conference, Brisbane quickly came knocking.
The Englishman’s appointment as the head of the Roar’s youth system may seem an apt decision when looking further at his pedigree. Robinson himself is a graduate of the prestigious Crewe Alexandra academy, developed under the guise of famous youth developer, and one of England’s longest serving managers, Dario Gradi.
There is arguably no greater coach from whom to study talent nurturing with scarce resources than Gradi. During 30 years involved with Crewe, the Italian took the tiny club all the way to the English Championship, occasionally fielding sides entirely made from youth team products.
Given Brisbane’s approach to youth and the national team players who have come through the club, it seems the Aloisi brothers may become comparable ideologues with time. If so, Robinson’s unique experience could prove indispensable. He certainly appears optimistic enough for the challenge.
“(My approach) is to focus on everything.” Robinson enthusiastically claims. “It’s a continually holistic approach that you want to be the best at everything. You want to prepare the players to always make the best decision possible.
As with Katebian, Brisbane’s summer glow is clearly reflecting well on Robinson. “I’m loving it, it’s a great environment.” Robinson says. “Every day I assist Ross and John (Aloisi) with the first team. I’m absorbing everything and I’m able to highlight it for the players.”
Yet differing to the much younger Katebian, Robinson appears to place a greater value on the experience his time in the NPL gave him; despite the considerable off-field challenges he faced during his coaching tenure.
“I think Ballarat gave me a good base, I went through a few challenges but it’s set me up to learn and grow and it gave me a bit more awareness of reality, to make that transition to full time.”
“(Brisbane) keep wanting to push the boundaries at every level,” Robinson says, now personally reaping the rewards for his own persistence. “You’ve got to go through those hard yards, and when you’re given the opportunity never look back.”
When comparing the difference in level, though, it the unsurprising consensus is the NPL still has a long way to go.
“Here the guys are training full time, five to six days a week, where they’re trying to get to that next level,” Robinson says. “Our players get access to everything and within that realm it’s a no excuses environment.”
“That’s the environment that’s going to give them the best opportunity.”
While it’s far easier to appear nostalgic having earned a comfortable separation from the daily struggles thrown up by semi-professional football in Ballarat, there does appear to be a genuine fondness in Robinson’s tone when discussing his former position.
After some gentle pressing on the pre-eminent issue of promotion and relegation however, Robinson remains loyal to his current base and would prefer to see another A-League side in Brisbane.
“It would be great to create that derby atmosphere,” Robinson says. “You’ve seen what it’s done for Melbourne and Sydney. It would be nice to bring that up here and create that feel.”
Regardless of whereabouts expansion eventually takes place, with greater connections forming between the vastly divided divisions of Australian football, and a better array of talent production to solidify those networks, it appears clubs and personnel from Australia’s second division have never been better equipped to arise and claim their time in the spotlight.