Barisic on border patrol
Eagles on hunt for striker to ease slump Former A-League player seeks new career goals
HE has not given up on his own NPL ambitions but Andy Barisic will be charged with guiding Wangaratta City talent to the state stage following his shock signing with the Albury Wodonga Football Association leaders.
Out of action since leaving the Gold Coast Knights earlier this year, Barisic stunned the football community over the weekend when he announced NERANG coach Dave Benigno admits the absence of a proven goalscorer upfront is hurting his side after the Eagles slipped out of the Gold Coast Premier League’s top four on Sunday.
Clinging to fourth spot heading into the Round 13 encounter with Palm Beach, the Eagles were leapfrogged into the playoff positions as a 3-0 Sharks win at Duncan McKenna Field stretched their losing streak to three games.
With in-form attacker Koki Miyasaka still missing with facial fractures, Nerang deployed Acim Tomic as their frontline target but the classy utility was unable to penetrate the Palm Beach defence.
While top-two outfits Burleigh Heads and Surfers Paradise boast lethal strikers Matt Hilton and Teddy Watson respectively, Benigno said finding the net continued to be the Eagles’ achilles heel.
“These clubs have got these great strikers – Surfers have got Teddy and Matty has put on a good shift for Burleigh (with a hat-trick against Coomera on Saturday) – and we just don’t have that striker that we need that (when) you get given those opportunities, can put it in the back of the net,” Benigno said.
“There’s not much margin in the sides, it’s just really who can finish the chances.”
Seemingly on track for a title challenge amid a threegame winning run last month, the Eagles must now arrest their slump at 2pm on Saturday against last-placed Tweed United at Glennon Park. a deal with Wangaratta for the remainder of 2019.
The 33-year-old striker, a 17-game A-League player with Gold Coast United from 2009-11, will fly in for matches on the NSW-Victoria border each weekend from July 7.
Currently on holiday in Europe, he will be available for the final eight games of the season, plus finals.
While Wangaratta are well placed with a three-point competition lead, Barisic said a key part of his deal was to help the club’s emerging brigade reach the NPL.
“The way they pitched it to me was really good,” said Barisic, who has a close friendship with City coach Daniel Vasilevski.
“It was about having a role model for the kids. What they’re doing is bringing the juniors up and trying to get them to the NPL. It’s something I’d like to help out with.
“The league won’t be as strong as the NPL but I think they have got the structure right. It’s a different challenge for me and I think it’s shocked a lot of people but I feel like it’s the right move.
“I have got family down in Melbourne and the club have helped me out with accommodation. This is going to be the first club I have played for in Australia that isn’t Croatian.
“It’s going to be hard not to train but hopefully while I’m down there I can get to know the boys a bit better.
“A lot of people know that I train every day on my own and keep fit as much as I can.”
Barisic’s services were in high demand following his Knights departure, fielding offers from local and interstate NPL clubs as well as Gold Coast and Brisbane Premier League sides.
While reluctant to uproot his young family from the Glitter Strip, he said his NPL aspirations remained intact.
“I believe I can still play NPL wherever. I’ve had offers from Melbourne, which is probably the best NPL in Australia,” said Barisic, who has also spent time in Germany, Indonesia, India, China and Hong Kong.