North Shore AFC recently caught up with ex Bombers player Jacko Barling who is playing footy with the Northern Bullants VFL team in Melbourne.
How is footy going for you in Vic?
Footy this year in Victoria has been a bit all over the place due to Covid, but I was still lucky enough to get in a few VFL games early in the season and then the second half of the season with my new local club West Preston.
We ended up finishing top of the table at West Preston. I was also lucky to have great coaches in both teams who gave me a few new things to work on in my game and I think I made some solid improvements.
What made you choose Victoria?
Victoria seemed like the right option for me due to a combination of reasons. Primarily it was due to the opportunity and situation that presented itself with the Bullants, an exciting opportunity to be a part of the clubs re-establishment after splitting with Carlton.
Then of course the other benefits of being involved in the heart of footy culture that comes with Melbourne and having some relatives and family friends due to my parents growing up in country Vic and following a similar path into Melbourne.
What level have you been playing?
I was lucky enough to gain some experience within the VFL and debut for the Bullants in round one but after playing the first few games I headed back into my local club senior side with West Preston who play in the Northern Football and Netball League (NFNL). After a few quieter performances playing as a small/half forward with the Bullants I headed to West Preston where I got to play a lot more midfield time and focus on a few aspects of my game whilst we went on a 10 game winning streak to finish off the year before finals got cancelled.
What are some of the things you have noticed playing in Victoria?
The game is still similar, but I tend to have noticed that the foot skills seem to be generally better and because of that the games can open up a little more when compared to Sydney footy. It also means that you have to be pretty switched on as if you get caught ball watching or in no mans land most players are able to capitalize on it. This is especially true at VFL level.
What have you focused on?
This year I put extra focus into my starting positions at stoppages. Both in terms of body position as well as location regarding other players as well as my work rate and positioning to get to the front of contests for crumbing. They were two things I had spoken about and reviewed with coaches early in the year and I noticed little advantages starting to arise from them across the year which was a great assurance.
What have you been doing outside of footy?
Off field my schedule and routine this year has been changing a bit due to the on and off lockdowns and switching between a few different jobs, but it was always busy balancing Uni, training, work, the social side of thing and all the extra aspects that come with living out of home. But I have really enjoyed the experience and have learnt a lot across the year. I also feel on top of a few things that may not have crossed my mind if I was still living at home. I do still miss my mates and the beach/water back in Sydney.
What next?
I am looking forward to getting back home over the Christmas break. Then back into footy with the Bullants as they continue to build from effectively scratch with lots of good people and hopefully to be set up well into the future.
Thanks for the catchup.
