Trent Sainsbury went through all the reverses – made mistakes, got bawled out by senior colleagues, and had to hear home truths from his coach.
It’s a process designed to make you tough enough to succeed in football, and it remains the recipe that a host of A-League aspirants can look to follow on the eve of the new season.
The Socceroos defender was one of a clutch of youngsters at the Mariners who were thrown in at the deep end a decade ago and ultimately proved the old truth that you’re old enough if you’re good enough.
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Sainsbury can see now that what he learned in those first games of his career set him up for the rest of it, through to his current position in Belgium’s Pro League – and he’s desperate to see more A-League youngsters establish their own pathways, all of them leading towards making the Socceroos a stronger force.
There’s no doubt a number of fledglings will get the chance to fly this coming season, with A-League coaches promising to put their faith in youth.
The key, though, is being ready to hear advice, however unpalatable, to learn from every mistake, and forge a temperament that can take you towards the top.
“I wouldn’t have had my career without playing 50 or 60 games in the A-League, I know that for a fact,” Sainsbury said.
“I wouldn’t have been hardened professionally for the lifestyle of football.
“Everyone’s different but for me it was best to play 90 minutes each week and get those games
before looking to Europe. One of the biggest things is to ask your coach, where can I improve? A coach will never give you bad feedback, and even if you don’t like what he has to sday, you won’t go backwards.
“At the end of the day, he’s the one who decides whether you play or not. Equally, the older guys in the team have been through the same process – listen to them. Getting your head down and working hard is a cliché, but it’s also the best way forward.”
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With Socceroos boss Graham Arnold looking at every A-League game as a potential trial, Sainsbury underscored why individual progress will ensure collective advance for the national team.
“I honestly think the more young players we get coming through, the better for the Australian
landscape for the next five, 10 or 20 years, and trying to do something amazing at a World Cup,” he said.
“Winning a World Cup should be an aspiration for us in the next 30 to 50 years. That only starts with young Australian footballers playing many, many minutes (in the A-League) before heading overseas and performing there as well.”
