Clutch moments in an Elimination Final are moments you dream of.
But ask Jamie Young, and they’re moments you work for.
The Western United custodian stole the headlines in the first weekend of the finals with his remarkable reflex stop to help his side past Wellington Phoenix, setting up a date with Melbourne Victory.
The 36-year-old, in his first season at the club, has presided over a league record seven 1-0 victories this term. But now into his veteran years, he isn’t just savouring nights like Saturday night.
He’s making sure he’s in a position to create more of those in the weeks – and years to come.
“That save might take three months of training,” Young said.
“When you put (into) things on a daily basis when no one’s watching, to be able to execute in the moment, it makes it all worth it.”
Feel untouchable?
“You get a touch of that.”
He enthused: “There is a lot of adrenalin when that happens.
“You put the seeds of doubt into the opposition that they might not be able to score on the night. You grow in confidence when you do something like that.”
It might take months of training, but on the park, a goalkeeper barely has time to register it happening.
“In terms of the save, they happen in under a second! That’s probably .7 of a second for me to react,” he explained to KEEPUP.
“When the cross comes in I think of moving into line, getting set, then pushing off when he heads it.
“You’ve got to react, then get set at the time of contact when he heads it, but what helped me was he didn’t come onto the ball, he had to go backwards, so from that point of view he couldn’t generate the power.
“As soon as he did, I made the push. I knew I couldn’t parry it because of the post, so I had to scoop it out.”
36, and more to come
“I always have a running joke with a friend of mine, Russell Martin, manager of Swansea: goalies peak at 35,” Young quipped.
“(Edwin) Van der Sar, (Brad) Friedel, 40; (Fabian) Barthez late into his 30s, (Gianluigi) Buffon … look at my stats: who has made more saves? Kept more clean sheets? I think I have the second best defensive record in the league. At my age. It is not about big noting things like that. It is about me asking the question: Can I get the most out of what I’ve got?”
And for a little bit longer, too…
“When you’re passionate about what you do – and when you’re older, I said to myself: four more years.
“You don’t die wondering because you haven’t got tomorrow. You’ve got to make the most of what you’ve got now. I have lived the dream for 21 years and I want to get a few more drops out.”
There are a number of factors why Young is living up to his name despite his veteran status.
“In terms of what I need to do now, a lot more recovery, I invest a lot of money into that, more than most,” he said.
He continued: “It is commitment, devotion – people cry poor in this league but you don’t need money to buy commitment, devotion and professionalism.
“I’ve been doing this in front of two men and a dog in the UK, so I can do it at AAMI, no problems- because it’s my passion.”
He is also in an environment where he is thriving.
Day in, day out, he is working with a man whom he used to joust with for the No.1 role at Brisbane Roar. His coach just so happens to be Michael Theo, the most successful goalkeeper in A-Leagues history.
“Michael’s a legend, isn’t he,” Young said, speaking to KEEPUP.
“He’s won five titles, he’s very humble about that, we joke about that but he’s actually very humble.
“We work as a team – he will see things I can’t, and he will tell me what I need to do if there are things to improve. That’s the sign of a good coach.”
Theo, the Championship winner at Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar during their all-conquering campaigns in the competition’s formative years, was equally effusive.
“We work hard, I must admit. He is still very dedicated to his craft. We have a good goalkeeping team, with Ryan Scott, the boys work extremely hard and they push each other and Jamie is reaping his rewards,” he told KEEPUP.
He continued: “I’ve known Jamie (for years), playing alongside him and now as his coach; it is a mutual respect. I am there to make the goalkeepers better, keep him over performing. In terms of his work ethic, dedication: all of them work extremely hard. It has been great.”
Naturally, Theo loved Saturday night’s save.
“It was a massive save,” he said, grinning.
“The timing of it as well. Big, big hand, and behind him as well. Immense and he made some a couple of good saves that kept us in it, credit to him.”
That save has Western one week away from an unprecedented Grand Final. They are certainly underdogs, against the one side with a meaner defence than theirs. But they’re ready.
“I don’t think many people would think we would be where we are,” he said.
“I know the boss a decade now; I know what he brings to the table, right up there with the top three coaches in the country. Hayden Foxe is right up there as well. We have to give credit to these coaches.
“John (Aloisi) might sit here (in a press room) answering these questions but he’s also at the training ground until 6pm every night, and the first one in. I know this, because he’s always in the same car park! He beats the Essendon guys. No one sees that.
“When you see someone like John, Foxey, when they’ve had such credentialed playing careers, but willing to put their reputations on the line…that’s quite inspiring.
“When he asked me to come here, at 36 years of age, it is about quality environments and that’s what I’ve got here at Western United.”
He explained: “His name sold me. I know what he’s like on a daily basis, he is very particular. When you’re in an elite environment you want people who bring the best out of you.
“For me to produce a save like that, or contribute to the win, that’s because I know, he says: Jamie, I want you to work on this, or work on your weight … you want to invest your time with people who bring the best out of you. He doesn’t just turn up, he is passionate about his job. He should be able to go on to future endeavours.”
First, though, is the Tuesday-Saturday double header.
“I played in England, with a man and a dog at the game; now I’m at AAMI Park playing for a great bunch of guys, good professionals, great coach – you want to play these games,” he said.
“Do I get nervous? Of course, but that makes sure you feel you’re alive. I want to make sure I’m doing things in my life doing something meaningful.”
