By Nick Creely
Dandenong Thunder striker Brandon Barnes is edging closer to an A League contract, taking out the Playstation 4 NPL 2 Victoria Best and Fairest on Friday 9 September.
The Gold Medal Night, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, saw Barnes take out the award with an impressive 40 votes, well ahead of the next best.
The star striker has been a stunning revelation for the Thunder, having also won the Golden Boot as the competition’s leading scorer and the Player’s Player award, which is recognition from his opponents and team-mates that he was the competition’s best player.
The Englishman scored 41 goals in 25 matches this season, including an extraordinary eight goal effort against Nunawading City FC in May this year.
This haul was the most goals scored by an individual in the top two tiers of Victorian football since the inception of the NPL.
“Every game, every time I get one, I’d like to think the next chance I’m going to score,” Barnes said after his eagle-eyed eight.
“I’m going stay as positive as I can and today clearly, one went in and they kept coming so it was good.”
In a six game stretch mid-season, Barnes scored 18 goals, an astonishing average of three per game. Barnes’ magnificent season led the Thunder to second on the table behind Kingston City.
When he was younger Barnes spent time in various academies in the UK, including Bristol City, Swindon Town and Southampton but was unable to break into the tough professional circuit and decided to pursue his dreams overseas.
The closest he came to earning a professional contract was back in 2014 when a Spanish club was interested in his services.
However this fell through and led to the journey across the world including a stint with Waitakere United in the New Zealand Football Championship, which eventually led him into the welcoming arms of the Dandenong Thunder.
With his current form and star power, A League clubs are certain to take notice of his supreme ability to kick consistent goals.
Barnes can draw inspiration from Socceroo Matthew Luckie who followed a similar path of toiling away at third-tier football club before making the plunge into the A League with Adelaide United and eventually became a regular in the Australian team.
Goalkeeper Fraser Maclaren of the Thunder also won an award, taking out Goalkeeper of the Year in what was an impressive debut season for his new club.
Other award winners from NPL 2 Victoria were Nick Tolios who claimed the Coach of the Year award for his fine season with Kingston City FC and Damir Stoilovic of Springvale White Eagles who won the Playstation 4 Rising Star.
