O’Neill striving for success with Glory
One of the kindest people I’ve ever had a conversation in football with, new Perth Glory signing, Brandon O’Neill gave me some of his time to have an interview ahead of the 2021–22 season.
O’Neill rejoined the club having spent over 6 years away in Sydney, Korea and Thailand before coming back to the Glory on July 1 of this year.
Now that he’s back, he’s keen for success for his hometown club. In association with the Instagram Perth Glory fanpage, Gloryous World, I sat down with Brandon to discuss many things including his time in Asia, as well as his goals at Perth Glory.
This article will also be available on the A-League Wrap Up in the next few days.
Well firstly Brandon thank you for agreeing to do this interview with us, how are you settling back into Perth?
It’s been just what I needed. It’s been a big couple of years with a lot of challenging times for myself and my family. But being home I’m finally very happy & at this point in my career and in life it just feels right.
You’ve spent a fair amount of time over in Asia, how would you compare the standard of football and culture there with Australia?
It’s completely different. It taught myself and my wife a lot of valuable life lessons that are only going to make us better people moving forward. In terms of football there was surprisingly less emphasis on tactical structure, formations or game plans. Rather there was a huge emphasis on technical ability and fitness. Some games felt like a ping pong match where both sides would attack and defend at one pace — full stick!
The culture was very different. Although the people and communities we were involved in always making us feel as welcomed as they could. It made myself and my wife never forget how lucky we are to have grown up and experienced a country like Australia.
Asia was an awesome experience! So glad I did it.
Prior to that, you spent around 4 years at Sydney FC. How was that experience in terms of your development as a player and as a person, considering you were on the other side of the country?
I wouldn’t be where I am without Sydney FC. The respect and personal feelings myself and my family have for the people, fans, players and staff of the club is something that will always stay with me for the rest of my life.
I went to Sydney as a boy not expecting anything. I left as a man, a championship winner & a Socceroo. It turned me into someone that consistently wants to chase excellence, even when that excellence scares me a little.
You speak very highly of your time at ECU Joondalup, what was it like developing as a player there?
It was my first real taste of football. It’s a breeding ground for success. I’m still involved with the club today and will have life long friends there. My dad is a legend of that club and me and him spent more hours there when I was a young lad than we did at home with my mum and my sister.
ECU prepared me for professional football and I think it’s one of the clubs in Perth that consistently does that year in year out. If you look at the Glory squad for this year and how many lads played their Junior and Senior football with ECU, the results speak for themselves.
You’re back at the Glory, what are your goals for this season in particular, both individually and collectively?
That’s a great question and I’m sure I’ve got an un-usual answer for you. In order to get the outcomes as a player that I want I tend to focus on the habits and processes that I can do on a daily basis to be the best version of myself. From day 1, if I focus on what I eat, how I sleep, my intention in how I train, how I recover and what my mind self is like every single day, then I am controlling what’s inside my control. If I focus my energy on things that are outside my control, I’ll never move the needle towards my ultimate outcomes. So my goals for this season are to, the best of my abilities perform them 5 factors every single day without fail.
From there, I know I’ll be showing the best version of myself which in turn hopefully be able to help the team go where we can go.
In terms of team goals, again I’m processed driven. If we have an environment where people come to training and are able to be the best versions of themselves, we will be halfway there.
All players are different. What makes a great team is how we can embrace them differences in a way that will make the team better. Every single day of each player knows that they have come to training, they’ve done the work & have given their best effort, we will end up where we need to be. Every team wants to win an A-League, FFA cup and be in the Asian Champions League. But in order to get to them outcomes, every single day we need to be doing the processes and habits that align with our culture and identity- that’s gonna get us there. Sustained success is something I hopefully can’t wait to experience with my hometown club.
Now we’ve had quite a fair amount of interest from fans, not just Glory supporters, but also Sydney supporters. So Vas, who’s a Sydney FC supporter asks what was your best memory from Sydney FC?
It’s got to be the 2019 Grand Final in my hometown of Perth. That’s a first experience I’ll never forget. To be able to play in the biggest game of the year, in front of everyone that helped me get to that stage was literally unbelievable.
Now we’ve had a few Wanderers fans put in some questions for you, with one asking would you ever play for Western Sydney?
Hahaha. Great question. Sadly, no.
Cam, who’s also a Western Sydney supporter, asks if you could play with any former A-League player, who would it be and why?
Probably Joshy Brillante again. By the end of both of our long years with Sydney, the connection we had as a midfield pair was something I’ve never experienced before. We didn’t even have to talk to each other on the pitch. We knew exactly where each other would be. I suited the way he played the game and vice versa. The trust I had in him was amazing! One of the nicest human beings going around too!
I guess in the present tense, are you looking forward to playing with guys like Diego Castro and Bruno Fornaroli?
I am mate. Both are elite and proven footballers in the A-League. Diego does things only special players have the ability to do & Bruno is in the top 3 strikers ever to play in the A-League for me. He’s a pure winner and finisher. Really looking forward to playing with them, meeting there families and becoming good mates.
Josh asks who was the biggest influence on your career; who fid you model your playing style on?
I think when I was growing up it was Paul Scholes. He was my favourite player. He could do it all, defend but also attack.
In the modern day I love watching and learning off what Toni Kroos does when he has the ball & I love analysing Ngolo Kante’s defensive work.
One fan asks why did you chose Glory over other clubs?
For 2 reasons.
- To be the best athlete I can be. I need to be the best person I can be. At this stage in my life and career myself & my wife want family around us.
- The only part I found sad about my experience away in Sydney was not being able to have that success with my hometown club. That’s what I’m back for, to experience that with Perth Glory. To work towards sustained success!
A few more have asked some rather interesting questions; what is the best moment of your career and if you could only eat one type of sandwich for the rest of your life what would it be
Hahahaha. Does a Subway count? If so, Chicken Snittey Football Sub!
Ian asks what are the differences between the K League, Thai League and A-League competitions?
Definitely tactically. The style of play is much different too, not much build up or time for you to play. It’s more so bank that you’re a good technical player and see how you go haha!
Nic asks was there any serious chance you would represent Republic of Ireland over Australia?
Before I played for the Socceroos I was very 50/50 on who I could potentially represent if I was ever to be humbled on a call up. Now I’ve experienced one, I’ve got a big 18 months ahead of me now to get to my ultimate goal of representing the Socceroos at a major tournament.
James, who’s a Sydney fan, said thanks for your time at Sydney mate, best of luck at Glory. What was one of your favourite moments at the club, on field or off field?
It’s a bit different but one of my favourite moments was the environment we had at the club. I used to skip into training every morning so happy, ready to work hard to become a better version of myself.
Dan asks where should the A-League expand to?
Great question. I think promotion and relegation is something that will happen in the near future. I also like the idea of scrapping the salary cap too. I’m sure both will come in time.
David who is a very big and passionate Glory fan asks was it a tough decision to leave Glory the 1st time?
I would have loved to have said yes to that question, but unfortunately I was just at a stage in my football where it was either go back to the NPL and find a job or have one last crack at this football thing in a different state! Unfortunately in the 4 years I played in the seniors here at Glory, I made less than a handful of starts.
James Haywood has asked if you have finally recovered from him scoring that penalty against you at the Mater Dei Foundation Day circa 2010?
Hahaha. I’ll have to get him in goal at HBF Park and have a peno against him this season!
