Albury United and Melrose goalkeeper Josh Fluss opens up on quality AWFA career

BEAU GREENWAY: Where did the career start?

JOSH FLUSS: I started as a six-year-old at Melrose and I played at Melrose until I was about 13. I went over to Albury City for a season and that was when I was playing rep and state stuff. I went to Twin City for a season when I was 14 and played my first year of seniors. Harry Wilhelm got me there. During that time I played state titles and signed with the Victorian Institute of Sport under Ernie Merrick. I also trialled at the Australian Institute of Sport and got accepted into that and spent two years there.

BG: What came after the AIS?

JF: I was about 16 when I went there and about 19 when I left. Back then coming from the country, it was pretty hard work. The opportunities were quite limited. I trained with South Melbourne for a while when it was the NSL (National Soccer League), but I came back to Melrose and played under Mick Richards. I think I burnt out a little bit and concentrated on work. I got a job as an apprentice carpenter and went away from soccer for a bit. A few years later we played a practice match as a combined Albury team against Melbourne Knights and I ended up signing with them for a year when I was 24 or 25. I went down to Melbourne for a season, but I got a bit homesick and ended up coming back and I've kind of been here ever since.

ALSO IN SPORT:

BG: Were you always a goalkeeper?

JF: I went down as a six-year-old with one of my neighbours because he was playing soccer. I was put in as a midfielder, but the only thing I did was sit there and pick the grass (laughs). I got thrown in goals and saw the ball hit me a bit and that's where I stayed ever since.

BG: You must have played with and against some top players in that era?

JF: When I was at the AIS I played with Adam Federici who is still playing in England and has played for Australia. Stuart Musialik played in the A-League. Carl Valeri was at the AIS the first year I was there, Nick Ward, Mark Milligan, Nikolai Topor-Stanley have all had Australian caps. Our team that went onto the AIS was apparently one of the better teams that have been through the system. Unfortunately, I didn't do much with it (laughs), but it was a good life experience. I wish could turn back the clock and do a lot of things differently, but it's easier to look back now than do it when you're in the moment.

BG: I believe you had some success when you first got back to Melrose?

JF: The year I was back from the AIS (in 2004), we won the league and lost the cup final in extra time against Albury United. I think 'Webby' (Albury United star Cade Webb) claims he scored in that game but it was actually an own goal off one of our boys. It was pretty heartbreaking. Since then I've played in three grand finals and lost every one of them. I coached in one as well.

BG: How was the coaching experience?

JF: I coached the men at Melrose for three years and before that I coached the girls for a couple of years and juniors. I really enjoyed it at the time, especially coaching the men. You learn a lot and you create different relationships with players, but you've got to commit to it. You can't be half-hearted, it's got to be 100 per cent or nothing at all because it's a full-time job. You don't get paid great for it, so it's got to be all about your heart and the love for the club. It's probably one of the best things I've done in my life. We had a pretty decent team, but some silverware would have been nice (laughs).

BG: Would you ever consider going back to it later on?

JF: I don't want to go away from it altogether. I coached juniors last year and it's a big commitment. I think once my kids are a bit older and involved with soccer a bit more, I might come through the ranks with them. The game has changed a lot and the personalities have changed over the last 10 years. I'm quite ruthless as a player and I think that's what I drove myself on as a coach. I'd try things to get reactions sometimes, whether it's a bit of a spray or getting a bit aggressive without crossing the line. In this day and age it seems quite soft and you've got to watch what you say. You're always being judged, you can't be yourself and you can't relax. The game changes, people develop and that's a good thing.

BG: Were you also involved in Murray United's debut season?

JF: I was vice-captain in the first year of the club and it was pretty good to lead the boys out a few times. As much as it was hard work, it was quite rewarding in a lot of ways. There was always a lot of question marks over it and a lot of doubt for what it was going to do for the standard of the local league. Once a few people got on board and you're in amongst it, you don't hear it as much. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and did what they could for it to work. I think Mick Richards should have got a lot of credit for at least getting it off the ground in that first period. When I joined, we were only a handful of weeks away from the season starting and there was about half a team. To get a team together and compete within reason was pretty good. We didn't expect to break records, especially when we were starting on the back foot as a new club. It was a big commitment and I think at my age with young kids it was a bit too much for me. It would have been good to have stayed involved and have a bit more drive with it.

BG: Is there a particular playing memory that stands out?

JF: It would probably have to be the game that got me a trial at the AIS. It was at the nationals and we played against Queensland and won 1-0. They dominated us, but it was one of those games as a keeper where everything falls in the right areas and you look pretty good. It was probably one of the best games I've played in my whole career to be honest.

BG: No doubt there's been plenty of funny moments too?

JF: There was one where Kade Rixon was playing in the back line against Myrtleford a few years ago. He tried to bike the ball out of the box and it hit him in the face and went into the back of our net (laughs). I went to give him a bit of a spray and he just looked at me and we started laughing. It was just one of those things. I don't know what he was doing, but it's something we laugh about.

BG: Who would you regard the best striker you've faced in the AWFA?

JF: The guy that stood out the most around here was Dan Summers. I don't think many people mention him much, but he was by far one of the best players I've played against around here. It was probably the first year Myrtleford brought the imports out, so there was a lot of talk about that too (laughs). I was coaching Melrose at the time and the first time we played them at home I think they won 6-5. They got up and about and got into the crowd. I was suspended for that game, but it was exciting and he was exciting to watch. He was a good bloke too, on and off the park. Some of the local guys like Josh Mulcahy, Cade Webb, Mitch and Elliot Jones from United were always hard to play against being bigger bodies. Mulcahy and 'Webby' would always make a decent contest in the air.

BG: In 2019 you made the massive decision to leave Melrose for Albury United. How tough was that?

JF: I think I was looking to try and freshen myself up and have another crack at playing seniors. I wanted to get myself in the right head space and get better physically as well. Steve (McClennan) was coaching and he's a mate of mine and the way they were setting up with the personnel they have was a lot more disciplined and I wanted to be a part of it. It was a pretty damn hard decision to leave Melrose, especially as Kade (Rixon) was coaching and he's one of my best mates. I think I lost a bit of connection with the playing group at Melrose at the time and I felt it was probably the best thing for me. I enjoyed it at United last year.

BG: Is it fair to say the move turned your career around?

JF: It was a change of mindset more than anything. Whether it's a bit of fitness or no fitness, a lot of things are mental and I've always been a big believer in that. I'm 35 now and I could still push myself if I had to run out a game on the park more than some of these young blokes could (laughs). Maybe not as quick and I'd be breathing pretty hard, but I'd get through it with sheer determination. Mentally, when I was at the end of my time at Melrose, I was a little bit drained and over it. A change is as good as a holiday. I may end up back at Melrose, I don't know what the future holds but it depends on what happens next season.

BG: Many say one of the great travesties in AWFA history is you've never won the league's Star Goalkeeper award. Does that bother you?

JF: I cop that a lot, especially a bit lately when it might have been mentioned on a podcast. I get a bit from Dan Markham who is one of my best mates and he won it when he was younger. Brett McLennan gives it to me all the time, Kade (Rixon) as well. There's been some great keepers that have won it and there's been keepers that have copped 300-plus goals for a season and won it. It's always nice to have your name on something like that, but I don't think it's the end of the world for me to be honest. At the end of the day, the way the system is set up is a three, two, one for both keepers, so you're going to get votes every game whether you throw 10 in the back of the net or pull 10 out of the top corner. My game was always based on being technically correct and I think it's pretty well balanced with my distribution, crossing and shot stopping to a certain extent. I don't want to sound like a bad loser because I haven't won one, but that's just being honest.

BG: This year didn't get off to the best of starts with a knee injury in pre-season. Will we see you back when the season resumes next month?

JF: It's still not 100 per cent and it's harder as you get older because you don't bounce back as quick. I'm probably a bit more reserved in testing it out too much. I will start running with the boys and play it by ear, but I don't think I'm going to push myself to come back this season. I'm going to give it till the end of the season and maybe try to have a good pre-season next year and have another crack at it while I can. Hopefully I can rejuvenate myself again, stay injury-free, get a bit fitter and see what happens. Scott Lynch is a good young keeper who has been striving to play seniors, so hopefully he thrives in it and does well.