Adelaide United defender Bart Vriends is enjoying his time down under so much that he recently featured in a documentary depicting a bit about his life in Australia. Vriends and A-League Women import Lucia Leon spoke to the media today ahead of Adelaide United's double-header against Canberra United and Newcastle Jets on Saturday.
Adelaide United defender Bart Vriends recently starred in a documentary aired in his home country. (Image: Brock Pearson Photography)
The start of the 2024/25 season was less than ideal for Adelaide United's new Dutch import, Bart Vriends, who missed the club's opening two games due to persistent injury troubles. A few months later, Vriends is a key part of Carl Veart's side, who continues to perform above expectations and maintain a place in the competition's top two.
Life on the pitch is pretty good for the Dutchman at the moment, who, after a difficult first half, was a decisive factor as Adelaide kept only their third clean sheet of the season last time out against Melbourne City; Vriends finished the game with four clearances, two blocked shots, three interceptions, and won an impressive six out of seven aerial duels as the Reds stifled Aurelio Vidmar's side.
And off it, it's safe to say that Vriends has taken to Adelaide like a duck to water, and he's been more than happy to make his feelings known about it. Last weekend, a documentary about the defender was aired in his home country after he and his brother, a cameraman, were approached by ESPN Netherlands to create a short film showing his life in Australia and a bit about his own story.
"I'm very proud of it; it's a beautiful documentary. People in the Netherlands have been watching and sending me a lot of messages that they enjoyed it, so it was a special thing to do with my brother and also a good opportunity for the Dutch people to see something of Australia and specifically Adelaide," he told reporters today.
With the documentary being aired in the Netherlands and showing how much Vriends is enjoying his football in Australia, could it entice more of his fellow Dutch counterparts to follow his lead and pursue a career change to the A-League Men?
"Possibly, yeah. Hopefully. The picture is clear. The A-League is a very special league; it's very entertaining, people are loving it, and next to that, life in Australia is a special thing too," Vriends said.
"I was happy to be able to show a bit of it to the Dutch audience. If I was playing in the Netherlands and watching clips about how life and football can be here, I would be excited to join it too."
Vriends was almost joined at the club by fellow Dutchman Daan Klomp, who was recently on trial with the Reds but has instead joined Belgian second-tier side RAAL La Louviere. With young gun Panagiotis Kikianis away on Asian Cup duty with the Young Socceroos, Adelaide has been left momentarily short-handed of fully fit natural centre-backs, with Jordan Elsey continuing to ramp up as he returns from injury.
Club legend Isaias stepped in to fill Kikianis' role at the centre of the defence against Melbourne City and looked assured alongside Vriends. He believes the Spaniard - set to equal Eugene Galekovic's all-time appearance record for the club this weekend - will continue to fill the sizeable void left by Kikianis.
"I think we were very steady at the back. It was a long time ago that we had a clean sheet. Isa is just a legend of the club, that's for sure. At his age, still being so fit and dynamic and all of that, that's so impressive," Vriends said.
"Isa is obviously a midfielder, so he's very controlled and composed on the ball, and he can do the same job, and with his experience, I think the two of us form a good partnership as well."
The defensive duo will have to be on alert again this weekend, with the Reds facing a Newcastle Jets side that is full of confidence, having come off the back of a surprise 3-0 win over Melbourne Victory last time out.
"When we faced them a couple of months ago, they were in a bit of a struggle, and I think they regained their game and were pretty good the last couple of weeks. They showed a better side than they were months ago," Vriends said.
"It will be tough, but I think this is one of those games that we should dominate and, obviously, in our own stadium, should win too, so that's what I expect to do."
Meanwhile, as the Adelaide United men look to retake first place on the ladder from Auckland FC, the women's side will seek to extend their unbeaten run to nine games when they face Canberra United in the first half of a Coopers Stadium double-header.
Import Lucía León was one of the standout performers for Adrian Stenta's side in their 3-0 win over Perth Glory last week. She spoke to the media today about the positivity surrounding the squad.
The Reds, coming off the back of a wooden spoon last season, are putting together one of their best campaigns in club history, with the opportunity to move up to second on the table with another three points on Saturday. And León, similarly to Vriends, is enjoying her time down under.
"The girls are amazing, honestly. It's one of the best groups I've managed to play with, and I've had very good groups in my career, thankfully," she explained.
"But this one is top, the girls are amazing, it's been super easy. I've felt comfortable from the get-go, which has allowed me to feel very comfortable on the field."
Lucía León in action against Perth Glory last week. (Image: Brock Pearson Photography)
Much like Dylan Pierias has been utilised on the men's side, León is seemingly used in a similar right wing-back role in Stenta's system, and she praised her coach for his tactical direction.
"Stents is a coach that lets you have freedom going forward, so that's been key for us this season," León said.
"For me and Hodgy (Emily Hodgson) that are wing-backs, he's always encouraging us to go forward and overload the full-backs, overload the defence and make runs in behind, so that's what we're doing and I think it's working very well."
This week, León and her teammates will face a stern test against a plucky Canberra United outfit. United is also on an impressive unbeaten run, having not lost in four matches, and last week, head coach Antoni Jagarinec was named the Ninja A-League Coach of the Month for the second time this season.
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León explained how Adelaide has to be wary of Canberra's tactical versatility when the two sides clash on Saturday.
"They've been changing quite a lot; they've been doing different formations, kind of trying to match the opposition," she said.
"But we concentrate a lot on us. We try and keep to our strengths and try and minimise their strengths, and I think this week it's going to be key for us to be strong in the set-pieces because they are pretty good at them."
Adelaide United's A-League Women's side kicks off the first of a double-header at 4:50 pm AEDT this Saturday against Canberra United, with Carl Veart's side commencing their clash against Newcastle from 7:35 pm AEDT.
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