Amanada Atherton of the Brisbane Strikers Supporters' Association (http://www.go.to/bssa) caught up with one-time Australian Under-17 representative John Carbone recently to get his views on football, the Brisbane Strikers and himself. Atherton started by congratulating Carbone on the goal he scored in Perth from a free-kick. "I was pretty happy about it, as it was the equaliser for 2-all. People have told me that I looked shocked, but that wasn't what I was thinking. I was just really happy to get the equaliser, particularly with Jason (Petkovic) in goal."

The former Perth S.C. and Floreat Athena midfielder has settled in well at the Strikers, both on and off the field. "Everyone in the squad gets along with each other, and has a lot of respect and confidence in the other players. They really make you feel welcome." On the field he has been substituted a number of times around the 60-80 minute mark. "I have struggled to put in a whole game and Kossie (coach John Kosmina) has said that is an area I need to improve in. But as long as I am doing my job for the time I am on the field and I know that I am improving my endurance, then I'll be happy."

"The last three years in Perth I only got three or four games a season and I have already played ten this season. I want to continue to go out there and do the job I have been given to the best of my ability. During the off season I had surgery to fix a wear and tear problem, and I am really feeling a lot sharper now."

Carbone has fitted in well with Shane Steffanutto at left back. "Shane is great, he loves to get forward but then he is always back there in defence." This combination was at the heart of the second goal against Kingz. He obviously has a lot of respect for the other players and coach. "It was fantastic that Kossie picked me up for the season. I just want to continue to play the best that I can and contribute to the success of the team. The squad has a good mix of youth and experience. It surprised me to look at the average age of the boys and compare that to Perth. Over there I was one of the youngest. Here younger players get a chance to step up, and are respected and supported by the rest of the team."

In Carbs' own self-effacing, reserved way, he praised the rest of the team during an interview about himself and want to make sure that he spoke about the captain. "Stuey (Stuart MacLaren) is a brilliant captain. He is excellent with helping the boys off the park and on. He is one of the best captains I have ever had, which is great as he is only 26."

Atherton wondered how Carbone was coping with the change in climate, particularly Queenslands' recent hot spell. "The humidity is hard to get used to, it really takes it out of you a lot quicker. But it has to be harder on the visiting team than on us. At least we know what it will be like."

Carbone played for Australia in the Under-17's in 1993, and was then selected to go to the Australian Institute of Sport in 1994. So what was it like to live on the other side of the country at 16? "It was hard, I really missed my family. In the end I went home six months early. It was a lot easier for the boys from New South Wales, they got to go home every second weekend."

So what is the best football attribute he has. "That's the hard question. I guess it would have to be playing on the ball. Crossing, and sharp passing and when I'm switched on getting into good positions. But it definitely isn't defending, I just don't enjoy it. I am more comfortable running with the ball than at it."

In the short term what are his ambitions? "I want to keep on playing well and contribute to the team doing well. I think we can make the finals and hope we can make the top two. But there is a lot of season to go an we will have to work just as hard to get there. Long term I want to keep playing as long as I can, and enjoy it. I don't want to look too far ahead, just play this game and then look to the next. Hopefully I won't sustain any injuries and can continue the form I have started this season."

Photograph : John Carbone in Brisbane Strikers colours. Photograph by George Breen.