Melbourne Victory goalkeeper and Australian football hall of famer Melissa Barbieri has told of the hardships she faced after moving interstate, in particular after the birth of her child.
After a stint at the Newcastle Jets, Barbieri eyed a move away from the Hunter Valley looking to get back into national team contention as well as a fourth Women’s World Cup appearance.
Barbieri’s stay in Newcastle was fruitful and “well funded”, but football matters became difficult for her following that period.
Barbieri said in a candid discussion on the Daily Football Show that after her time in Newcastle ended and her newborn baby arrived, she was unwanted across the W-League.
“What happened for me after I had my child was that nobody wanted me,” Barbieri said.
“It was desperation stakes. I just needed to play. I wanted to get back into the Matildas team to finish my career on a high rather than being punted out the door by people who didn’t understand pregnant women and people who have babies don’t necessarily mean they can’t do anything anymore.”
Barbieri explained that an opportunity came knocking when Ross Aloisi was appointed boss of the Lady Reds, though it was difficult for her to bring her child away from her home city, Melbourne.
“I wanted to prove a point … I knew Ross personally, we’d done some a-licence coaching together, he saw the fire in my belly.
“Adelaide weren’t able to pay me much … I knew they didn’t have a lot of money. I had to fundraise to have the ability to bring my child to Adelaide … just to play the game I love and get back into the Matildas.”
Despite the hardships, Barbieri said the move was “all worth it”.
“At the end of the day, I did make my fourth World Cup so it was all worth it, but even if I hadn’t have made the World Cup squad it was all worth it.
“I had to become the person that would be able to cope with that [living interstate] and that’s the best thing that came out of it.”
Listen to the FULL INTERVIEW here:
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