Hovering on the precipice of hysteria for the bulk of 90 minutes, Lucas Enders earns his corn by putting his face where most players stick their studs.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Called into senior National Premier League action at a young age, Enders has looked a seasoned pro guarding the Goulburn Valley Suns’ onion bag across the past two campaigns.
The 18-year-old caught up with the Youth Academy scouts to chat about throwing down the gauntlet.
Fortunate Sun
Heralded as one of the hottest prospects at the GV Suns, Enders has been keeping the sheets clean at the club since its formation. A blossoming Orangeman with bagfuls of senior game-time beneath his belt, the youngster has gone from strength to strength at the Theatre of Dreams.
Youth Academy: How has the season been so far?
Lucas Enders: For me it has been pretty good. I started in the under-18s, and eventually moved up to the 20s and the seniors. I have had a good run in the seniors, so yeah it’s been good.
YA: What is the step up like from under-20s to seniors?
LE: The standard improves every week and you have to improve with it, so it helps you develop as a player. Going from under-18s to 20s was a step up, so I had to move with it, and then from 20s to seniors was an even bigger step up. Eventually you gain confidence.
YA: Who did you play for in your junior years?
LE: I originally started playing when I was five at St Brendan’s and then started playing club for Shepparton when I was about 11. I joined the Suns when I was 13. It will be my sixth year at the club this year.
YA: Have you had any mentors that have helped you develop as a player?
LE: I’ve had a lot of goalkeeping mentors, especially at the Suns. It started with Declan Maiorano and Clayton Scott and, obviously, Fraser Greenwood at the moment.
YA: When did you make your debut for the seniors?
LE: I made my debut last year against Langwarrin. Fraser came out of the box and handballed it and I was going for runs behind the linesman and realised what was going on, so I got ready and put my gloves on. I was really nervous when I went out there, but after about five minutes I gained confidence and I was feeling all right and I went on to have a pretty decent game.
Golden gloves
Sweeping, intercepting, athleticism, distribution, aggressive positioning. While most glovemen are assessed on these traits, a keeper’s ability to stop shots still reigns supreme in this day and age. Luckily for Enders, he has it all. He could Cruyff turn his way out of a cardboard box.
YA: What made you choose keeping in the first place?
LE: When I was younger I was a bit of a keeper, but I kind of wasn’t. I was playing under Pat Kielty, and one day he put me in goals and I never really came out.
YA: As a keeper there is a chance that you will spend a bit of time on the bench, is that something you are prepared for?
LE: I guess you do have to be prepared for it. Especially when I was younger, I was playing under-18s and sitting on the bench for the 20s. At the moment I am sort of playing 20s and sitting on the bench for seniors. You kind of prepare for it, but you just want to get out there and have a run.
YA: As a keeper, how do you stay focused for 90 minutes?
LE: It’s about forgetting any mistakes you make during the game and building that confidence. Obviously if you make one mistake, a lot of the time it can lead to a goal, so it’s all just about staying completely focused and mentally preparing properly before a game.
YA: Has a move to the city ever crossed your mind?
LE: Potentially when I am older, but I have got school here in Shepparton, so I will stay for the moment and just see what happens from now on. It just depends on where I want to go with myself.
YA: Were you involved in any representative squads?
LE: I went to Coffs Harbour for the National Youth Championships in 2015. That was a very good experience, it was sort of like an almost professional standard. We spent a week out there with the team with proper training, a proper physio, and proper eating. All the games and recovery after, it was almost like a week of professional football.
YA: As a keeper, how do you train differently to the rest of the players?
LE: At training I will do some drills with the outfield players and that is just to improve my touch and ball-playing ability. But obviously we have to do our own stuff, we are keepers at the end of the day and our job is to stop the ball from going in the back of the net.
YA: What is the most rewarding part of playing your position?
LE: Definitely a save. Especially at the end of a game, if the team is a goal up and you pull off that big save in the last few minutes it is such a good feeling.
Tiki taka
YA: What has been your favourite footballing moment?
LE: Definitely one of my saves in my senior debut against Langwarrin. It was surreal, it is kind of hard to explain. I couldn’t believe it.
YA: What has been your least favourite moment?
LE: In my first year at the Suns in the last game of the season, we were in a position that if we won we would go up to second place, but if we drew or lost we would go down to fifth. In one of the last kicks of the game the ball came straight at me and I fumbled it and it went in the back of the net and put us down to fifth. That was probably my worst moment.
YA: Who is your footballing idol?
LE: David de Gea. Just his shot-stopping ability and his freakish reactions. I have been a big Manchester United fan since I was young, so I have sort of idolised him, especially more recently.
YA: If you could play for any team, who would it be?
LE: Definitely Manchester United.
YA: What is next for you in terms of football?
LE: At the moment it is GV Suns because I am living here and doing school. I will see what happens in terms of opportunities in the future and hopefully maybe one day I can progress to an A-League club. But we will see what happens.
Youth Academy is an ongoing investigation into the Goulburn Valley’s footballing wonderkids. Each week we will profile an upcoming talent who has captured the attention of the local footballing scene.
Liam's Last Word
Leo on the iceberg, Nicholson's hair-line, Adam Levine's cameo during the half-time show at Superbowl 53.
Enders could have saved them all.