Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Anthony Napoli/Brisbane City FC

Brisbane City rising star Anthony Poljak is set to miss the remainder of the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland campaign after accepting a chance to trial in Croatia.

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder will take up an opportunity to showcase his wares to Croatian powerhouse Hajduk Split, who compete in the country’s top flight Prva Liga competition.

Hajduk have 18 top tier league titles to their credit across both Croatian competition and in the former Yugoslavian leagues and previously housed Socceroo Josip Skoko and current Brisbane Roar midfielder Steven Lustica.

The trial continues a break-out year for Poljak with City in this year’s PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland - scoring twice in eleven appearances for the club since switching from rivals Olympic FC in the early part of the campaign.

He said he was grateful to City coach Darron Heselden for giving him his first opportunity in senior football and was now eager to take the next step in achieving his ambition of playing professionally.

“I felt it was the right time to start playing first team football. I thought I was technically good enough and Darron saw the same thing in me and we started working together.”

“He put me in the team and it went well. I scored a few goals and Darron was happy and I managed to stay in the team.”

Poljak is a former City junior and previously trialled with high-profile English clubs Wolverhampton Wolves and Middlesbrough.

He said the move to senior football at City provided a much needed challenge as the next step on the talented player pathway.

“The team has been really good to me and the league is very good. It’s very challenging and strong and fast-paced.”

“You’ve got to adapt to it quickly because you get thrown into the deep end and as a young player you do have your ups and downs, but it’s important to try to keep consistent and level headed and do the best you can game to game.”

Poljak conceded that while the trial is a great opportunity he is fully aware of the realities of the cut-throat European environment.

“I know what European football is like. It’s very tough and they are technically brilliant players who train everyday,” he explained.

“If I can’t stay with Hajduk then hopefully I gain the experience of how to be a better player and come back to Australia and just go where it takes me.”

Despite acknowledging it will be hard to replace Poljak in the team line-up, Heselden said his charge leaves City with the full support of the club.

“He flies out with our best wishes and to be honest we don’t want to see him back. We want him to succeed over there,” Heselden explained.

“I’m proud and the club is proud that we have been able to give Anthony a chance at senior level and that he is now going forward with it. It’s great for everyone at Brisbane City.”

“We really want to give these kids a chance to play professional football and that’s what Brisbane City and the National Premier Leagues is all about,” he concluded.