'Australians aren't used to three games in a week': How Portsmouth man is bucking A-League struggles in England
The Australian has scored five goals in 22 matches since moving to England
Pompey’s A-League imports are either long-term injured or out of favour, yet Adrian Segicic remains the honourable exception.
And the 21-year-old is convinced his previous experiences of European football has helped him cope with the demands of playing football 10,600 miles from home.
While Jacob Farrell is marooned on John Mousinho’s bench and Thomas Waddingham and Hayden Matthews occupy the Fratton Park treatment room once more, Segecic was the Blues’ match winner at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
His 65th-minute strike represented a fifth goal in 22 matches during an impressive maiden season in English football which sees him top Pompey’s scoring charts at present.
Unlike his south-coast compatriots, Segecic had previously left Australia to further his footballing education, with a successful loan spell with Dutch side Dordrechy in 2023-24.
And he is adamant that season helped prepare him for the rigours of the Championship with the Blues.
‘I learnt a lot of life lessons of the pitch’
The attacker told The News: ‘I had a loan spell in Holland with Dordrecht when I was younger and got used to the winter and playing every three days, so I’ve already had that bit of experience of the weather and adapting your body.
‘It was in the Second Division over there, I was aged 18-19 and I then returned to Sydney FC. So I’ve had that bit of experience overseas already. I have kind of been used to living on my own, handling yourself and taking care of your body by yourself as well.
‘That definitely helps. When I was younger in Holland, I learnt a lot of life lessons off the pitch, which definitely helps on the pitch. Coming over by myself to England and doing it all again, it just feels like I’ve done it before and know what to expect.
‘The biggest thing is, of course, every three days you are having a game. England is a really competitive and physical league where you need your body to be 100 per cent all the time.
‘You’re going to be running a lot and you are going to be getting wrestled and fighting a lot, so it’s definitely one where you need to adapt and it might take time.
‘In the A-league, it’s 26 league games in a season, here we have already played 25! In Australia, you have the week to get your body ready for the game, you get 6-7 days before the next one, so you always have a long rest and, if you need it, you can take your time.
‘Whereas in England you travel four hours, then you have a day off and another game, then training and another game. You don’t get time to rest your body, so it’s more of a mental thing.
‘It’s also learning different ways for your body and how you can make sure it's ready every three days. It’s about ways to adapt.’
One-month injury lay-off
Segecic missed four matches earlier this season after suffering ankle ligament damage against Coventry in October.
The attacker had only been on the pitch 10 minutes as a substitute before caught by a challenge from an opponent near the halfway line and subsequently left Fratton Park on crutches.
He returned a month later to reclaim his first-team spot, culminating in grabbing the winner at Hillsborough on Saturday to make it 11 points from a possible 18 for Mousinho’s men in recent weeks.
‘I’m so proud - and I want to continue that’
Segecic added: ‘I feel like I’ve been doing pretty well in my first season. Not many people expect it from a young player coming from Australia to do it, so I’m proud and obviously want to continue that.
‘I’ve been injured, but that was more unlucky than anything. It was a challenge contact and not one I did myself, that’s going to happen in football.
‘I am definitely glad I can play a lot of games in my first season - and there’s a lot more to come.’