Following a breakout debut season with Oakleigh Cannons that saw them crowned Premiers, Lebib Lebib has been voted the best young player of the NPLM season bringing home the Rising Star Award.
The 23-year-old was selected for the award by an expert panel following his Rising Star nomination in May, a month that saw Lebib get on the scoresheet twice as Oakleigh went undefeated. Lebib was also acknowledged for his stand out performances with being presented as the Player of the Month for April and a place in the Senol NPLM Team of the Season.
The Oakleigh young-gun was surprised to win the award despite his stellar performances and expects even more from himself next season.
“It was surprising. I think anyone that was nominated could have taken it.
“I didn’t think I had the best first half of the season where other guys did, my second half of the season really showed up for the reason of me winning the award.”
“I expected more from myself.”
Despite his own personal claims, Lebib had a fantastic season for Oakleigh, grabbing eight goals in the regular season as well as another two during the Dockerty Cup. Overall, Oakleigh were the NPL’s strongest side this campaign and proved it with their Premiership win this year.
When reflecting on his sides campaign, Lebib gave praise to the confidence instilled in the side from head coach Chris Taylor.
“I think it’s been a great season, I think the best thing was the lack of expectations from those on the outside looking in who thought Oakleigh would only come third or fourth.
“CT sat us down in preseason and said what happened last year isn’t happening this year, not in the sense of winning every trophy but to keep our standards high.
“When you go and start beating those harder teams like Heidelberg you gain confidence, and then you go and beat Avondale and you’ve got more confidence going into the game against Hume. Now you’ve beaten three of the teams you could say are contending for that Premiers spot.”
Lebib didn’t shy away from giving credit to his teammates either, praising the atmosphere they’ve created around the squad.
“It’s a good group of older lads and younger boys in the mix this year, I think the young boys just brought the energy to the group.”
Before he was shining for the Cannons, Lebib was working his way through the ranks of Olympic Kingsway back home in Western Australia.
“Coming through Olympic Kingsway certainly helped a lot in terms of my development. My first year there I was coming back from a major leg injury I suffered the season before so I was working my way off the bench.
“I think not seeing the pitch as much as I’d like over there makes it less scary when you come over here and you don’t know if you’re going to play or not.
“Playing in the Australia Cup and versing teams like Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United show you’re at a good enough level so when you come over to Victoria, there wasn’t really any fear.”
“I was already doing it in WA, I just flew a couple hours to come over and do it here.”
Comparing the two competitions, Lebib highlighted the difference in playing styles and intensity between NPL WA and NPL Victoria.
“I think it’s a lot more fun in Victoria with all the different types of teams you play and the stadiums you go see. Every team is different; playing away to Dandenong City isn’t the same as playing away to Preston.
“The intensity and physicality is something that gave me an awakening of how quick the game is here, I’ve said it before but I believe NPL Victoria is the best NPL in Australia.”
This Friday Lebib’s Oakleigh Cannons take on South Melbourne in the Preliminary Final, a match he is expecting to be a close affair.
“It’s going to be a difficult game if I am being honest, South are the most inform team in the league at the moment. I am expecting an intense and hard-fought game.
“Just like our second match up with them, it’s going to come down to minimal errors and whichever attack is sharper on the day.
“The one thing about us, once we lose to a team once we have to get our get-back.”
Although his season is not over just yet, Lebib is already aiming for next year to be full of more goals and more accolades.
“My goals for next year are definitely to get double-digit goals and to be sharper with my decision making in the final third and be hungrier in the box.
“I want to win the Bill Fleming Medal and be up there as a top contender”