Imagine for a moment that you are pursuing your dream to be a professional footballer. Then suddenly things change. One minute you’re standing at Gosche’s Paddock contemplating your future as a professional footballer, the next reporting for duty at a call centre to make ends meet.

This is Luc Jeggo account of the challenges faced by modern athletes.

Insightful, thought provoking and at times challenging this is the next instalment of Football is. stories

Mike Varko is one of the partners of ELITE Training & Sports Medicine. I sat down with Mike to discuss how ELITE'S focus on bringing out the best in an athlete survived the 2020 lockdowns and how this influenced his thinking about the direction forward for not only his business but also the way in which his focus on mindset has had an impact on the way ELITE engages with all types of athletes.

Football is. spoke with Brunswick City’s Darby Dexter about the importance of good leadership not only in life but inn football, COVID-19 and the impact of the he second lockdown on mental health.

As we are well aware COVID-19 has meant that attempts to make plans for 2020 has almost become a sport in itself. I’m sure if you spoke to Matthew Crooks and Josh Wallen at the end of 2019 about their plans for 2020 they would have viewed things through a completely different lens.

2020 has been a year like no other. Football is. spoke with Johnie Markov and Bryan Robertson about the second lockdown and the impact it has had on them and where we find ourselves in a world without football.

Photographer Rachel Bach is better known as By The White Line I spoke to her as part of my Football is. Isolation series. After completing the series I felt that we covered some great topics and that it would be great to later share the full story. Rachel opened up about photography and her journey to shooting the Matildas and life during isolation and COVID-19.

Talking about his experience in hotel quarantine ‘We weren't allowed to leave the room. We weren't allowed to step foot out of the room. We had to stay 14 days in isolation, it was very boring. Lucky I had my girlfriend with me, but if I didn't have my girlfriend with me I think I’d have gone mad.’

Football is. Fragmented - it’s been a very confusing 2020 and the impact it has had on Football in Victoria has been massive. The cancellation of the NPL season due to the second lockdown has meant that depending your situation you are either living your life in limbo or taking the opportunity to use this spare time to focus on the other parts of your life. Either way 2020 has not followed a conventional linear path for most of us.

FOOTBALL IS. Isolation - Life in Lockdown - Hope + Wellbeing [2:0] is the sixth and final chapter of Mark Avellino’s Isolation stories during the COVID-19 lockdowns and the affect it has had on members of the Football (soccer) community in Victoria. This chapter focuses on the importance of Wellbeing

FOOTBALL IS. Isolation - Life in Lockdown - FINDING THE LITTLE JOYS [1:0] is the fifth chapter of Mark Avellino’s Isolation stories during the COVID-19 lockdowns and the affect it has had on members of the Football (soccer) community in Victoria. This chapter focuses on how people spent the lockdown and what they learnt about themselves during this time.

FOOTBALL IS. Isolation fourth chapter looks at the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns and the affect it has had on members of the Football (soccer) community in Victoria. This chapter focuses on the people who work off the pitch, the coaches, physios, photographers, media and club administrators

FOOTBALL IS. Isolation third chapter looks at the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns and the affect it has had on members of the Football (soccer) community in Victoria. This chapter focuses on the NPL Mens competition which had already played five rounds.

FOOTBALL IS. Isolation second chapter looks at the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns and the affect it has had on members of the Football (soccer) community in Victoria. Interviews range from Players, Referees to Club Administrators.

FOOTBALL IS. Isolation is a thoughtful look at the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns and the effect it has had on members of the Football (soccer) community in Victoria. Interviews range from Players, Referees to Club Administrators.

For South Melbourne FC, the FFA Cup been an opportunity to once again be seen on the national stage. To finally reach the final stages fo the Cup was a moment that would see them play off against A-League outfit Sydney FC. I took the time to capture the thoughts and dreams of the 2017 South Melbourne squad in the lead up to the match.

The Moment - FFA Cup Dreaming 2:0 is a further exploration on what the experience of competing in the FFA Cup means to the players of the NPL. Green Gully SC with a proud history in the Victorian Premier League and NPL Victoria. Gully reached the Quarter Finals of the FFA Cup after a stunning win over A-League outfit the Central Coast Mariners in the dying minutes of their match.

A visual and written account of Mark Avellino’s journey through Spain and how photography is intertwined with his travel experience.

The Moment - FFA Cup dreaming is the exploration of the stories and thoughts of the Hume City squad looking at what it means to have a cup run and reaching the Semi- Final against A-League powerhouse Melbourne Victory.