After Drazina's agent Ante Ailovic of Entourage sent a DVD to the German club a few months ago, the 18-year-old was asked to trial.

They liked what they saw and he was signed on a three year deal. Drazina stayed in Germany and is currently playing in the Bundesliga youth league for the Berlin club.

 It's been a whirlwind couple of months, as we found out.  

Ante, it must feel like a dream come true?

I definitely feel like it's a dream come true, especially when I have worked so hard towards this.

How does a player from the Sydney Utd U20s end up at Hertha Berlin?

Hard work and persistence. This will at least tum heads and sometimes overseas coaches see something in you that may be missed in Australia. 

You're a tall central defender... that's all I know about you. Can you fill us in a little more on the Ante Drazina story?

I started playing at Sydney United at the age of four. I have been bred by Sydney United .I was always a striker and central midfielder. The last two years I have been pulled back to a central stopper role and it suits me to the ground. Raul Caruzzo suggested I may be able to play this position well as I was tall (194cm) and being a striker and midfielder I would have the knowledge to assist me in this position. He was correct.

As it turned out, I love this position and I play it with my heart and soul. I adopted Joe Simunic's style which concentrates on possession from the back and not just booting the ball into the stands, as our youngsters are taught back in Australia. I love to play that elegant style as well as hard defending when necessary.

I love to score headers in dead ball situations and corners, which I am being encouraged to do at Hertha Berlin. Hertha is concentrating on my heading now due to my height and I feel I have excelled greatly in this area and have also scored goals for Hertha this way.

Describe your first training session with the German club?

My first training session with was unbelievable, firstly because I couldn't believe I was at such a great club and secondly it was very intense and long, certainly different to what we are exposed to back in Australia. We do this twice a day, morning and afternoon.

What have you learnt since arriving at the club?

I have learnt that persistence and hard work will get you very far in Germany, as long as you can maintain your quality. The Germans are the best in the world at breeding 'persistence' and their way of thinking is very intelligent. The Germans turn you into a robot that has been programmed to eat, breathe and think football. And I love it!

German football... your first impressions?

Extremely intelligent, hardworking, foot to foot (short passing), quick defending, possession orientated.

How many games have you played? Is it the reserves or youth team? Can you describe some of your favourite moments in games so far?

I have now played four games for Hertha Berlin and I play in their youth team, which plays in the Bundesliga. The youth team Bundesliga is known as the strongest competition in Europe.

My favourite moment in Berlin was when I scored in my first debut game for Hertha Berlin. It was a corner and I went to the ball, as shown to me by my heading coach, and got on the end of it and placed it into the back of the net. The keeper didn't see the ball.

Another moment was when one of our right defenders was beaten and the attacker was running towards our goal, I ran and caught him just as he was going to kick it off the ground past our keeper (in the penalty box). I fairly slid him and took the ball and I got up and led the ball down the field and made a 35m switch to our left winger who was in space. Our left winger scored. That moment was fantastic and my coach loved it.

Having a former Liverpool player in Markus Babbel as first team coach must be special? Can you tell us some insights into his coaching?

Markus Babbel is a legend at Hertha Berlin and his coaching is the best I have seen so far. He is an intelligent coach and the players respect him very much. He gets the best out of his players and this is why Herth is in first place.

And the toughest part about being in Germany and playing for Hertha?

Missing my family, friends and  relatives. It would be much easier if I had some of these people here with me. Also speaking another language is hard, but it's getting easier as Hertha Berlin has employed a German teacher to give me German lessons every day.

Tell us about Nikita Rukavytsya also being at the club... has he helped you out?

Nikita is settling in fine at Hertha. I haven't asked him for any help at this stage as all the help I need is provided for me by Hertha.

The fans of the club - tell us about the atmosphere at the games?

The Hertha fans are unbelievable and it's great to see 74,000 of them at our home games at Olympic Stadium. What a buzz!

The future... I believe Croatia has inquired about your services but also Australia has made some inquiries. How difficult is it to make a decision on your national future?

Yes, this is true and it should be a really simple choice, but if I am overlooked by my own country Australia then my other choice would be Croatia definitely.

How have you settled into Berlin?

I have finally settled into Berlin and have an apartment given to me by Hertha as part of my contract. Hertha treats me and its players very good and I love this club. The club has made it easier for me to settle in Germany.

What do you miss most about home?

We have two weeks off at Christmas and I will be flying to Australia on December 14 and returning on New Year’s Day ready for training. We are not allowed to miss training regardless of where you are from. I miss my mates in Australia, as I miss joking around with them. I also miss the sun and Cronulla beach where I live but I understand that Germany is my home now.