Photo: Mark Avellino
Werribee City have all but finalised their squad for the upcoming NPL2 West season, with the addition of six new players, including two new internationals for the season ahead.
Amongst the new faces at Galvin Park include internationals Aki Machiyama – formerly of Nunawading City – and New Zealand forward Dylan Tate, while former St Albans Saints custodian Alex Baird (feature image) also joins via a brief stint with Ballarat City.
Rounding off the new signings are young trio Cameron Davies (Keilor Park), Darcey Den Ouden (Yarraville Glory) and Maselas Lian Bawi (St Albans Saints), while club captain Angus Martin as well as one and two respectively in Werribee’s Best and Fairest night Jonathan Voulgaris and Nemanja Govedarica have all extended their stay with the Western Suburbs outfit.
Japanese defender Aki Machiyama joins the Bees from NPL2 East outfit Nunawading City, for whom he made 22 appearances in 2016 after having signed from State League One outfit Malvern City.
Originating from Saitama in Central Japan, the 24-year-old showcased his versatility for Nunawading last season playing across the whole backline, although he was mostly deployed as a right back.
Machiyama played a large role in Nuna’s solitary win of the season, a 3-1 result against Murray United.
“We started training two weeks ago – Werribee is a really good team truly, from the front office, ground, coach and teammates, everything is good,” Machiyama said.
“I’m really enjoying it because our professionalism is really good so we can push ourselves. I just want to achieve promotion to the NPL for the new team.”
Young New Zealander Dylan Tate is a newcomer to Victorian football, with the tall-bodied forward – adept as either a striker or winger – spending his playing time in his native New Zealand.
The 21-year-old played his youth football with Auckland City and Waitakere United, but enjoyed his senior berth with second-tier outfit Bay Olympic, for whom he scored a hat-trick for in the 2015 Northern Region Football League season before departing at season’s end to join Auckland-based outfit Mt Albert Ponsonby.
Alex Baird joins Werribee after a solid debut season in Victoria with St Albans, as some standout performances helped his side earn promotion to the top-flight.
His fine form saw him claim a spot in TCF’s NPL2 West Team of the Season with the shot-stopper enjoying a successful first season in Victorian football.
The former Newcastle United youth and Young Socceroo comes with an impressive CV, which boasts stints with Derby County, Dundee FC in Scotland and Conference National side Gateshead.
He signs via Ballarat City for whom he was briefly touted to replace the outgoing Aaron Romein.
“What drew me to signing with Werribee is that they are a good footballing side who love to play the ball around, which is my type of game,” Baird said.
“The club have ambition to get back into the NPL where the club belong and as soon as I walked into the dressing room you can tell that there is a really good team spirit there which goes a long way.
“I think we have a really good chance of being up there to push for promotion this season. I think like last season, it will be hard but I know we have a strong team together and should be a good season.”
English-born Australian centre-half Cameron Davies makes the switch from State League One outfit Keilor Park, for whom he has spent the last two seasons plying his trade.
The move marks a return to the NPL for Davies, who had previously spent three seasons with Green Gully, predominantly playing in their Under 20’s team but also making a handful of senior appearances across the 2013 VPL and 2014 NPL seasons respectively.
The Leicester native has spent the last six years in Australia and represented Victoria in the 2013 FFA National Championships held in Canberra.
The addition of promising young forward Darcey Den Ouden from Yarraville Glory will potentially create the most intrigue for the Werribee support.
Handed a senior debut as a 15-year-old at Altona City, Den Ouden has since meticulously climbed the football ladder, moving to the Glory in 2013 as they earned promotion from State League Three
The now 20-year-old scored 17 goals at just under a goal a game in 2013-14 before a breakthrough 2015 season with Yarraville.
Den Ouden swept the floor in the 2015 State League Two season, claiming the FFV Best and Fairest as well as the Golden Boot for his 16 strikes in a season that saw the Glory capture a second promotion in three years.
He has been likened to Gareth Bale for his direct style of play, ability to turn on the jets when needed and also his versatility as either a striker or winger.
Wrapping up the signings for Serge Sabbadini’s Werribee outfit is former St Albans Saints junior Maselas Lian Bawi Thang.
The midfielder made 27 appearances, scoring 12 times, as St Albans finished fourth on the U20’s table in 2016.
“Werribee City FC have pretty much finalised their squad for NPL season 2017,” said President Giovanni Inserra.
“We are very pleased to have kept the core group of last years squad which finished the season 2016 off so strongly, including our Club Captain Gus Martin, Best & Fairest and Players Player winner Jonathan Voulgaris and runner up Nemanja Govedarica.
“The club will continue with its youth and homegrown policy which was implemented in season 2016,” Inserra added.
“Over half of the squad is still under 23 years of age and six of the senior roster are Werribee City FC homegrown players. The club will continue to give every opportunity to our local talented youngsters who we are preparing to become the core to the Werribee City senior list in the years to come.
“We look forward to season 2017 and to take another step forward and continue on our improvement path which was implemented midway through last season.
“The club wishes to thank all of last years squad members who were not selected for season 2017 and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”
The six new faces join fellow signing Brad Murray from Moreland Zebras on the senior roster, while Bobby Vidanoski, Marko Stevanja (both North Geelong Warriors), Yasin Nur (Melbourne City) and Lewis Waddell (Box Hill United) have all departed the club.