Image: Frank Khamees
Football Federation Victoria recently announced that some of the league’s biggest names and highest profile players will gather at the organisation in early January for a promotional shoot ahead of the 2017 season. TCF has taken a look at some of these names, including former national team players, club linchpins, and some of the big headline movers over the off-season that could have a big impact on the league next year.
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Brandon Barnes
Sharpshooter Barnes took the competition by storm last season in Victoria, and Dandenong Thunder did incredibly well to hold onto him for another campaign from the prying eyes of top-flight clubs. Swept all before him at Gold Medal Night in 2016 for NPL2.
Jonatan Germano/Massimo Murdocca
The ex-Melbourne City teammates were reunited at Avondale last season and were the club’s best performers in a season that started off slow but ended with a bang. One of the reasons was the inspired form of Germano, looking to get back into the A-League window, and he’ll back at it in 2017.
Kenny Athiu
In a breakout season in the top flight, King Kenny came close to claiming the golden boot and was undoubtedly one of the most exciting players to watch. Physical but technical, he causes opposition defenders all sorts of headaches.
Liam Boland
The ex-Green Gully target man made national headlines in the FFA Cup with his stunning long-distance strike to sink the Central Coast Mariners. He also made state headlines with his switch to Hume City from Gully in one of the state’s higher profile transfers.
Mate Dugandzic
Speaking of big transfers, signing a player from the A-League to the second tier in Victoria certainly equates to a big statement of intent from Dandenong City. They scored a considerable coup in the securing the signature of Dugandzic, who will be expected to provide a big spark in the attacking third.
Milos Lujic
Of all the players who are the subject of questions such as ‘Why isn’t he in the A-League?’, the four-time consecutive VPL/NPL Golden Boot is certainly top of that pile. One of the most recognised strikers outside the nation’s top flight, his near goal-a-game record over many years has contributed to South Melbourne’s considerable success in the league.
Simon Colosimo/Roddy Vargas
More than 75 years of age combined. More than 400 professional games. Both ex-Socceroos. The Colosimo and Vargas combination will be tasked with providing Dandenong Thunder’s rearguard in the club’s campaign to work its was back into the top tier of Victorian football.
Joey Monek
On the other end of the age spectrum, Monek will be one of the young guns of the league who will now look to prove themselves against the state’s best. Now in the top tier after helping St Albans achieve promotion in 2016, the former Melbourne City youth will be sought after as a provider of goals for his side.
Dusan Bosnjak
Showed what he could achieve with a full season of injury-free performances. His impact and goal tally as an attacking midfielder, including the regularity with which he scored so many match-winning efforts for Oakleigh, earned him the Bill Fleming medal. The Cannons will be looking to him to hopefully go one better than their grand final runner-up finish in 2016.
Stipo Andrijasevic/Nick Glavan
Bentleigh scored a massive double coup at the back end of 2016 with the capture of the Knights duo. Their signatures will look to restore some of the club’s pride after a long season took its toll on the state and national stages, and may also no doubt lead to some fireworks on and off the pitch when the Knights and Greens meet in 2017.
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These are, of course, only a handful of the players that will shape the narrative of the league in 2017. With each of the 34 clubs invited to attend the promotional shoot, it will prove to be a taste of what’s to come in the new season as the attention around the FFA Cup continues to grow, the focus on A-League expansion intensifies, and, closer to home, promotion/relegation between the NPL2 and State League 1 is introduced.