Image: Mark Avellino
The Oakleigh Cannons have confirmed former Bentleigh Greens captain as their second mid-season signing following the acquisition of Brazilian defender Janiel Silva from Whittlesea Ranges.
The 32-year-old Englishman has departed Hume City after a challenging six months at ABD Stadium, having featured 12 times for the club, scoring one goal in the 1-0 away win against Heidelberg.
One of the most experienced and talented players in the state, he enjoyed a career in non-league football before migrating to Australia in 2008 to join second tier Sunshine George Cross.
He helped Andy O’Dell’s men win the State League One title that year and then helped the Georgies maintain their top-flight status the following year, scoring 4 times in 20 VPL appearances.
A move back to England followed in 2010 before returning to Melbourne in 2011 by joining the Bentleigh Greens – then coached by his former Sunshine boss O’Dell.
He spent the next six seasons of his career at the Cheltenham-based side, scoring 22 goals in 127 league appearances as he captained the Greens to Championship success in 2015.
In addition to that, he helped John Anastasiadis’ men reach the final four of the FFA Cup in 2014 with his crucial header against Adelaide City seeing his side qualify for the semi-finals of the competition.
Another FFA Cup campaign followed last year with the Greens reaching the quarter-finals, as Wallace also captained his chargers to a maiden Dockerty Cup triumph in addition to winning the Premiership.
A losing Grand Finalist in 2013, he joined Hume late last year but was unable to emulate his feats in Broadmeadows, and departs City to join the Cannons on a two-and-a-half year deal.
He joins Janiel Silva as new arrivals to Jack Edwards Reserve with the Brazilian putting pen to paper on a deal which keeps him at the club until 2019 after impressing at Epping Stadium so far this term.
Oakleigh Cannons general manager Aki Ionnas wished to thank Ange Bantis and Nick Marinos from Pro Life Football for assisting in their efforts to bring Janiel to the club.
“We are more than pleased with the calibre of the two players we have brought in. I would like to personally thank Ange and Nick for their work in helping Janiel join the club,” Ionnas said.
The Cannons will be looking to return to winning ways following last night’s disappointing 3-2 loss to Bulleen when they host the Port Melbourne Sharks at Jack Edwards Reserve this Friday night.