Image: Anita Milas
Bentleigh Greens have announced the departure of trio Dion Kirk, Kamal Ibrahim and John Maclean following the 2016 season.
The Greens have now had five players depart – Liam McCormick and Wayne Wallace being the other two.
The club however has held on to striker Matt Thurtell for 2017.
Kirk enjoyed a stint encompassing 48 games since moving from South Melbourne in 2014-15 off-season, winning league and cup silverware in the process.
The Adelaide native and former Adelaide United youth is expected to return home.
Former Melbourne Heart winger Ibrahim featured 14 times for the Greens, netting once – a stunning goal against Green Gully.
The 2015 FFV gold medallist struggled to adapt in his time in green since moving from Port Melbourne, hampered by injuries.
John Maclean was a late season addition for Bentleigh from Melbourne Victory’s youth side.
The former Kingston City and Oakleigh Cannons attacker played five games, scoring a maiden goal against Edgeworth Eagles in the NPL finals series.
The club had recently announced the departure of Liam McCormick after 94 games at Bentleigh since arriving in 2013.
The winner of season three of Football Superstar proved his versatility at the club, deployed at fullback or in central midfield, scoring six times to the club’s wealth of success during his time at Kingston Heath.
While his next destination hasn’t been announced yet, it is rumoured to be South Melbourne.
Thurtell signed from Brisbane Strikers in 2015 and made an immediate impact at the club, netting 20 times in 34 games.
The brother of Perth Glory youth goalkeeper Jordan Thurtell is widely recognised as one of the most potent strikers in the league when fit.
In a sign of how valued the striker is at the club, he is re-signed for the second time, including after persistent injuries highlighted by a season-ending knee ailment in 2015 that made him miss out on the club’s championship-winning run.
Meanwhile, long-serving centre-back Jack Webster takes over captaincy reigns for 2017, replacing Wayne Wallace.
The centre-back is a natural choice as a long-time servant of the club, playing a major part in its successes.