Coming into the 2015 NPL Victoria season, South Melbourne had completely revamped their goalkeeping stocks; out went Jason Saldaris and Chris Maynard, paving the way for the returning Peter Gavalas and more pertinently, Nikola Roganovic.
Gavalas, a gloveman of the year recipient in the VPL, spent only a year away from South, having joined the club in 2012. For the latter however, it’s been nearly a decade between drinks from the Hellas chalice.
Roganovic, a former A-League capped shot-stopper, has spent a staggering two years out of the game he holds so dear to his heart. But the now 29-year-old has earned a new lease on life in between the sticks, having re-taken the plunge into the cultural cauldron that is Lakeside Stadium.
“The club speaks for itself. The facilities are amazing, the coaching staff have been fantastic since I’ve come in; everybody at the club’s been amazing,” the gloveman gushes in praise of his new club.
“There’s not one or two little things, it’s the whole package. For me it’s the best place to come play football outside of the A-League obviously. It’s the biggest club in Australian history, it’s the most successful.
“It’s had a lot of unbelievable players to have played on this pitch and for this club. When I had the opportunity to come here, I was really excited, because it’s a massive club.
“There’s a lot of responsibility, a big challenge, and I’ve always enjoyed a challenge. I look forward to representing the club for the rest of the year and however long after that.”
Returning to the home where he played his junior football, the talented custodian looked at home on the hallowed turf, as if he’d trained there each and every day during his 700 plus days away from football. But that’s all testament to the mentality of Roganovic, who revealed to The Corner Flag that he feels as fit now as he ever has.
“To be honest, I’ve felt physically good in the last couple of years since I’ve had a break,” he disclosed.
“For personal reasons, I took a bit of a break, I kept really fit, and I’m probably the fittest now that I’ve ever felt in my life.
“Having said that, I think mentally having a break from the game, I was more mentally prepared to relax and enjoy [football].
“I love playing the game, it’s the best in the world, so for me to come back, I had no expectation other than to go out there, have fun and give 100% like I always do.”
This feel good factor seems to have aided him on the pitch; he looked a man possessed at times, with his crucial touches going a long way to South’s opening day clean sheet in their narrow one goal win over Oakleigh.
But he could’ve so easily began on the bench, much like he did last week in the Community Shield win over the Knights. An injury to Gavalas after that game at Somers Street paved the way for Roganovic to lay his claim on the number one jersey, and it was an inspired first NPL performance that may see him retain his spot, even with the return of his gloveman compatriot. But the keeper admits he didn’t hold the expectation of being the club’s number one, but stated he had work as hard as possible to ensure that happened.
“In life, if you expect too much, most of the time you get disappointed,” he said.
“What I wanted to get out of coming [to South Melbourne] was just to get a good pre-season under my belt, and give my everything to get to the number one spot come Round One.
“It was a bit unfortunate that Pete [Gavalas] got injured after last week’s [Charity Shield] game – he had a back injury so hopefully he recovers quick. But I got put in to play and to start, and I’ve got to do my job.
“That’s all I can do – the boys in front of me helped out a lot today. It was a tough game, first game in, especially after a long break. It was all round a good performance for the boys.”
He did his job with aplomb, commanding his area and making countless saves late in the second half, denying Ross Honos from the edge of the box with his outstretched fingertips, before prodding away a late free-kick and somehow keeping out a goal line scramble deep into injury-time.
But there was a certain special inspiration that Roganovic confessed was his main motivating factor, the strong showing of support at a lively Lakeside Stadium.
“Without [the fans], it wouldn’t be South Melbourne. They’re a passionate bunch of supporters, this club’s got a massive history and having them a part of the club, it’s our twelfth man.
“So the message to them would be that all the boys appreciate your support.
“You’ve got to kind of get onto the level of the fans [and the culture of the club]. No one’s better than anyone else – we all play our part in the club. We all make up South Melbourne.
“If we all stick together and work hard, there’s a bright future for South Melbourne and I don’t see why we can’t go back to back.”
Photo: Skip Fulton (NPL Vic Football)