It looked to be one of those days for North Geelong Warriors, who not once, but twice fell behind to State League opponents Clifton Hill in their FFA Cup qualifying encounter.
They were pegged back in the eighth and 15th minutes of the first half in a surprisingly even contest – save for one game breaker – Rudi Saglam.
Having been forced to bide his time away from the starting line-up, a suspension to Matthew Thorne afforded the winger an opportunity to show what he was capable of doing, and he didn’t disappoint as crafted out four goals for his side.
“We’ve got a competitive squad so the last couple of weeks Micky [Colina] has done some rotating,” Saglam said in the aftermath of the 5-2 victory.
“It just shows that when you have one player missing – not just for myself but for anybody – we’ve just got to step in and be as good as the one that’s playing.
“To have a strong squad of 14 just shows that whoever comes in can do a job.”
His first contribution to the contest was teeing up the initial equaliser for American mid-season signing Kene Eze in the 10th minute; when the Warriors fell behind once more, Saglam was on hand to expertly steer in a first time shot from the edge of the 18-yard-box.
Not content with his night’s work there, he then went on to set up two more goals; delivering a weighted ball in for Eze to head home his second, and then a threading through ball across his body for Michael Anderson to finish.
MATCH REPORT: Warriors twice forced to comeback against Clifton Hill
It was an important performance, given the regard that North Geelong are holding the cup competition in this season, proof being in the near full strength line-up they fielded on Wednesday.
“We really want to make it into the final 32,” he said.
“Last year we were pretty unlucky, losing to South Springvale when I first came to the club – we fell a bit short and players were ineligible to play. So we took it pretty seriously [today].
“We didn’t underestimate Clifton Hill and we knew it was going to be tough. State League One is a good level and we know they’ve been doing well.
“Credit to their coach Leigh [Tsoumerkas] who got a good bunch of boys together. First half they really put it on us, we were down twice so credit to them, but it was an enjoyable game.”
With their name now in the final 16 of Victoria, two wins will put the Warriors onto the national stage.
A vital cog to the success they may wish to have is the aforementioned Eze, who was another who stood out on the park, finishing the night off with a well deserved hat-trick.
“Kene’s a good boy, you can tell he’s got good qualities,” Saglam said on his teammate.
“He’s super quick, three goals tonight and he’s done well. Every game he’s got a goal or an assist so he’s doing really well. He adds that different spark to the team, like I said you need different types.
“He told me he’s never eaten a can of tuna before coming to Australia, so he’s enjoying eating a lot of tuna and rice with the captain, he’s living with Matt Townley.
“But we’ve made him welcome so he’s doing really well.”
Saglam may have called no less than six Victorian clubs his home in his career to date, Kevin Bartlett Reserve was not one of them, yet he seemed right at home on its surface.
His father Savas Saglam – who had an illustrious playing career in Australia of his own – is the current technical director of Richmond SC, making the ground a spiritual home of sorts.
“[My dad] is good to have around, he’s always been my support,” he said.
“He gives me advice when I’m playing good or bad and he’s great to have around. I liked having him on the sidelines and it was a good pitch under the lights.
Photo: Ivan Dugandzic