Coach: John Anastasiadis
Pre-season: DDW (Malaysian side Johor DT 1-1, Springvale White Eagles 1-1, Murray United 2-0)
Video > Bentleigh Greens vs. JDT
2014 Finish: 4th Depending on which approach you take, Bentleigh’s season could be viewed as equally disappointing for their league form as it was encouraging for their cup exploits. While a fourth place finish on paper signals quite an impressive year in the league, for a side whose trajectory has been on the up over the last five years or so, it was ultimately a let down, given their VPL finals appearance the season before.
Of course, their shock run to the FFA Cup Semi-Finals was the undoubted highlight of the year, where they were eventually knocked out – but not outplayed – by A-League side Perth Glory. On the league front, it was inconsistency that plagued the South-based side, as they matched upset results – the 2-1 win against South Melbourne with an undermanned side springs to mind – with equally poor ones – see two draws against Goulburn Valley Suns – seemingly at the flick of a switch.
READ MORE > Season Review: Bentleigh Greens
New Signings: There has been a raft of new players to make their way into Kingston Heath. Classy attacker Daniel Visevic (Melbourne Knights) and championship winner Tyson Holmes (South Melboure) highlight the domestic moves, while marauding defender Steven Topalovic and South youngster Dion Kirk both look to have a large role to play in 2015. The Queensland trio of Troy Ruthven, Matt Thurtell and Chris Lucas are all set to play a massive hand in the fortunes of the new look Greens.
On the departure front, Christian Cavallo, Andre McNamara and Luke Gallo will ply their trade at Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City respectively, while centre half Jamie Cumming has left for Heidelberg United.
Players to watch: With the parting of Cumming, the aforementioned Topalovic looks the man to slot into the vacant centre-half role. Chris Lucas has looked a force in his pre-season outings to date, while you can’t ignore the brilliance of young shot stopper Al Bray or talisman Wayne Wallace, who is arguably the league’s best midfield enforcer.
What to expect in 2015: With their FFA Cup run funding an overhaul of last seasons squad, expect Bentleigh to come hard at in the second edition of the NPL Victoria. The depth of the squad will prove telling this time round with more experience throughout the squad compared with last year. The confidence within the camp can’t be ignored as well and it should see them string together some more consistent results in 2015. Title hopefuls.