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Coach: Chris Taylor
Pre-season: WWWWWWLLW (3-1 Dandenong City, 5-0 Frankston Pines, 6-0 Langwarrin FC, 2-1 Kingston City, 5-1 Springvale White Eagles, 1-0 FC Bulleen Lions, 1-2 West Adelaide Hellas, 0-1 Adelaide Blue Eagles, 2-1 Melbourne Knights – Community Shield)
MATCH REPORT > South substitutes sink Knights
What a bunch of guys! @smfc pic.twitter.com/SeXSdKnCJ4
— Tim Mala (@MalaTim) February 13, 2015
2014 finish: 1st After a triumphant championship winning 2014 season, South Melbourne are brimming with ambition and fresh talent to achieve their aspirations.
Last season, South launched out of the blocks with an astonishing 14-match winning run to kick-start their season. Chris Taylor’s side continued their bright form throughout the majority of the campaign, unbeaten at home and comfortably winning the league in the end with two matches remaining. Clinching the NPL state title granted South entry into the national finals.
However, although the Victorian representatives swept aside South Hobart, they stumbled at the penultimate hurdle, defeated in the semi-final by South Australian NPL premiers North Eastern MetroStars. Furthermore, Taylor’s side missed out on a highly-sought FFA Cup berth after being knocked out of the Dockerty Cup in a decisive quarter-final tie against arch rivals Melbourne Knights.
New signings: Chief among South’s brand new signings is star striker Andy Brennan, who played an instrumental role in South Hobart’s championship win in the Tasmanian Victory League. The towering 21-year-old is not only a prolific scorer – having netted 25 times last season – but is also highly flexible and can play in any position in the front third.
Further boosting the side’s attacking arsenal is the acquisition of versatile forward David Stirton from Bentleigh Greens. This pair of additions in the front third of the pitch is particularly important in the context of key departures of offensive players such as Tyson Holmes and Jamie Reed, to Bentleigh and the Welsh Premier League, respectively.
South’s defensive stocks have also been bolstered, with Kristian Konstantinidis joining from Northcote, New Zealand youth defender Luke Adams crossing the Tasman from Waikatere United, and utility player Bonel Obradovic arriving from Oakleigh Cannons. They’ll cover the sizeable loss of Kiwi international James Musa who looks set for the US.
The club have also signed a former A-League player in Jake Barker-Daish. The 21-year old Olyroo has previously played for Adelaide United and Gold Coast United and will add dynamism in the centre of the park, along with fellow arrival Dane Milovanovic.
Between the goalposts, Peter Gavalas has returned as South’s custodian of choice. Taylor has left it late to sign the 2013 VPL Goalkeeper of the Year, who is experienced and familiar with the club, but may prove to be a controversial pick. Nikola Roganovic will provide competition for the number one jersey, to cover the departure of Chris Maynard and Jason Saldaris.
The final arrival sees former State League 1 young midfielder Cody Martindale join the squad.
Players to watch: Milos Lujic struck an incredible 22 goals from 26 games last season, and the 2014 FFV Gold Medal winner will again be seeking to showcase his deadly touch in front of goal this season. A proven striker with impressive physical and athletic qualities, Lujic is both an aerial threat and a clinical marksman with the ball at his feet.
Michael Eagar plies his trade at the opposite end of the pitch, but is equally critical to fulfilling South’s ambitions. The former Northcote City defender is an experienced and consistent ball-playing centre back. Marshalling the vanguard of his side’s backbone, Eagar is a competent leader and wears the captain’s armband at South Melbourne for good reason.
What to expect in 2015: Expectations are sky-high at South Melbourne after 2014’s title-winning season. Taylor will aim to defend the club’s championship title at the state level, tussle with the top sides at the national NPL finals, and qualify for the FFA Cup through a successful Dockerty Cup run to restore the former NSL giant’s presence on the national stage.
READ MORE > Taylor’s take on season expectations
It’s a tall order. However, South has recruited rigorously in the off-season and are equipped with a young side boasting plentiful talent. Tasked with leading from the helm once again, Taylor possesses the leadership to instil the discipline needed in his players to reach the lofty heights expected of them. Although there are question marks looming over the goalkeeper position, South are armed with a squad boasting clear strengths and lacking any immediately obvious sharp weaknesses.
With a crucial forty-year lease secured at Lakeside Stadium and SMFC TV to be screened on Foxtel’s Aurora channel, the scene is set both on and off the pitch for South Melbourne to seriously pursue silverware on several fronts. League honours beckon, and perhaps more.