Image: Rob Cruse
Some 17 transfers occurred in time for the weekend’s fixtures, with most players in question making their debuts for their new employers in Round 15/16 action in NPL/NPL2.
In the top flight, Port Melbourne have made the most noise by bringing five new additions to their playing roster in Anthony Colosimo, Perry Lambropoulos, Zane Sole, Roberto Stella and Sam Beninato.
Left-back Colosimo made his name in the VPL with the likes of Fawkner and Whittlesea in the last decade before making the switch to the Melbourne Knights in 2009.
He spent the next seven seasons at Somers Street Stadium, making a total of 112 league appearances for the club, scoring four goals as well as helping them claim the 2014 Dockerty Cup.
Colosimo joined Bulleen ahead of the 2016 NPL campaign but his season was cut short four games in after suffering an ACL injury in the 2-2 draw against South Melbourne and has not played since.
Right-back Lambropoulos made his senior debut with the Bentleigh Greens in 2014 before making a mid-season switch to Hume, in total featuring five times across the season for both clubs.
The 21-year-old dropped two tiers to feature for South Springvale in 2015, earning regular game time and scoring five goals for Aris in a season which saw him primarily feature in midfield.
He joined the Oakleigh Cannons last year and made 27 appearances under co-coaches Con Tangalakis and Peter Tsolakis, which included a starting berth in the Grand Final defeat to South Melbourne.
Kiwi attacking midfielder Sole moves to JL Murphy Reserve after a spell in non-league football in England with Truro City, having spent 2016 with Hawke’s Bay across the Tasman and APIA Leichhardt.
The 25-year-old was a regular with local side Waitakere United before joining Heidelberg United in 2013 and helping George Katsakis’ side clinch the State League One title that year. He departed the Bergers mid-way through the following year and joined Northcote City.
Those three of the new Sharks new signings made their starting debuts in the 2-1 defeat to South Melbourne yesterday.
Roberto Stella is the brother of current senior squad member Francesco, with the 18-year-old signing from Avondale after a prolific spell in the 20s and making a debut off the bench yesterday.
Sam Beninato also signs after a stint in Europe and was an unused substitute yesterday. He is a previous Hume City player having made 15 senior appearances in 2015 and ’16.
Port Melbourne took the lead against South at Lakeside via an Andreas Govas volley but goals to Jesse Daley and Milos Lujic – both assisting each other – helped Chris Taylor’s men to a come-from-behind victory despite losing Tim Mala to a red card later in the contest.
One man who headed out of Port Melbourne is midfielder Fraser Hills, with the Queenslander joining Moreland City after making 13 appearances under Dominic Barba, scoring two goals in the process.
He is joined at the club by Adelaide-born defender Milos Tosic, who moves to Campbell Reserve after a short stint with Pascoe Vale, where the centre-back made two league appearances.
Previously of Adelaide City, he spent the 2015/16 pre-season trialling with South Melbourne before being a regular starter for the Moreland Zebras over the course of the last campaign.
Leaving the club though are defender Yianni Avramidis and Nedj Sahin as well as 19 year-old goalkeeper Dean Menere, with Tosic’s signing signalling the departure of former Manchester United youth Keil O’Brien back to the UK.
Werribee City were the big movers of the window signing a total of four new players including Italian striker Leandro Parralla from State League Two side Peninsula Strikers as reported last week.
Northcote City left-back Nicholas Bavcar joins the Bees after spending three years at John Cain Memorial Park, where he made 22 league appearances and netting once.
Former Melbourne Heart Youth goalkeeper Thomas Dunn returns to Galvin Park after spending last year in England and was a key part of the City squad during their promotion to the NPL in 2013.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea international forward George Slefendorfas moves up the Princess Freeway by returning to NPL2 and joining Werribee after six months with Geelong.
Previously of Heidelberg United and Sunshine George Cross, he has made a name for himself in the second tier in recent years due to his goalscoring exploits for Bendigo City and Whittlesea Ranges.
Brunswick City have signed veteran midfielder Yusuf Yusuf, who has spent the last decade playing for some of the state’s biggest clubs and was last year plying his trade with Dandenong Thunder.
The 32 year-old has had two stints with Heidelberg United as well as spells for South Melbourne, Oakleigh Cannons, Melbourne Knights, St Albans Saints and North Geelong Warriors respectively.
The Eastern Lions have secured the services of young midfielder Darcy Pawlik from Murray United, with the 20 year-old joined at Gardiners Creek Reserve by the returning Ziggy Razuki.
Midfielder Liam Harding has returned to Ballarat City after spending the 2014 NPL season with the Red Devils, while Joshua Sabidussi also returned for the Moreland Zebras.
Finally Melbourne City Youth has recruited talented young shot-stopper Nicholas Eres, with the 17 year-old recently making his senior debut for State League One side Clifton Hill.