Image: Steve Starek/Melbourne Knights
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be presenting a series of ‘Get to know’ pieces looking at the careers of playing and coaching participants of the four NPL Victoria clubs in the national state of the FFA Cup, who progressed through the state qualifying rounds to reach the Round of 32 onwards. Today we look at Melbourne Knights, who are looking to progress through to the second round of the national stages for the first time ever.
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Goalkeepers
Fraser Chalmers Age: 21 Games: 13 Goals: 0
Former Brisbane Roar Youth team goalkeeper who was in goal for John Aloisi’s senior side in a friendly against Villarreal in June 2015. He left the club shortly afterwards and featured for the Brisbane Strikers, where he was a part of their dramatic 4-3 extra-time FFA Cup loss to Hume City last July. Joined Hume in the summer but quickly switched to the Knights to secure a first-choice role, and has excelled so far despite being hampered with injuries.
Michael O’Farrell Age: 22 Games: 18 Goals: 0
A Green Gully junior, the Knights deputy made his senior debut for Gully in 2013 under Dean Hennessey before making the move to Somers Street ahead of the inaugural NPL campaign in 2014. Earned game time following the lengthy suspension to first-choice Chris May following the 3-1 FFA Cup defeat to Olympic FC in year one of the competition and kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 2014 Dockerty Cup win over South Springvale.
Defenders
Milan Batur Age: 28 Games: 80 Goals: 4
Club captain and fan favourite, the no-nonsense defender was a Knights junior, re-joining the club in mid-2013 from sister side North Geelong and has not looked back since. Often pushed up forward when his team is in need of goals, he scored a crucial late goal against Oakleigh in the Knights run to FFA Cup Round of 32 and recently returned back to the country having spent June in France supporting Croatia at the European Championships.
Joshua Brekalo Age: 23 Games: 32 Goals: 2
Left-back who began his career at Somers Street. Spent 2014 playing in the state’s fifth tier with Strathmore Split before making the leap to the NPL last year, scoring on his league debut for the club. Is also capable of playing in a more advanced role but has been troubled by injuries lately, although he did manage to score vital goals against Oakleigh in the FFA Cup and Victory youth in the league.
Nick Glavan Age: 19 Games: 23 Goals: 1
Highly rated teenage right-back who spent his junior days with Nunawading before making his senior breakthrough at Dandenong City in 2014 – via the NTC. Joined Victory youth and was a regular in the side that clinched promotion to the top flight last September, but was surprisingly released at season’s end. He has not dwelled on the disappointment and has taken his game to the next level at Knights Stadium this season.
Ivan Grgic Age: 20 Games: 56 Goals: 5
Knights junior who made his senior debut for his childhood club aged just 17 in 2013. Became a first-team regular the following season and is comfortable at both right-back and in the centre of the defence with his towering presence causing plenty of trouble in the air. Football publication 442 named him as one of the best players outside the A-League last year. His cousin Michael is a regular starter for sister club St Albans.
Anthony Katiforis Age: 18 Games: 16 Goals: 0
Up and coming defender who made his senior debut last year and has earned himself greater game time this campaign where he has featured across the back four. His older brother Michael previously was on the books of the club, making one appearance in 2014 and currently features for State League Two side Sunbury United.
Damien Miskulin Age: 20 Games: 9 Goals: 0
One of the most prodigious centre-forwards in the state during his teenage years, he made his senior debut with Dandenong City in 2013. Impressed alongside Glavan in 2014 and moved to Victory youth, where he was converted into a centre-back. An ever present as Darren Davies’ men clinched promotion to the NPL, he moved to Somers Street in May and was sent off on debut against South Melbourne. He will miss tonight’s clash after seeing red once more against South on Sunday.
Timmy Purcell Age: 28 Games: 20 Goals: 1
Irishman who moved to Melbourne in 2011 having previously spent time plying his trade in his nation’s top flight with UCD and Waterford United. Five and half years at Richmond yielded over a hundred appearances for the club before joining Dandenong Thunder mid-way through last season. Was unable to help the club beat the drop and subsequently joined the Knights, where he has deputised as a left-back after beginning the season in the centre of the park.
Midfielders
Marijan Cvitkovic Age: 29 Games: 83 Goals: 17
Crafty attacking midfielder whose brace against Port Melbourne sealed the Knights’ progression into the national stage of the competition. Joined the club in 2012 from St Albans after a number of years at Dinamo – he was also an Altona City junior and youth player for Knights in the NYL – and enjoyed an exceptional 2013, which saw him crowned VPL Gold Medallist. Has been sidelined with injury of late but on his day can turn the game in the same spirit of great Knights playmakers of yesteryear.
Julius Davies Age: 21 Games: 7 Goals: 0
An enigma of sorts, the Liberian-born winger went from the Western Australia NTC set-up (where he was coached by Kenny Lowe) to the youth set up of Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim. Two failed A-League stints at Victory and Brisbane have followed before a short-lived spell in Romania. Featured for Port Melbourne last season but struggled for consistent form and joined the Knights in this year’s mid-season transfer window.
Anthony Dezic Age: 18 Games: 11 Goals: 0
Diminutive youngster who made his senior debut late on last season before gaining added game time this campaign. Has earned successive starts in recent weeks where his low centre of gravity and technical skill have been on full show. Completed his VCE studies last year at St Monica’s College in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Jason Hicks Age: 26 Games: 22 Goals: 4
English-born fringe Kiwi international who spent two seasons with the Wellington Phoenix under Ernie Merrick, where he memorably scored a couple of stunning goals in separate outings against the Newcastle Jets. He initially joined South Melbourne in pre-season before moving to the Knights ahead of the season and proved to be one of the team’s best performers. Recently trialled in Bulgaria where he rejected a deal with a top tier side in favouring of staying at the Knights.
Luke Jurcic Age: 19 Games: 30 Goals: 1
A versatile midfielder who is capable of playing at full-back, he made his senior debut in 2014 before featuring primarily off the bench last year, where he scored his first and only goal for the club in a penultimate round fixture against Pascoe Vale. His older brother Nicholas also played for the Knights and is currently a first-choice start at North Geelong.
Nikola Jurkovic Age: 18 Games: 19 Goals: 0
Tenacious young midfielder – and also former Knights junior – who made his senior debut as a 16-year-old for North Geelong in 2014 before being a first-choice starter for the Warriors in their first campaign back in the top flight since 1998, but was unable to help the club avoid relegation. Moved to Somers Street last summer where he has already endeared himself to the Knights faithful. Capable of playing at centre back, he has picked up 14 bookings in 19 league games this season.
James McGarry Age: 28 Games: 65 Goals: 10
An abundance of energy and drive from midfield, the Englishman has stepped up following the season-ending injury to compatriot and club stalwart Ben Surey mid-way through the season. Joined Bentleigh in 2011 before dropping down to the second tier where he featured for Bulleen until a mid-season move to his current employers in 2013. A scorer of important goals, he is the side’s defensive midfield lynchpin.
Forwards
Stipo Andrijasevic Age: 22 Games: 59 Goals: 21
Attacking talisman who made his senior debut for Dandenong City aged just 15 in 2009. Was part of Melbourne Heart’s Youth team until a knee reconstruction ended his senior team aspirations. He joined the club mid-way through 2014 and immediately inspired a mid-season resurgence which saw the club win the 2014 Dockerty Cup. Capable of playing anywhere in the front-third, he has assumed the role of captain in Milan Batur’s absence and will trial with the Wellington Phoenix in the coming weeks.
Jacob Colosimo Age: 24 Games: 112 Goals: 29
Versatile attacker who has primarily featured in a lone-forward role this campaign, he made his club debut in 2009 and over the years developed into a key first-team starter. However, a season-ending ACL injury in 2014 appeared to signal the end of his Knights career as he joined Avondale mid-way through last season. Returned this campaign and immediately scored in the opening round of the season.
Caleb Mikulic Age: 18 Games: 11 Goals: 0
One of six teenagers on the senior roster, the out-and-out striker made his senior debut this season after impressing in the 20s. Has primarily been utilised off the bench, from where he is expected to make an impact. Like many of his teammates, he is an avid supporter of Croatian giants Hajduk Split.
Chris Talajic Age: 21 Games: 53 Goals: 7
The son of former Knights full-back Mark Talajic, who started for Croatia in their dramatic 1991 NSL Grand Final penalty shootout defeat to South Melbourne. He made his senior debut in 2012 and immediately made an impression before being curtailed by numerous injuries. Appeared to be back to his best last season before injuries again hampered his 2016, where he has been restricted to just three first-team appearances.
Robert Zadworny Age: 29 Games: 27 Goals: 3
Of Polish descent, he is currently the oldest member of the playing squad. He made his name at North Geelong where he was a long-time servant who helped the club gain promotion from the third and second tier, before joining the Knights mid-season last year. Providing plenty of energy and pace on the flanks, he immediately made an impression at Somers Street – but like many of his teammates, he has been plagued by injury of late.
Manager
Andrew Marth
Legendary club captain who skippered the Knights to two successive NSL Championships in the mid-90s. The former Socceroo was named in the Knights Team of the Century and was appointed manager in 2012. His first three full seasons at the club have seen the club finish second, win a Dockerty Cup, and place fourth last year. He also had playing stints with the likes of Carlton and Green Gully.
Coach: Frank Juric
First-choice goalkeeper during the club’s two NSL triumphs, he joined the newly formed Collingwood Warriors in 1996 before moving to Germany the following season, where he featured for second tier outfit Fortuna Dusseldorf. Later moved to Bayer Leverkusen, where he was primarily utilised as understudy and appeared on the bench in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final loss to Real Madrid. Returned to Australia in 2008, playing for Perth Glory after spending over a decade in Germany.