Image: Green Gully
Green Gully have confirmed former Alex Caniglia as their fourth signing of the off-season, with the winger joining the club from relegated Richmond.
The 25-year-old spent the last 18 months at Kevin Bartlett Reserve, where he was instrumental in helping Rick Mensink’s outfit achieve promotion into the NPL in 2016.
Once there, Caniglia proved to be one of the star performers in a struggling side whose relegation back into the second tier was confirmed following their 4-0 play defeat to North Geelong.
His overall record with Alemannia saw him score 15 goals in 35 league appearances, with his performances in white leading many of the state’s best sides to chase his signature.
A Perth local, Caniglia was part of the Perth Glory Youth team at the turn of the decade which included playing for the first-team in a friendly match against Scottish giants Celtic in 2011.
His playing experience until mid-2015 had seen him feature primarily in the WA NPL with the likes of Bayswater City, Inglewood United and Balcatta.
Caniglia credited Gully’s style of play and the increased quality within the playing ranks as key motivators behind his move to the nine-time state champions.
“I did enjoy the style Gully was playing throughout the 2016 season, loved the team and knew there were a lot of quality players in there already. Coming over to Gully was a very straightforward decision,” he said via press release.
“I know that this is a big club, the facilities around the club and the area are good. For me, going for that top of the table finish is always going to be a goal. I’d like to build on my last season’s performance, I think there’s a lot more I can gain playing with good players around me. Hopefully that can lift me and I can help lift the team as well,” he added.
He joins Sami Nour and Joshua Barresi (both Bulleen), and Jeremy Walker (Hume City) as new arrivals at Green Gully Reserve with the 2016 FFA Cup quarter-finalists looking to challenge for silverware in 2017 under Arthur Papas, who has returned to Melbourne after a short trip to Europe which saw him spent some time at Arsenal, Liverpool and Sparta Rotterdam.