After a long and hot summer honing their craft, the Goulburn Valley region’s round-ball heroes are only days away from taking to the pitch for the start of the 2023 Bendigo Amateur Soccer League CVL men’s season.
Questions have been tossed around across the past six months as to how teams will fare in this new campaign.
The News’ sports desk has come together to help answer a few of those questions with our in-depth season preview.
Tatura
2022 league finish: Runner-up
Player changes:
In terms of personnel, the Ibises look to have stuck to their guns and chosen to adopt an ‘if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it’ approach in the wake of a cup final victory.
Talent has departed in the form of young midfield cogs Jude Crichton and Gerald Corbo, who’ve left camp to re-join the Goulburn Valley Suns, but Tatura has pinched one back from the club by bringing in bright Suns under-21s prospect Aiden Resul.
Elevating youth to the senior ranks full-time, namely Mason Hamilton and Aaron Niglia, is another angle taken, with the teenage stars set to earn more minutes under new coach Thomas Corso.
Players to watch:
The usual suspects come to mind when thinking of Tatura’s threats: Cody Sellwood, Thomas Leech and the likes.
However, a massive coup for the Ibises is the return of Zac Ferlauto, the side’s golden boot in 2022.
The fiery forward knocked home 21 goals in red last season, with Ferlauto’s re-signing underpinning a revival of the squad’s deep attacking stocks.
Add in youngster Aaron Niglia, who is box office in nature, and Tatura’s forward line seems capable of recreating its 102-goal effort in 2022.
Though Niglia will miss the opening portion of the campaign due to a dislocated knee, his return will surely have Howley Oval in harmony in just over a month’s time.
Coach’s comment:
Thomas Corso: “I definitely don’t feel alone in the role; for years, we’ve all been a leader as such in the team being so young, we sort of need to take charge on our own, we can’t wait for someone to do it for us.
“(Former coach Tristan Zito) has paved the way for me and the team as such, and I’m still getting support from him and other boys around the club on what to do and how to do it.
“The confidence is there (from last year), I think the mentality is the same as it’s always been in the sense that one title isn’t enough, and if we can’t back it up this year, what does that say about us?
“We’re striving to do as good as last season and hopefully perform at our best. But with the strength of the comp this year, it’s going to be a tough campaign to say the least.”
2023 predicted finishing range: 1st-3rd
Will history repeat? Can they go one further? Is a cup defence too much to ask?
All are salient questions directed at the inner chambers of Tatura Soccer Club, following a season sprinkled with all the guts and glory you could shake a stick at.
They went toe to toe with Shepparton South for the majority of 2022, pipping the Southerners at the post after failing to beat their rivals during the regular season.
Coach Tristan Zito has stepped aside to make way for Thomas Corso to take the wheel, and the young mentor is keen to go all guns blazing in his first season in charge.
All things considered, it seems like Tatura is poised to be a title threat once again. Whether they can do it all over will be proven on the park.
Shepparton South
2022 league finish: Champion
Player changes:
South has managed to retain a large chunk of its ‘old guard’, as Joel Aitken, Nathan Radevski and Shaun Kane remain. But as Greg Nash and Craig Carley transition back into the Goulburn Valley Suns matrix, as well as the departure of defensive rock Glenn Murison, it’s no longer the same beast as last year.
That’s not to say the holes left by the outgoing players haven’t been filled.
Add in the injection of former Woking left-back Jake Rumble and ex-Banyule City man Felix Onea, and the new-look South appears to be just as steely in resolve as its 2022 roster.
Players to watch:
Having spent time in the English National League setup, Jake Rumble provides a touch of professionalism to South’s back line. The 19-year-old’s sharp left foot brings a dangerous crossing ability and a wicked strike, creating a different angle of attack for Rob Harmeston to call upon.
Youngster Nick Mori came in leaps and bounds last season, and the rangy midfielder looks poised to have a breakout year in black-and-white. His uncanny knack for beating opponents and slamming home the odd wonder goal will be pivotal throughout the 2023 season.
Coach’s comment:
Rob Harmeston: “It is a long season, we just have to try and maintain that good form for as long as possible.
“(Last year) we won by just focusing week-by-week rather than looking too far ahead. I think that is what got us over the line last year so we will probably be doing the same this year.
“Every game you have to go out there to win — it doesn’t matter if it is Tatura, Strathdale or Eaglehawk. You have to try and win every game, especially if you want to do well in this league.
“You play who is in front of you, it doesn't matter who it is.”
2023 predicted finishing range: 1st-3rd
With last year’s grand final leaving a bitter taste in the mouth, there has to be some degree of payback in the minds and hearts of South.
But coming off an unbeaten league season where they became the first Shepparton-based side to win the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League championship, there’s no doubt the men in black-and-white will hit the ground running with a strut in their step.
Tatura, Eaglehawk and Shepparton United look the most likely candidates to challenge South’s title defence, meaning Rob Harmeston’s ‘one game at a time’ mantra will again be key as the Southerners size up the tough task of backing up an almost flawless season.
Shepparton United
2022 league finish: Fourth
Player changes:
Coach Lewis Coyle has called in the cavalry from his home nation, with an English flavour to United’s face-lifted attack.
Toby Ferguson has returned from the UK to suit up in blue, with the former Shepparton South BASL grand final winner with to be paired up with ex-GV Suns forward Ryan Brooks and fellow newcomer Reece Bickerton.
United’s local nucleus from last season has stayed on, while those not returning in 2023 include Melbourne-based Ben Degraft-Hayford, Daniel Pendovski and Marques Gutterres.
From the outside looking in, the Blues seem to have strengthened in key areas, and should be rippling the net with amplified frequency this season.
Players to watch:
Toby Ferguson’s last season in the BASL was more than five years ago, but boy did he leave his mark. A grand final medal to go along with 17 goals in 20 games should say everything you need to know about the 26-year-old’s class, and all eyes will be on him to see if he can recreate those levels of genius for United.
At the back, a man held in high regard by Lewis Coyle is custodian Goran Petrovski, who the Blues coach has labelled one of, if not the best, goalkeepers in the league.
Coach’s comment:
Lewis Coyle: “The goal is to get them into a certain system that they’re comfortable with. The squad looks good, we look hungry.
“What I’m most surprised about is everyone has taken on board the systems I’ve put in place in pre-season, so I’m really excited to see how we go this season — it’s going to look good.
“They’ll feel the hurt of last year ... and it’s going to push us on to do better this season.
“Looking back on last season we didn’t really have that determination to go get goals, never quit and keep on going which is what I needed this season. The people I’ve brought in (to do that), I’m happy.”
2023 predicted finishing range: 2nd-4th
Undergoing a gigantic overhaul in 2022, the bones of a Blues resurgence have been put in place.
Finding the right balance of home-grown talent and adding layers to it with foreign inclusions is a savvy bit of business by Lewis Coyle, and with a good pre-season beneath its belt United will only get better as time goes by.
The side’s first real challenge arrives early, with Eaglehawk in round one shaping as a litmus test to whether the new bodies who’ve arrived can gel and get things ticking from day dot.
United will have a usual physicality to their game, but pace, flair and an added element of mystique makes Coyle’s charges finals contenders, with a warning stamp attached for opponents to take caution.
Shepparton Soccer Club
A familiar name will return to the Bendigo Amatuer Soccer League in 2023 with Shepparton Soccer Club set to compete in the League 2 men’s competition.
A famous club in the local soccer community, Shepparton last fielded a men’s side in 2019.
Now, after a four-year hiatus, the proud club will return to the pitch with its goal set on one thing in particular: promotion.
Fielding a senior side for the first time since 2019, Shepparton has had to put together a new playing group more or less from scratch.
Club president Stefo Radevski said the playing group would have a good balance out on the park.
“It is a good mixture of youth and experience. I think we have done quite well in bringing in the players we have on board,” he said.
Players to watch:
Omran Al-Hamzah will be one of the pillars down back for Shepparton. A talented defender, Al-Hamzah is good on the ball and can play on both sides of the backline.
Defender and midfielder Koray Aktas has come across from last year’s premiers Tatura, while Irfan Haveric, who trialled with the GV Suns ahead of the season, will also play a key role in the centre of the park.
Striker Hussain Algazali will be the main man up front, with Shepparton hoping the striker will be able to tuck plenty of balls into the back of the net.
President’s comment:
Stefo Radevski: “Our goal will be to win League 2 and get promoted, that is what we are working towards.
“It would have been great to play division one this year, but since we decided not to push ahead in the play-offs, I think sticking with division two was the right thing to do for us this year to get our feet back under us.
“It is fantastic to have a men’s team back up and running. It gives the juniors something to aspire to and it shows the kids that there is a pathway for them.
“We want to get the club back to where it once was.”
Finishing range: 2nd-4th
There is no question that promotion is the goal for Shepparton. However, it will face a tough challenge to accomplish it.
Swan Hill is the powerhouse side of League 2, dominating the division on their way to an undefeated season and grand final win.
Throw in recently relegated sides La Trobe University and Golden City — both of whom will have two teams — as well as the Shepparton Jaguars, and there will be plenty of competition for promotion.
Having said that, all the momentum surrounding the club’s return to the men’s competition should be enough to have Shepparton at the pointy end of the table.
Finishing top might be a stretch, but second place and promotion is certainly on the cards.