SOCCER FOOTBALL Victoria announced a July start to the 2020 season late last week for all senior and junior competitions. The announcement came a day before the state government withdrew from lifting some pandemic restrictions but as we went to press there was no indication of any change to FV’s restart dates. NPL junior boys are scheduled to return to competition on the weekend of 4/5 July, NPL junior girls, community club juniors and MiniRoos on the weekend of 11/12 July with senior competitions back in action on the weekend of 25/26 July. However doubts over the NPL1 season continue…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
SOCCER LANGWARRIN and Seaford United will participate in the 2020 league season. The last two local clubs to decide their response to the disrupted season have informed Football Victoria of their decision. Langwarrin president Tanya Wallace addressed the senior squad last week before making the decision to play this year. “All of our players returned and have agreed to play so I’m really grateful for the commitment they’ve shown and for wanting to stick by the club in challenging and difficult times,” she said. “I’m really proud of the way everyone throughout the club has reacted to what needed to…
SOCCER FOOTBALL Victoria has put a million dollar proposal on the table to slash fees and entice clubs to participate in the 2020 season. FV’s fee relief package was announced in stages last week starting with NPL1 then NPL2 and NPL3 followed by an offer to State League clubs. The official announcement stated, in part: “The packages are aimed at supporting the safe return of football at all levels and ensuring the viability of our 355 clubs and the game in Victoria more broadly.” As an NPL2 club Langwarrin received confirmation that promotion was still in play but relegation had…
SOCCER FOOTBALL Victoria last week gave clubs the opportunity to decide their short-term future without penalty. The state body announced that there would be promotion this year throughout the leagues but no relegation. FV’s “Guiding principles for the resumption of football in Victoria” was generally well-received and for the most part took an even-handed approach when weighing up the federation’s responsibilities as the game’s watchdog against the responsibilities of member clubs. However, while announcing that clubs choosing not to compete would not face sanctions the principles mandated that all clubs were “subject to the payment of their full, respective 2020…
SOCCER RYAN Paczkowski could be on the verge of a sensational return to Mornington. The move relies on his current club Oakleigh Cannons not playing this season and releasing “Patch” from his contract. NPL1 powerhouse Oakleigh faces two major hurdles standing in the way of competing in 2020. The Greek-backed outfit is closely considering its duty of care to its members and has genuine concerns especially for it older supporters. It also stares into a financial black hole given that its main revenue streams have dried up with little prospect of short-term recovery. There’s no doubt that should “Patch” be…
SOCCER THE combined loss of sponsorship for 12 local clubs fielding senior teams under the Football Victoria banner will top $260,000 this year. Langwarrin, Mornington, Peninsula Strikers, Skye United, Frankston Pines, Baxter, Seaford United, Somerville Eagles, Rosebud, Aspendale Stingrays and Mount Martha have lost sponsors in droves due to the economic impact of the coronavirus shutdown. Chelsea is the only local club not to suffer through lost sponsorship while many clubs have offered carryover deals for the 2021 season. The total represents the largest ever financial hit to the local game. Each club was contacted last week and provided a…
SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines has signed off on a $3.9 million revamp of Monterey Reserve with work to start next February. The State 3 outfit is also eyeing a deal with Melbourne Victory as part of an ambitious expansion plan that could return the club to former glory. Pines has been keen to redevelop a junior program that waned and eventually shut down around 12 years ago. Enter A-League heavyweight Victory with an offer of free weekly clinics for local primary school children. It was too good to refuse and was quickly accepted by Pines president Lee Davies. “I think it’s…
SOCCER FOOTBALL Victoria hopes to get the green light to announce a resumption of training this month with the aim of starting the league season in June. In April Football Federation Australia extended the suspension of all soccer activities until 31 May but that looks likely to be lifted. Last week Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that national cabinet had endorsed the “National Principles for Resumption of Sport and Recreation Activities” developed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and the “Framework for Rebooting Sport in a Covid-19 Environment” developed by the Australian Institute of Sport. The AIS document sets…
SOCCER FOOTBALL Victoria may soon announce a July start to the 2020 season. Last week Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal government wanted to get Australians back into recreational sport “as soon as we can” and the national cabinet of state and territory leaders agreed to develop principles for sport and recreation to get consistency across the country. FV and Football Federation Australia would have to sign off on a series of bio-security measures and how they would be monitored but it increasingly looks like training could resume in June with a 22-game season starting in the first weekend…
SOCCER FRANKSTON council looks certain to approve a $1.43 million makeover of Monterey Reserve in next financial year’s budget. This was one of the major capital works projects announced last week in a proposed annual budget posted on the council’s website and inviting community feedback. It’s no secret that Monterey Reserve tenant Frankston Pines and council had been at loggerheads for some time over long-standing plans for a major makeover with the club strongly opposed to important aspects of the project. For reasons the club could never understand the original plans had public toilets at the entrance to the new…
SOCCER MICHAEL Woodward is one of the “invisible men” of local soccer. There are committee members at some clubs who have never heard of him but that’s more a reflection of how football is structured in Victoria than of the man himself. In a wide-ranging interview Football Victoria’s southern zone representative has chosen to share his personal views on the sports’ governance, clubs’ focus on their senior teams, the high cost of player fees especially at NPL junior level and what the prospects are for restarting the 2020 season. Woodward, 59, has a son and daughter that both played soccer…
SOCCER A FOOTBALL Victoria statement issued last week has been met with disbelief and derision by local clubs. At a time when all competition and training is suspended at least until 14 April the state federation has said player registration costs and other fees and charges will continue to be levied. In part the statement said: “Clubs remain obliged to pay any competition administration or registration fee, zone/association fee (if applicable), member federation fee and FFA’s national registration fee (governing body costs) out of the registration fees they collect per participant.” Langwarrin, Mornington and Strikers are the only local clubs…
SOCCER MORNINGTON import Josh Heaton cost Scottish Premier League club St Mirren £75,000 in June 2018. The then 21-year-old became the most expensive signing in 25 years for the Buddies but the following year he joined Darlington on a free. “A lot of it comes down to the manager really and sometimes it just happens that way,” Heaton said. The young central defender is among thousands of players in Britain subject to the vagaries of the professional game and a look at his CV highlights the circuitous route he has taken to arrive at Dallas Brooks Park. Heaton is from…
SOCCER MORNINGTON team manager Tony McKay died early on Sunday morning at the Alfred Hospital. He had collapsed a week earlier prior to a practice match at Dallas Brooks Park against Caroline Springs George Cross which was abandoned. Originally from Manchester in England the 77-year-old has been a much-loved figure at Mornington for decades. Other local clubs have used social media to show their support for Mornington and the McKay family during this difficult time. Mornington’s facebook page summed up the depth of feeling for McKay with these words: “Tony was a pillar of our club and touched the lives…
SOCCER SEAFORD United was the only local club to survive last weekend’s round of FFA Cup matches. The draw for the next round was due to be conducted today (Tuesday) as we went to press. Langwarrin, Mornington, Peninsula Strikers and Skye United all entered this week’s draw so just five local clubs out of 12 who contested Australia’s premier knockout competition in 2020 remain in the hunt for glory. Harry McCartney reports that Seaford had to endure a nerve-racking penalty shootout against visitor Brunswick Zebras on Saturday. The local outfit won that showdown 7-6 after the sides were locked together…
SOCCER SEAFORD United and Chelsea were the only local clubs to survive last weekend’s round of FFA Cup matches. Chelsea defeated Laverton 5-3 on penalties after the sides were locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes. Chelsea’s goal came from last year’s club top scorer Tom Woods seconds before the end of normal time. At North Seaford Reserve on Sunday the home side triumphed 3-0 over Albert Park in a match highlighted by the sending off of Albert Park’s Kyle Maclean in the 22nd minute, a twice saved penalty in the second half by Seaford keeper Justin Holland and the appearance…
SOCCER THE wait is finally over. Four Fijian internationals fly in to Melbourne today (Tuesday) to play for Frankston Pines. Last week the Monterey Reserve outfit received news that visa applications for the quartet had been approved and flights were promptly organised. The recruits are 20-year-old midfielder Savenaca Baledrokadroka, 19-year-old goalkeeper Asaeli Batikasa, 20-year-old defender Peni Tuigulagula and 20-year-old striker Tito Vodowaqa. Baledrokadroka captains Fiji’s under-23s and has also made seven full international appearances for the national team. Pines gaffer Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor has seen Tuigulagula and Vodowaqa in action at the Pacific Cup in New Zealand last year and…
SOCCER ROSEBUD agreed terms with Mark Pagliarulo last week breaking up the most prolific strike partnership in local ranks. Pagliarulo and goalscoring legend Dave Greening powered Somerville Eagles to the State 5 South championship last season but the dynamic duo are no more. Between them they nabbed 49 goals in 2019 as Somerville cruised to the title with a nine-point margin. Both fielded a number of offers recently with Greening deciding to remain at Somerville while “Pags” has flown the nest. Before settling on the switch to Olympic Park the big Scot turned down a lucrative offer to sign for…
SOCCER PLAYER-coach Matty Morris-Thomas believes that Seaford United can challenge for the State 4 South championship this season. He already has agreed terms with experienced midfielder Scott Webster and fellow veteran Shane Tagliaferro has trained and played in a practice match for the local club but Morris-Thomas has four more player targets in his sights and wants to move on them immediately. “Yeah we know who we want and if you come down to training next Thursday you might even see them there but we won’t make any announcements until they’re over the line,” Morris-Thomas said. “Look we had a…
SOCCER LANGWARRIN’S Wallace Cup breakthrough and some major signings by local clubs stole the spotlight last weekend. Langy’s cup success was eight years in the making as the annual event named in honour of the club’s former president had never graced the trophy cabinet at Lawton Park. It does now thanks to penalty shootouts in the semis and final. Langy prevailed in the first semi against State 4 outfit Seaford United but not before its less fancied opponent made life tough for the NPL2 club. Langy triallist keeper James Burgess from Springvale White Eagles saved penalty attempts from Tristan Stass…
SOCCER THERE is increasing doubt about goalscoring legend David Greening remaining at Somerville Eagles. The veteran marksman was due to arrive back in Melbourne from an overseas holiday as we went to press and has declared his unhappiness with what he claims are mixed messages emanating from his club. Two weeks ago new senior coach Billy Rae said that he would like Greening to be a playing assistant coach but that role has also been offered to fellow striker Mark Pagliarulo. “The mixed messages I’ve heard coming out of the club are a worry with different guys being offered the…
SOCCER VETERAN Somerville Eagles striker Mark Pagliarulo and goalkeeper Robbie Acs have clubs clamouring for their services. “Pags” met with Somerville president Luke Mulder, vice president Craig Bozelle and director of football Zach Peddersen on Sunday having previously spoken with new senior coach Billy Rae. It’s understood that the club is keen for him to take on a role as a playing assistant coach. His strike partner David Greening is on an overseas holiday but it’s believed that he too has attracted the attention of other clubs. “Pags” will be a busy man as he was due to meet with…
SOCCER LUCAS Portelli signed with NPL heavyweight Oakleigh Cannons last weekend while Fraser Maclaren could return to former club Beaumaris. Ex-Melbourne City teenager Portelli agreed terms in October for a second season with Langy but attracted the interest of Cannons and played against Melbourne Victory in a practice match on Saturday. Oakleigh won 4-0 and Portelli had a 30-minute hitout. “He’s come under my radar quite a while ago and I wanted to know what the boy was like so we had a meeting with him and his dad and invited him down to a training session,” Cannons boss Chris…
SOCCER SAM Orritt’s trial with Langwarrin ended with a visit to Frankston Hospital last weekend and x-rays confirmed that he’d broken his collarbone. He’d lined up against Melbourne Victory at Lawton Park on Saturday in a friendly that was to play a part in determining whether he would be offered a place in the senior squad. Just 20 minutes later he was given a support bandage for his injured right shoulder and assisted from the arena before Langy president Tanya Wallace drove him to hospital. Orritt will decide shortly whether to pursue a surgical option but it seems likely that…
SOCCER THE fate of Langwarrin triallists Sammy Orritt from Mornington and Jordon “Kaka” Avraham from Peninsula Strikers will be decided after Saturday’s clash with Melbourne Victory. Langy gaffer Scott Miller wants to see how they perform against the third-tier NPL outfit in a friendly that kicks off at 11am at Lawton Park. Another triallist, Strikers forward John Prescott, flew back to England last weekend and won’t return until next month but Miller will make a call on all three after the Victory game. Should he want to sign them it then becomes a matter of agreeing terms. It emerged last…
SOCCER FIVE Fijian internationals could be joining Frankston Pines next season. Pines recently announced a partnership with the Victorian Multicultural Sports Association, a Fijian community group, and VMSA president Victor Kumar was quoted in a recent Fiji Times story announcing that the five players would be heading to Monterey Reserve. Kumar was elected vice-president of Pines at the club’s recent week’s AGM. The players are Ba midfielder Kishan Sami, Nasinu goalkeeper Alzaar Alam, Nasinu midfielder Savenaca Baledrokadroka, Lautoka central defender Muni Shivam Naidu and Nadi striker Tito Vodowaqa. They have all represented Fiji at under-19 and under-23 levels and the…
SOCCER NEWLY promoted Somerville Eagles has been rocked by the resignations of senior coach Scott Morrison, assistant Stan Packer and goalkeeping coach Stuart Mitchell. All three resigned last week due to a difference of opinion with director of football Zach Peddersen over Somerville’s refusal to participate in the 2020 Steve Wallace Memorial Cup. The tournament commemorates the late Langwarrin president who was an icon of the sport in the local area. Peddersen claimed that his club had previously been snubbed by Wallace Cup organisers. “We have never been invited in years and the committee has never received any information or…
SOCCER THANK goodness Lisa Jones likes soccer. Her husband has been immersed in the sport since childhood, their two sons are following in their father’s footsteps, their oldest daughter already has played for Victoria and the matriarch of the family is a team manager at one of this state’s elite women’s clubs. Then there is Mia, the youngest Jones sibling. She doesn’t play soccer. Writing and acting are her passions and like her brothers and sister she is talented in her chosen pursuits. It should come as no surprise that the soccer-playing Jones’ children excel at sport. They were genetically…
SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines is on the verge of the biggest off-field restructure in the club’s history as it closes in on a partnership agreement with the Victorian Multicultural Sports Association. The VMSA is a Fijian community group and hopes to base itself at Monterey Reserve and hold tournaments and functions there on a regular basis. Last week members of the VMSA executive met with Nick Hatzoglou, Football Victoria’s Head of Community Projects and the state federation has given the green light for the partnership to go ahead. “The CEO of Football Victoria (Peter Filopoulos) is aware of our plans and…
SOCCER ANDY Stubley, Keegan Guy and Matt Harrington are wanted men and Mornington is leading the chase to sign them. Stubley and Guy meet with Mornington boss Adam Jamieson this week and are part of an ambitious plan which the progressive State 1 club hopes will take it into the NPL. “Andy is a flying machine who works really hard at both ends of the ground and can go past players like they’re not there so I think he’ll complement us in the way I want us to set up but obviously I need to sign him first,” Jamieson said.…