2022 was so nearly the year for NPLM juggernauts South Melbourne FC. With a strong pre-season and some key signings, can Head Coach Esteban Quintas go one better and bring glory back to Lakeside Stadium?
After topping the table for the entirety of the 2022 season, a collapse in the NPLM Final was a bitter pill to swallow for the South faithful. But despite falling at the final hurdle, the Club had a terrific year on the park and will take plenty of positives into season 2023.
Head Coach Esteban Quintas expressed his happiness with his side’s preparation, which has involved focusing on tweaking last season’s gameplan and introducing the new players into the fold.
“We set out to win last season. We played well but had to change some things during the middle of the year,” he said.
“This pre-season we have worked hard on improving all aspects of our game, in particular improving our performance with the ball. We want to play more fun and creative football.”
Losing NPLM Golden Boot winner Harrison Sawyer prior to the 2022 Finals left a major void in South Melbourne’s frontline, but the Club has been busy in the off-season and on paper appears to have done incredibly well.
Bentleigh Greens trio Ajak Riak, Jack Painter-Andrews and Danny Kim make the switch to Lakeside and each bring distinct qualities into the South side.
“We tried to sign players who bring new qualities into the squad. Danny Kim is a good example, he is a midfielder who is smart on the ball and has very good passing range,” Quintas said.
Riak bagged seven league goals last campaign and showed more than enough potential to suggest he could spearhead South Melbourne’s attack. The young forward will bring a physical presence into the final third that has been sorely missed since Sawyer’s departure.
Another key signing for the Club is Ali Sulemani, who is coming off an excellent season with Dandenong Thunder (6 goals and 5 assists). Sulemani will add some flair and creativity to the South Melbourne mix and has a knack for popping up with important goals.
“We have tried to sign players in the positions that we need most. As I said, we wanted to add players who brought new qualities into the squad. For example, we lost Jai Ingham but brought in Ali Sulemani – both of them are excellent players but have different skill sets,” Quintas added.
With the returning Marcus Schroen, Max Mikkola, Patrick Langlois and Alun Webb, South Melbourne appears stacked with creative talent.
Defender Nathan Hancock also joins the Club after spending time in the UAE. Prior to his move to the Middle East Hancock has impressed with both the Adelaide Raiders and St George (NSW).
A versatile player who can play across the backline, Hancock joins a an established rear-guard which will once again feature the likes of keeper Javi Lopez, centre-back Jake Marshall and club champion Brad Norton.
The targeted recruiting campaign has South Melbourne’s coaching staff to feel confident in the squad depth and more importantly, competition for places heading into season 2023.
“We were the premiers and we need competition for spots. My players know they will have to work hard and train well to play,” Quintas said.
After kicking off last season with a win against the Bergers, Lakeside Stadium will once again be the launchpad for NPLM football in 2023.
South have an intriguing matchup with reigning NPLM2 Champions Moreland City to look forward to, with Quintas saying he has nothing but respect for his opponents ahead of the clash.
“Always when you play a team who has been promoted it is an extremely difficult match. They come in with a winning mentality and have some really good players. Moreland are fast, aggressive and prepared very well by the coaching staff,” he said.
“They have a similar squad to last season so the players know each other very well. It will be a fantastic match!”
OPENING FIXTURES
Round 1: South Melbourne v Moreland City
Round 2: Green Gully v South Melbourne
Round 3: South Melbourne v Melbourne Knights