After clinching the NPLM2 title in 2022, Moreland City hopes to make a splash in the NPLM and prove they belong in the top-flight.
In 2023, Moreland City SC makes their return to the NPL Men’s after 75 years dreaming of making a return.
Head coach Adrian Mathers said it has been a “long time coming” for the club to make its return to NPL1.
“We have gone close a couple of times and to finally do it is a great achievement for the club,” he said.
“There is a fair bit of excitement associated with playing at the highest level.”
In 2022, Moreland City finished top of NPL2, one point above fellow promoted side; North Geelong Warriors.
To secure the premiership, Mathers’ side needed to secure back-to-back victories against third-placed Pascoe Vale (2-1) in round 21 and second-placed North Geelong in round 22 (1-0).
“It was a pretty tense end to the season,” Mathers explained.
“Each of the last five to six games was critical and we couldn’t really afford to drop any points because it was so tight there.
“They were as big of games as that I have been a part of in my time as a coach.
“There was a lot of excitement created amongst the club, I think the club handled it really well, it was a great occasion.”
Mathers said the club focused on retention this off-season, with 15 out of the 21 players re-signing from 2022.
"We want to carry the philosophy of rewarding those players who have contributed to getting us to where we are,” he said.
'The fortunate thing from our point of view is we have a pretty young group.
“11 of the 16 that played the last game of the year were 22 or under so we are hoping that we just see that natural improvement from them as they mature and get older and get to their peak as footballers.”
Despite having a talented young core, Moreland City looked to add to its attacking depth in the offseason with Max Bisetto (10th in NPL2) their highest goal scorer with nine goals. (Max has departed to Western United).
“I think that is pretty obvious that we will look to add players to compete, but we don’t have the financial resources that other clubs have,” Mathers said.
“Sometimes it is easier to play when you have that one marksman who can score 15-20 goals a season, but it was interesting because we had goals scored from all over the pitch.
Although losing Bisetto represents a challenge, Moreland City's balance on sharing the load was one of their key strengths in 2022.
“It certainly showed how well we function as a team and from a coach's point of view that is really pleasing.
“We have added to our front three, because of injuries we probably didn’t have a consistent striker, but we had players who were playing a role for us and consistently contributing.
“You are always looking for more goals and having a striker to contribute consistently would be a good thing as well.”
Moreland has signed James Hooper from Runcorn Linnets (England) who will lead the charge for the club up forward. He has League One, League Two, and National League experience.
Jaiden Brown also joins the club from Sunshine Coast Wanderers who will help take control of the backline, while Birhan Elibol (Hume City) who signed in the 2022 mid-season window has also been brought in as defensive cover. Kur Arob (Melbourne City) Chudair Thurgiath (ex-Heidelberg and Bentleigh Greens) and Noah Calamatta (Bentleigh Cobras) round out the new arrivals to the Club.
Mathers said the club needed to evolve heading into pre-season if it intended on sticking around for the long haul.
“I think every club wants to continually improve and bring new things in and it isn’t any different for us,” he said.
“Going up to NPL we need to look at how we train, how often we train and just bringing in initiatives that can bring us to the level we want to be.
“I don’t think we were expected to win the league or be promoted in 2022, but we are here now and we don’t want to be a yo-yo team, we want to be one that can sustain ourselves at the level.”
In 2023, Moreland City wants to be known as a tenacious side that is hard to beat.
“Ultimately for me, it is all about being able to compete, we want to be a team that can compete each week,” Mathers said.
“We have always focused on the things that you can control, whether it is fitness levels and how hard you work
“We want teams to know they are in for a battle each week so hopefully by the end of next season that is what we are known and recognised for.”
OPENING FIXTURES
Round 1: South Melbourne v Moreland City
Round 2: Moreland City v Bentleigh Greens
Round 3: Port Melbourne v Moreland City