NSW Premier League 2010 Year in Review
Blacktown City FC returned to finals football and didn?t disappoint their supporters with a fantastic finals series campaign to seal the Championship while Bonnyrigg White Eagles ended with the Premiership.
403 goals were scored this season, with the Premier League sides unearthing some very fine talent for the years to come in this competition, and for the future of football in this country.
Just some names of youngsters that have caught our attention this season ? Joel Chianese confirmed his fine progress following a defining 2009 at Blacktown City. Travis Major, also of Blacktown City, another fine prospect with a big future ahead of him. Marconi?s youngsters Giorgio Speranza and Mitchell Mallia lifted the bar, as did West Sydney Berries goalkeeper ? despite joining the first team late in the season ? Nestor Tsioutsas.
We?ve seen goals galore, and some very nicely taken ones indeed, right through to Tolgay Ozbey?s winning penalty in the grand-final.
Let?s have a closer look at the twelve NSW Premier League teams for 2010.
Blacktown City FC
Blacktown City FC capped off a phenomenal season with their victorious grand-final showing to capture the 2010 Championship.
Tipped by many as a dark horse for 2010 at the official season launch, Blacktown City took a step back in time as Aytek Genc returned to the helm, along with a number of experienced campaigners including Tolgay Ozbey, Luke Roodenburg and Mirko Jurlj. The mix of experience and the introduction of the likes of Joel Chianese, Travis Major and Bernie Ibini, the side went from strength to strength. Aytek Genc?s men in fact did not once fall outside of the top-five all season. A slight slump in-terms of results towards the latter part of the season did raise some question marks over the side?s title aspirations, though a fine effort to see off Sydney United in the major semi-final acted as the springboard to a double success against Premiers Bonnyrigg White Eagles. The all important grand-final triumph at Parramatta Stadium confirmed Blacktown City FC as the champions for 2010.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles
A fine campaign for Bonnyrigg White Eagles needed only a grand-final triumph to label it tremendous, though the club and supporters alike can certainly be pleased with the progress made by the team. In only their second season back in the top flight, the White Eagles grouped a very impressive list of players having bought the the likes of Brad Boardman, Shane Webb, Daniel Severino, Jamie McMaster, Phillip Zabaks and Wade Oostendorp leading the charge. The White Eagles figured in the top part of the table for the entire season and rightfully so clinched the Premiership following the twenty-two round competition. The side did lose their way in the finals series with a very heavy 4-0 defeat against Blacktown City FC in the Major semi-final, a huge blow to counter as Bonnyrigg fell again to the same side in the grand-final 1-0.
Stand out performances from Nathan Elasi, Chris Tadrosse and attacking players Boardman and McMaster led Brian Brown?s charge, meanwhile Daniel Severino?s exceptional dead-ball deliveries and sweet left peg have certainly left many memories in the minds of supporters and the general on-looker.
Despite the grand-final setback, the side boasts much fight about it, and will certainly be an even bigger force in 2011.
Sydney United
The Reds from Edendsor Park did have a topsy-turvy sort of campaign, with a real inconsistent run of results making their charge to the finals series a tad more difficult.
Player/coach David Zdrilic had helping hand of experienced players Joe Vrkic, Peter Zorbas, Ivo Bosnar, Todd Brodie and Damon Collina to assist with his introduction to coaching, and on their day, with the likes of Luka Glavas, Elsid Barkhousir and new talents Ante Tomic and Tomislav Cirjak, the Reds were quite simply brilliant.
A run of poor results throughout the campaign against the so called ?lesser? teams did complicate the side?s progression towards the finals, though the side managed to seal third spot and attempt to improve on their finish last season in the playoffs. Against Blacktown City FC, where their opponent had nine players for the entire extra-time period, the Reds failed to put Blacktown City away and eventually lost out via the dreaded penalty shoot-out. Sydney United?s disastrous run of results against Bonnyrigg White Eagles continued in the finals, and a 3-1 loss ended any hope of the side reaching the grand-final they so desperately desired after last season?s failure at the same stage.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers
With Bonnyrigg White Eagles performing consistently over the twenty-two rounds of the competition, the side rightfully so clinched the Premiership. However, had A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers clicked prior to their coming of age in Round 8, the team from Leichhardt may well have had some silverware in 2010.
The Tigers collected eleven wins, two draws and one loss from Round 8, including the scalps of Blacktown City FC and Sydney United along the way.
Following the departure of Luke McGuire, the side was entrusted to Billy McColl and the guidance of Tony Raciti for the remainder of the campaign. Captain Franco Parisi inspired his teammates on the field, and with the likes of Nick Rizzo and Robbie Younis pulling the strings alongside their captain, the Tigers were arguably the best side in the second-half of the season.
An additional shining light from the Tigers campaign was the signing of Hirofuni Moriyasu, who brought a new flavour to the club, and competition, with his fine abilities on the ball. The Tigers, unfortunately, had to see out the end of the season without Moriyasu?s services, following the Japanese import?s signing with A-League champions Sydney FC. A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt?s campaign came to an end against Sydney United, following the elimination of Marconi Stallions one-week earlier. The Reds scored two extra-time goals at Edensor Park to end the Tigers? fairytale run in 2010.
Marconi Stallions
The Stallions finished runner-up to Sutherland Sharks in 2009, and were hoping to go one step better in 2010. Unfortunately for Marconi, their pre-season was thrown into tatters following the failed arrival of two new African imports. Despite the setback, coach Lee Sterrey soldiered on, opening up an opportunity for his younger players to take a starring role in the group. Talents such as Nathan Jagelman, Giorgio Speranza and Mitchell Mallia to name a few, certainly did take their chance, fitting into the setup with complete ease and offering performances well beyond their young years.
The Stallions held top-spot on the League ladder after thirteen rounds, before sharing the head of the table for two weeks with Bonnyrigg White Eagles. A run of inconsistent results though saw the side sweat out their fate through until the final round of the season, where the Bossley Park outfit secured fifth-spot.
The side?s bumpy run into the finals-series proved a little too much to overcome against stern rival A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers in the Elimination semi-final – the Tigers prevailing with a 1-0 victory.
Sutherland Sharks
The 2009 Premiers Sutherland Sharks had a mammoth task ahead of them, attempting to re-live the magical moments of 2009 where the side sealed victory in the grand-final against Marconi Stallions, and season 2010 proved to be beyond them. Without stars such as Brad Boardman, Panni Nikas and Matthew Hall ? each player leaving the club at the end of 2009 season, Robbie Stanton?s task at hand was always going to be difficult.
Following a slow-start the Sharks remained on track for a final assault on fifth-spot, though ultimately the Round 17 loss against A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers proved to be the side?s undoing, resulting in the Sharks closing out the twenty-two round competition in sixth-spot.
Plusses for the side have been the introduction of some new talent to the squad, including starts for the likes of Yianni Fragogiannis, Brendan McLean, Misha Hardwick and Huseyin Jasli, alongside experienced campaigners Neil Jablonski, Jim Bakis and the Sharks? 2010 Player of the Year Nick Stavroulakis.
Rockdale City Suns
The newly promoted Suns performed well-and-truly beyond expectation in 2010. With the touch of experienced boss Mile Todorovski, the Suns frustrated all adversaries with some very well organised performances.
Rockdale City made the record books with twelve draws and four losses from their twenty-two matches, illustrating the side?s defensive capabilities even against the more fancied sides.
Todorovski was assisted greatly by his more experienced players ? led remarkably well by captain Peter Apolevski and the likes of Marino Musumeci and Paul Dee.
The seventh-placed finish was certainly more than many expected of this side, keeping in mind Sutherland Sharks 3-1 final round defeat of the Suns saw the Rockdale outfit miss out on sixth-spot.
Signs are certainly bright for the Suns future with a number of young players coming through the ranks.
Bankstown City
Always one of the favourites for the title, Bankstown City fell well short of expectation in 2010 with a disappointing eighth-spot on the League ladder. Player/coach Peter Tsekenis had a horrid time balancing a long list of injuries and suspensions throughout the campaign, as the side failed to consistently put consecutive results together.
Any real hopes of reaching the finals series were pretty much dashed in the 2-2 draw away at Marconi Stallions in Round 18, signalling a failed campaign for the Lions.
2010 also signalled the end for the playing career of former Olyroo Peter Tsekenis. The Lions player/coach, who was dogged by injury in 2010, called it an end on his playing career, switching his attentions now completely to coaching.
Manly United FC
Manly United FC won two out of their last three matches to move to a much more respective ninth-spot on the League ladder after spending most of the season languishing further down the table. Faced with much expectation of repeating the efforts of recent seasons where the side consistently figured amongst the top-five, the Cromer Park side were up against it from the opening round. Injuries to Robbie Cattanach and Craig Midgley over the opening part of the season did little for the side to find their rhythm, as the side struggled to find continuity.
Boss Phil Moss capped off his fine achievements with the club in recent years with a call-up to assist Graham Arnold on the Central Coast Mariners bench. The vacated seat was left for Craig Midgley, who played the part of both player and coach, bringing some renewed enthusiasm to close the season off with some important wins to lift the side from the bottom placings on the ladder.
South Coast Wolves
The Wolves, along with Rockdale City Suns, were another side tipped to struggle in 2010, though Trevor Morgan?s group certainly did surprise the League. Despite finishing in tenth-spot, the Wolves played some exceptional football, capturing some big scalps along the way. A relatively inexperienced side, the likes of Lisandro Berbis and Jason Trifiro were brought in to add some Premier League experience, and the side certainly did give a good account of themselves. Morgan was without Samet Kaynak for the majority of the season ? the speedy striker returning for the closing stages of the regular season with some impressive performances and goals. The biggest coup for the Wolves in 2010 was certainly the fine achievements of striker Mark Picciolini who led the reigns for South Coast Wolves in the attacking third. Should the club retain the services of all their players for 2011, the Wolves certainly pose a threat in the NSW Premier League.
Sydney Olympic
The former NSL giant had a forgettable campaign, finishing eleventh on the League ladder, a far cry from the side?s glory days back in the NSL. Much expectation surrounds Sydney Olympic with each season, though Pat Marando?s troops failed to launch in an average campaign before Steve O?Connor took over the reigns as boss in the latter part of the season. Matthew Mayora and James Monie?s best efforts in attack failed to score enough goals to keep the Blues challenging, meanwhile Zaim Zanelli didn?t have the best cover in-front of him with some leaky defensive activity not assisting the situation.
Many positives did come out with the return of Nik Tsattalios and Dimitri Petratos to the setup, both players giving the Sydney Olympic supporters something to cheer about.
West Sydney Berries
West Sydney Berries campaign ended in the worst possible manner with the side finishing in bottom-spot on the League ladder. Tipped by many as a potential outsider for finals football following the side?s exceptional run under John Calleja over the past two seasons, the Berries never got going from day one. A season ending injury to captain Archie Kotsopoulos disrupted the side, meanwhile a long list of injuries and suspensions throughout the campaign failed to ignite any form of momentum. Calleja?s departure brought about a new atmosphere with Steve Karavatakis taking charge of the first team, though despite some positive performances, including a dominant display against Bonnyrigg White Eagles where the Berries were denied victory with an injury-time equaliser in Round 11, the side was well under par for 2010.
-By Joseph Carlucci