D’Alessandro and Chavez ready for battle
When the respective captains for St George and Mounties Wanderers lead their teams out on Sunday, there could hardly be a starker difference in their styles of leadership.
The Mounties’ Mark D’Alessandro, in central defence, is a tower of strength and has played a strong vocal captain’s game especially in recent weeks. The late loss to a nine-man Macarthur Rams in the opening game of the finals series hit the Mounties hard, and it is clear since that they didn’t intend to let that sort of lapse occur again.
D’Alessandro has played a key role in ensuring that concentration levels have been maintained, driving his team onwards, particularly as the games have drawn to a close. The single goal victory against Fraser Park, and the close re-match against the Rams last Saturday, had the potential for late equalisers. But the Mounties remained strong, in no small part to the influence of their captain.
Glen Lockhart, part of the coaching tandem at Mounties, has no doubt about D’Alessandro’s importance.
“He is without doubt one of the best leaders that I’ve been involved in”, he explained. “Della never gives up and he drives the guys in such a positive way. He really is a vital cog in our machine”.
“He is simply one of those players that are essential to any team, and appreciated by both the senior and junior teams alike”.
D’Alessandro’s influence extends to the training ground too.
“Della likes to lead the warm ups, and it shows that he has a real love for the game. You can tell by the way he trains, along with other players like Daniel McCann, that he doesn’t take shortcuts”.
D’Alessandro has had a storied state league career, taking in clubs such as Blacktown City, Canterbury Marrickville, Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Marconi and FC Bossy. Lesser lights such Western Rage and the now defunct AC United helped fill the winter gaps, back when the Premier League was a summer competition.
A Grand Final win on Sunday, for the Mounties, would surely be an experience up there with the best.
D’Alessandro’s counterpart at St George, striker Juan Chavez, has a totally different leadership style. More quietly spoken than D’Alessandro, his deeds are no less impressive. Having arrived at St George for the first time in 2009, brought to the club by then coach Nick Orlic, Chavez kicked off his Saints career in fine style, with four goals on debut. Chavez could hardly stop scoring that season, ending up with the Super League Golden Boot with a remarkable twenty five league goals. A brief stint in the Premier League with Bonnyrigg White Eagles, hindered by injury, did not work out as planned, with Chavez returning to St George midway through 2010. After a year at Spirit FC in 2011, Chavez returned to St George Stadium in 2012 and the goals have continued to flow.
Chavez’s goal scoring record at St George can hardly be bettered. 53 goals in all competitions in just over 70 matches show just how prolific the marksman has been, a tally not lost on coach Manny Spanoudakis.
“Chavez is in the prime of his career and his goals record is a clear indication of that. He missed a few games for us this year, being away and with injuries, so he only played around 17 or 18 times. Yet he scored 17 in the league, a goal a game average. He is in that sweet spot as a striker now”.
“As for being captain, I chose him because he has all the attributes of a leader. He brings with him a wealth of football intellect and maturity and I was looking to leverage off that. He has helped a young team, and along with our vice-captain Michael Smith, he has been a great leader on the field, courtesy of his actions”.
Again, like D’Alessandro, Chavez also showed influence off the pitch.
“I sat down with Chavez last October and we mapped out a plan”, Spanoudakis continued. “He was a part of the conversation right from the start and we needed his support. And he delivered that to a ‘T’.”
Two captains but with two distinct styles both hoping that they will be holding aloft the Championship trophy come Sunday evening.
-By Peter Rowney
