Last season: Green Gully added to its silverware when it lifted the Dockerty Cup for the fifth time, but it couldn’t taste success in the Victorian Premier League in a topsy-turvy season. The Cavaliers finished the season strongly to sneak into the top five and qualify for VPL finals, before their campaign was ended with a 1-0 loss to South Melbourne in the elimination final.

NPL 2014 squad: Jem Berkant, Mitchell Bissinger, Ratip Cileli, Cameron Davies, Akim Abdul (GK), Stephen Downes, Brent Fisher, Jeffrey Fleming, Kieran Gonzalez (GK), Sean Harding, Jason Hayne, Daniel Jones, Osagie Ederaro, Matthew Sanders, Shaun Timmins, Andy Vargas (captain), Rodrigo Vargas, Brian Vanega, Ardian Vuniqi

Key signings: Jem Berkant (Green Gully U21s), Ratip Cileli (Green Gully U21s), Cameron Davies (Green Gully U21s), Akim Abdul (Moreland United), Ardian Vuniqi (NTC Boys)

Key departures: Michael O'Farrell (Melbourne Knights), Hamid Basma, Muhamed Chawk, Christopher Dib

The gaffer: After a strong 2013, Jeffrey Fleming has been re-appointed head coach of Green Gully in a player-coach role, and will be assisted by Aaron Symons. Fleming took over from sacked coach Dean Hennessey early last season and will guide an experienced squad which is not too dissimilar from last year’s one.

One to watch: Former Melbourne Victory defender Rodrigo Vargas brings experience and class to Green Gully’s backline. Vargas succumbed to a season-ending knee injury in the penultimate round of the 2013 VPL and his absence was greatly missed, so his return will be massive.

Pictured: Player-coach Jeffrey Fleming (image credit: Mark Avellino)