Season preview: Port Melbourne
2013 finish: Port Melbourne returned to the top flight last season for the first time in 10 years and was unlucky to just miss out on Victorian Premier League (VPL) finals, finishing sixth overall in an impressive season.
NPL 2014 squad: Luka Prelevic, Lisandro Paz, Andrew Milicevic, Nick Krousouratis, James Riccobene, Connor Redden, Kamal Ibrahim, Amadu Koroma, Andrew Viola, Kosta Stoumpus, Nick Tzoulis, John Lazaridis, Alessandro Venezia, Phillip Riccobene (captain), Chris Grossman (vice-captain), Adam Hrehoresin (GK), Kevin Braniff, Lambros Honos
Key signings: Kevin Braniff, Nick Tzoulis (Northcote City), Andrew Viola (Southern Stars)
Key departures: Marty Mason (St Albans Saints), Daniel Visevic (Melbourne Knights), Jake Nakic (Dandenong Thunde), Graham Hockless, Luke Bowen, Felix Rosman
The gaffer: Eric Vassiliadis was part of the Heidelberg United team that won the 2001 VPL, before moving into coaching in 2010 at Port Melbourne. Vassiliadis’s record since taking over at Port Melbourne has been outstanding, guiding the club from State League 2 to the VPL and leading it to a second-placed finish in the 2012 Dockerty Cup. This year he has started his AFC/FFA A Licence.
One to watch: Attacking midfielder/striker Kevin Braniff is one of Port Melbourne’s new NPL recruits. He started his career with Millwall but made a name for himself in his native country Northern Ireland with Portadown. Braniff has been capped for the Northern Ireland national team and will bring class and experience to a Port Melbourne side which is quickly improving each year.
Image credit: Anita Milas
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