Picton Rangers

Last season’s runaway winners of the District League return to the Illawarra Premier League for the first time since 2012. Coach Brett Morley has stayed faithful to his 2015 squad, but has added some fire power with new recruits and the return of some old Picton favourites. The Picton passing game that won them so many plaudits in the District League will need to be at its best if the Rangers are to consolidate their place back in the IPL.

The big advantage for a newly-promoted team is that winning has become a habit. Picton ended 2015 unbeaten at home, with 13 out of 14 wins at Hume Oval. They will need to make their home ground as forbidding in the Premier League as they did last year to give themselves a good chance in 2016.

Players to watch

It will be interesting to see what ex-Port Kembla striker Matt Tesoriero brings to the Picton attack. And a couple of old favourites have returned to the Picton squad for 2016: Nick Mugridge is back after a year away; and they have tempted back their 2008 Golden Boot striker Andrew Borg, who has come out of retirement to give the Premier League another go. They will join last season’s leading scorers from the District League squad: Mitchell Hall, Daniel Goodhew, Dayne Morley and Jack Taseski. But it could be the man with last season’s Golden Gloves Award from the District League, Brad Jones, whose role in 2016 could be even more crucial.

Season expectation

Picton’s pre-season performances suggest they may do OK in their first season back at this level. Ironically, given the breadth of talent up front, it was Picton’s defensive performances that gave them a respectable pre-season Fraternity Cup showing and the team only mustered one goal in three matches. When they take on some of the League’s top teams, with their speed of attack, Picton will need those defensive strengths to come to the fore. That winning habit is important to give a promoted team momentum, though, and Picton’s win in last weekend’s FFA Cup will help kick-start the IPL season.

Prediction:

Picton will struggle against the top teams in the League, but will carve out enough results against mid-table teams and strugglers to keep clear of the bottom spots come September.

By Simon Duffin