Photo: Anita Milas/Just Shoot
Bayside United have made a further three signings ahead of their 2017 NPLW Victoria campaign with Alamein duo Jesse Kotsikas and Amy Malander joining alongside NTC graduate Ash Lefevre.
The trio join Emma Runnalls and Sienna Fogarty as newcomers to the squad, as Graham Dudley begins his preparations for next season.
Malander appeared off the bench for all of her 12 appearances last season, in which she found first team chances limited due to the plethora of attacking options at Alamein FC, which included Matilda Larissa Crummer and new Bayside teammate Emma Runnalls.
“It’s an interesting one. Amy was a little big peripheral at Alamein this year and we’re looking at some opportunities for her,” said Bayside coach Graham Dudley.
“My priority is to improve weaknesses in our game and I think she’s got core ability, it’s just about the opportunity to really have a spot to improve that and let it flow.
“I’m looking to get something out of Amy that she has maybe not had from her football before.”
Having spent her formative years at Ringwood City SC, Malander made the move to Bayswater Strikers in State League One, where she spent two seasons honing her trade.
She made the move to Ashburton in 2011, but had to wait a year to make her WPL debut in 2012, appearing three times off the bench that season.
The striker saw more first team action in 2013 and netted her first league goal in a 2-1 loss to Altona City.
She appeared 17 times under the stewardship of Sinisa Cohadzic in both Ashburton’s embattled 2014 campaign – as they narrowly avoided the drop with a win on the final day – and their improved 2015 campaign, which saw them finish the season in second place.
“There’s a positive culture amongst the group of girls and coaching staff at Bayside, which will play a massive role in the success of the club in 2017,” Malander said.
“Being re-united with some old teammates and part of a new unit is definitely both exciting and refreshing for me.”
Kotsikas made a first team breakthrough at the tender age of 15, where she appeared twice off the bench in the 2010 season under the stewardship of coach Chris Michail.
She enjoyed a breakout season the year after, netting four times in her 19 league appearances, showcasing her ability to find the net from a midfield position.
The midfielder cemented herself as a first-team regular in the WPL and appeared 80 times in total in the Ashburton era, netting 15 times and earning plaudits for her array of passing in a deep-lying playmaker role.
She made a further 21 appearances in her debut season under the Alamein name, but was restricted to appearances off the bench towards the back end of the season, netting once in a 6-0 win over Bulleen Lions.
The Monash University student and three-time Uni games representative for the institution drew praise from her new head coach, who is hoping to utiliser her experience at the top level to aid the progression of some of the youngsters progressing through the ranks.
“On Jessie, it’s another strong defensive minded midfielder who also works as a playmaker,” Dudley said.
“She’s exciting with that sort of distribution and she adds experience to the team. With the team being very young, to bring in that bit of knowledge and motivation is very important.”
Bayside have also added exciting young winger Ash Lefevre to their senior roster for the 2017 season after a consistent season with the Senior NTC.
She representative began her career in the Bayside Region, spending time both at Hampton SC and Brighton SC before making the move to the NTC in 2015.
Lefevre netted five times that campaign, including a memorable hat-trick against Caulfield United Cobras and possesses plenty of raw speed and an eye for goal.
The 17-year-old was selected in the Young Matildas squad to take part in the AFF Women’s Championships in Myanmar earlier this year, where she was called up alongside NTC teammate MelindaJ Barbieri and three other NPLW Victoria representatives.
She is currently training with the Melbourne Victory squad and is expected to remain as a train-on for the upcoming W-League campaign.
“Ash Lefevre has come over from the Senior NTC; a Young Matilda who has some big commitments this season.”
“She has come over to Bayside as well, and it is good for us to have her here.”