Dandenong City have commenced preparations for the upcoming NPL campaign with the confirmation of four new signings and a host of key re-signings from the 2015 playing squad.
Youngster David Morovic, former Richmond utility Mate Eterovic, midfielder Anthony Cassar and defender Luke Burgess are new arrivals to Frank Holohan Soccer Complex.
Morovic made his senior breakthrough with Nunawading City last season, where the 19-year-old midfielder scored twice over the course of the season in the youthful side’s first campaign in the NPL.
The skillful left footer had spent the majority of junior years at Bulleen Lions, featured for their Under 20s in 2014 before moving to Mahoneys Reserve in 2015.
Eterovic links with City having recently been part of Richmond’s promotion winning squad, although injuries restricted the 23-year-old to just five senior appearances.
He made his senior debut at Kevin Bartlett Reserve in 2010, making a total of 59 appearances and scoring three goals before spending 2014 with South Springvale prior to his return to Richmond.
Midfielder Anthony Cassar joins Aaron Healey’s squad after spending 2015 with Sunshine George Cross, where the 22-year-old finished as the club’s second top scorer with five goals for the season.
South African-born English defender Luke Burgess is another new addition at City, having spent the last season playing in State League 1 with Noble Park United.
After featuring for Southern Stars in 2013, Burgess featured for South Springvale in 2014, where he was a part of the club’s remarkable run to the Dockerty Cup final and FFA Cup Round of 16.
The club known as Hajduk has also welcomed back a strong contingent of the 2015 senior roster, including captain John Carroll, the long-serving Dario Matkovic, pacy winger Keegan Ziada, experienced custodian Damir Salcin and former Joey Andy Jerez.
Last year’s top goalscorer Ashley Cattermole, box-to-box midfielder Shaun Filipovic, mid-season signings Chris Antoniadis (Sunshine George Cross) and Erkan Filiz (Noble Park United), and emerging right-back Brad Clarke have also re-committed for the upcoming season.
Goalkeeper Majak Mawith, 16, has been promoted into the senior squad having trained with Melbourne Victory’s youth team of late, and will be the back-up to former Melbourne Knights shot-stopper Salcin.
“The squad is taking shape and we expect to pretty much finalise the squad in coming weeks,” a Dandenong City spokesperson told TCF.
“Even with a few spots left, we feel we’ve already added depth from last season by adding younger players who’ve got first-team experience.”
City will be looking to improve on an encouraging third place finish in the 2015 NPL1 East standings with Healey’s side visiting Murray United on February 20 in their season opener.
Feature Image: Graeme Furlong