After falling agonisingly short of a Victorian Premier League title with Bentleigh Greens last season, 27-year-old Dominic D’Angelo was seeking a fresh challenge.
The opportunity to find something new presented itself in October last year after receiving a phone call from Oakleigh Cannons.
Almost six months later, the versatile defender finds himself preparing to debut in the new look National Premier League Victoria, swapping the green of Bentleigh for the blue of Oakleigh.
“I think I needed a change,” D’Angelo said.
“I was at Bentleigh for two years and you tend to get a little bit comfortable and I don’t think that’s always a good thing.”
D’Angelo outlined that playing under Miron Bleiberg was his largest motivating factor when considering a switch to Jack Edwards Reserve, labelling it an “honour” to be on the radar of the former Brisbane Roar and Gold Coast United boss.
“We came really close last year and you look for new challenges so I think because I got approached by Oakleigh and Miron being an A-League coach, I thought you can’t pass up that opportunity, and its an honour as well being asked by him to come down,” he said.
An aspiring coach himself and currently seeking back to back promotions with his U15s side at Mazenod United, D’Angelo has also found his short time under Bleiberg as an invaluable experience.
“Its been good for me learning off Miron,” he said
“Its helping with my coaching as well so for me so far I think its been a good move to go to Oakleigh.”
While he now seems happy in his new environment, D’Angelo could’ve found himself in a contrasting situation, revealing that a move to Pascoe Vale was all but secured if it weren’t for Oakleigh’s last minute intervention.
All Nations Cup team mate Lucas Santilli first enquired with Pascoe Vale after D’Angelo presented his notion of a new challenge, later striking a verbal agreement with Vitale Ferrante’s men.
“I was playing with Lucas Santilli [at the All Nations Cup] who was at Pascoe Vale and I got to know him really well and I was looking for a new challenge so I asked him what Pascoe Vale was like,” he said.
“He asked for me and put in a good word to the coach and then we had a meeting with the coaches and staff.”
“I had agreed with them verbally.
“I was going to make the move and then Oakleigh smashed them out of the water with their offer.”
As a result, he will be taking the number 23 guernsey and Oakleigh fans can expect to see D’Angelo lining up on the right side of a flat back three, a shift from his more familiar position at right back with Benetligh.
However, with a successful preseason behind him, D’Angelo is relishing the opportunity and new role with the Cannons.
“It is a good environment to be in as a player,” he said
“Its been tough but its been a good preseason and its been managed well.”
Oakleigh will line up against Goulburn Valley Suns FC on Saturday night in Shepparton with kick off at 7.30pm.