Image: Mark Avellino
Northcote City have bolstered their squad for the upcoming season with the acquisition of former Richmond captain Peter Sawan to their playing stocks.
The 25 year-old is reunited at John Cain Memorial Reserve with Zeljko Kuzman, who was assistant coach to Rick Mensink at Richmond during the 2015 promotion winning season.
That campaign was undoubtedly the defensive midfielder’s finest as he was crowned club Best and Fairest winner and taking over the captain’s armband following the departure of Tom Cahill.
After making his senior debut for Richmond in July 2009 under Mike Chatzitrifonas, Sawan continued his progress the following year by making nine appearances for the 2010 VPL Premiers.
However injuries disrupted his career in the following three years, with Sawan being restricted to a handful of appearances which included a short-term stint with Heidelberg United in 2012.
He returned to Kevin Bartlett Reserve the following season, and in 2014 returned to full fitness under new coach Mensink which saw him earn greater playing time.
An integral part of Richmond’s Championship winning team the following year, Sawan made 27 appearances over the course of the season, which included 2 goals.
He entered the 2016 season as club captain and appeared in the club’s opening 15 games of the season before not featuring in the back end of the campaign.
Sawan cited the desire to have a consistent season of injury-free football and the chance to work with Kuzman once more as major factors behind his decision to head up Chandler Highway to City.
“Personally, I want to have a season where I show the ability I have as a footballer like I once did”, Sawan said via club press release.
“Having worked with Zeljko at Richmond in 2015 where we won the league, it was an easy move to come across when we spoke.”
“I’m also familiar with the club and its representatives and the reputation the club holds which is a proud one, and one that I want to honour and help redeem,” he added.
Sawan joins Griffin McMaster, Nathan Cook, Baggio Yousif, former Richmond teammate Josh Knight, Milos Ilic, Trent Manicas and Alec Goodwin as new additions at Hercules under Kuzman.
Meanwhile in a further blow to Richmond, promising youngsters Javier Marangos and Kaspar Scheiber have joined Moreland Zebras where they will be reunited with former Richmond assistant coach Fausto de Amicis, who was given the reins at CB Smith Reserve last month.
Full-back Marangos was a revelation in 2016, making his senior debut and appearing in a total of 16 league games in the top flight while fellow teen Scheiber made his breakthrough last term and made three senior appearances under Mensink.
Richmond will also be without Jake Barker-Daish, Bryan Bran and Alex Caniglia for the 2017 season.