Arthur Papas has worked fast in his bid to improve Green Gully’s standing in the NPL Victoria, bringing in five players, headlined by the signing of keeper Alastair Bray and Port Melbourne forward Nick Krousoratis.
Completing the quintet are Melbourne City defender Tyler James, his teammate Ratip Cileli and Werribee City midfielder Anthony Ragusa.
Bray – a graduate of the Victorian Institute of Sport and NTC program – trades the Green of Bentleigh for that of Gully, having established himself as one of the league’s finest shot stoppers.
The former Melbourne Heart Youth Team member – whose spell was cruelly blighted by injuries – made 20 appearances for FC Bulleen Lions in the 2012 season before moving to the Greens, where he’s made a total of 60 appearances over his three years at the club.
He kept 10 clean sheets in his 25 appearances in 2015, and capped off his season with a maiden premiership in the Victorian top-flight.
Krousouratis started his senior career with Richmond SC, where he played 23 games between 2012-13, before moving to the Sharks the next season.
13 goals in 22 starts (48 appearances overall), including nine this season capped a fine spell of late season form for the young forward.
Ragusa joins Gully from the relegated Werribee City, having made 20 starts from 23 appearances in a difficult season for the club.
Youngster Cileli returns to the club he last played for in 2014, while James adds depth to a Gully defence hoping to maintain a tighter defensive record, having conceded 45 goals in 26 games, the fifth worst defensive record last season.
Green Gully also announced the re-signing of several first team players:
Rodrigo Vargas
Evan Christodoulou
Daniel Jones
Liam Boland
Simon Tolli
Alon Blumgart
Rani Dowisha
Matthew Reid
Tomas Murphy
Matthew Breeze