There has effectively been an NPL-watch in the A-League throughout the season, with mixed fortunes befalling those plucked from the Victorian top flight.
While the door has been opened to a number of new faces in recent times, it seems Dan Heffernan’s short stint in the national competition is set to come to an end despite not receiving a proper opportunity to prove himself on the pitch.
Central Coast and Melbourne Victory face off against each other tonight having both made additions from the state competition this week.
Alastair Bray and Francesco Stella are named in the Mariners’ extended squad, while Jai Ingham has also been given the green light to feature by Victory management.
Joining from Hume City, Ingham is tipped to see some game time in Geelong, adding to the 22-year-old’s one cap earned while at Brisbane Roar.
With Paul Izzo still out of the squad, Bray is up against 18-year-old Tom Heward-Belle – who also featured in the NPL for Melbourne City – in goals, who played out the side’s 3-1 win against Wellington Pheonix last week.
The former Bentleigh Greens man, who was signed from Green Gully, has the opportunity to finally make his A-League debut after missing out during his time at Melbourne Heart.
Stella, 24, could also see game time for the first time since departing Melbourne Victory in 2014, following stints at Sisaket (Thailand) and Avondale FC.
Disappointingly though, it seems that former Heidelberg man Dan Heffernan is set to leave Gosford.
His rumoured exit is untimely, considering Roy O’Donovan’s eight-week suspension for headbutting opens a vacancy in Central Coast’s forward line.
After playing second fiddle to the Irishman and being prevented from starting in his preferred sole striker role, now would have been an ideal time to test the 28-year-old on the national stage.
Instead, despite being signed by Tony Walmsley and scoring multiple times on trial and during practice and youth games, the 28-year-old was omitted from the match day squad altogether, providing the strongest indication of his impending departure.
It seems a baffling choice on paper given the Mariners’ lack of firepower up front.
O’Donovan was the campaign’s top scorer with four goals. Following his exclusion, winger Fabio Ferreira is next on three – all from the penalty spot – while Mitch Austin has netted twice from midfield.
Equally disappointing has been Tomi Uskok’s tenure since signing in November, coming off the bench in his first game and not featuring on the pitch since then.
The baffling squad selections have further raised questions regarding Central Coast’s list management and appointments in 2015-16, not aiding the embattled club’s cause as uncertainty continues to grow around its short and long-term future in the A-League.