Image: Smile for Peter
Some eight years ago, a Bayern Munich side comprising the likes of Miroslav Klose, Luca Toni and Franck Ribery also acquired the services of Mario Gomez and Ivica Olic before the arrival of new coach Louis Van Gaal, who proceeded to sign Arjen Robben before the end of the summer transfer window.
But instead it was a young Thomas Muller, at the time receptive towards a loan or permanent move away for first-team football, who was thrust into the deep end by his coach and started to make an impression in a central role. The rest is history.
In a similar mould, Giuseppe Marafioti arrived at Oakleigh Cannons in 2017 which already possessed a strike force of Bill Fleming medallist Dusan Bosnjak, Dean Piemonte, Goran Zoric, Dimi Hatzimouratis – between them netting half a century of goals in 2016 – and had also re-acquired livewire Nate Foster, who netted 13 times in 2014.
And while Bosnjak leads the scoring charts for Oakleigh with six this campaign, Marafioti has netted three times to sit alongside Zoric and Piemonte and ahead of Hatzimouratis and Foster, slowly breaking his way into the starting 11 and being noted for his finishing ability.
His most recent strike proved to be the winner against Kingston City in a 1-0 win at the Grange, making Oakleigh a serious top-six prospect now after a stuttering start to the season.
“As a team, always in the change room when we step out we want to win the three points. [Kingston] was a battle but we were happy to get the three points,” Marafioti said.
The forward’s addition in Oakleigh’s squad makes sense due to co-coach Con Tangalakis’ connection with City youth coach Joe Palatsides, but his elevation to the first team ahead of some of the high-profile names may not have been so obvious.
However, the young forward credits the experienced players in the squad – some of whom he’s competing against for a spot in the 11 – for fast-tracking his development, admitting he was prepared to wait for his chance upon arriving at Jack Edwards Reserve this campaign.
“I started off knowing last year Oakleigh made the final and they’re a big club. I was approached and thought it was a good enough step in my development. I knew my attitude to work hard would pay off and has come with patience.
“Guys like Pantelidis have had an unbelievable career. It’s evident in training, he always has a word in my ear about positioning. Some of the other players have A-League ambitions of their own and it’s good, we’re always pushing each other.
“I’m learning every session with them [the other attackers] and they’re able to teach me – even if I’m able to observe I learn so much.”
The move out of an A-League system comes with obvious drawbacks and benefits. On one hand a player isn’t in a full-time training environment anymore amongst professional facilities and resources, but on the other they’re forced to learn quick to cope with the pressures of senior football in order to thrive in a competitive environment.
“It was a great experience being in the A-League system, you learn so much day by day. The youth boys produced more and more [quality] every day,” he says.
“I guess [in NPL] it’s the senior experience level of the players. And the NPL setup is growing and it’s a tough level to play.”
Prior to City, Marafioti was involved in the South Melbourne 20s where, despite not breaking into the senior setup, he credits coach Sasa Kolman for playing a big part in his footballing education.
“Sasa was a great coach who helped with my development. I was able to train a couple of times with the first team as well, which was a great experience. It’s a big club so you have to be patient and continue to work hard.”
Now, Giuseppe’s younger brother Giordano features for the same South 20s side that he did – and made a senior appearance against Oakleigh in a Round 6 clash which the Cannons won. The family connection runs deeper with older brother Domenico plying his trade at Werribee, whom Giuseppe played against while at City, while cousin Anthony features for Bendigo City.
The Marafioti surname is one that pops up often in NPL circles, a point of pride for the up-and-coming striker.
“Growing up with a couple brothers it’s good because you can go to the park and have a kick around.
“My older brother, growing up I looked up to him wanted to play beside him, maybe even on the same team one day. My little brother, he’s playing for South, he’s under Sasa now so he’s got a good coach to help him develop. We’re all just trying to get experience and grow as players.”
One opinion Marafioti isn’t drawn into, however, is who is the best in the family.
“We’ll let the critics decide. We’re just happy playing football.”