Coach: Dominic Barba
Home ground: David Barro Stadium, Veneto Club, Bulleen
2015 Season:
League: 1st NPL 1 (automatic promotion, NPL 1 Grand Final runners-up)
Dockerty Cup: Round 4 (2-1 defeat to Richmond)
Club history/overview: Founded in 1974, the Lions were first promoted into the Victorian top flight in 1991 before defeating Fawkner in 1993 VPL Grand Final. They became a mainstay of the league despite several mergers and name changes with the likes of Brunswick, Box Hill and Essendon. They reverted back to the Lions in 2009 having previously fielded no team in 2007 and were a regular fixture in the second tier up until last season, when former Moreland Zebras manager and ex-referee Dominic Barba successfully steered the side towards promotion.
Mathew Leckie is one of the club’s proudest off-springs having made his senior breakthrough with Bulleen in 2008, as is former Socceroos great Mark Bresciano.
Pre-Season: Four wins, two draws and one defeat (17 goals for, 12 against)
- Bulleen Lions 1-1 South Melbourne
- Bulleen Lions 3-1 Sunshine George Cross
- Bulleen Lions 3-3 Dandenong City
- Bulleen Lions 2-1 South Melbourne
- Bulleen Lions 4-1 Richmond
- Bulleen Lions 3-1 Werribee City
- Bulleen Lions 1-4 Kingston City
Last season: 2015 proved to be the Lions’ most successful season in recent memory as they achieved elevation into the top flight at the eighth time of asking under the stewardship of Barba, who took charge after the departure of Fabrizio Soncin. A strong start to the season saw Bulleen top of the West standings after 10 rounds, although a winless run of four games followed which threatened to derail their promotion push.
Nonetheless, a hot run of form saw the Lions only lose one of the next 13 games to clinch top spot on the ladder with a round to go via a memorable 2-0 win over the chasing Ballarat. Despite going down 2-1 to a Tom Cahill-inspired Richmond in the NPL1 Championship decider, the campaign was nothing short of a success in the eyes of everyone involved within the club.
Transfer movement: While the club has not officially gone public with any signings at the time of writing, there is strong speculation linking both Dominic D’Angelo and Anthony Colosimo to a move to David Barro Stadium given both have featured in many of their pre-season outings. Colosimo’s former Knights teammate Shayan Alinejad is another one currently trialling with the club, while former Richmond and Hume City goalkeeper Tom Banfield are rumoured to have signed. Edison Ponari and second-choice shot-stopper Luke Gallo have moved on, while veteran Matt Dimech was forced to retire after breaking his leg.
Players to watch: Last season’s NPL1 Player of the Year Matteo Ballan is one to keep an eye on, with the 26-year-old Italian midfield enforcer being the heartbeat of the team. Youngster Bardhi Hysolli has made tremendous strides in recent years and provides the Lions with plenty of attacking flair and creativity. The evergreen Felix Rosman is still going strong at the ripe old age of 40 and the experience of the former Oakleigh, Port Melbourne and St Albans defender will be pivotal, while former Melbourne City Youth defender Andrew Mullett has experience winning Championships with Dandenong Thunder in 2012 and South Melbourne in 2014 and will look for a strong return to playing action after a nine-week trip overseas.
Japanese import Takanori Nishimoto has prior experience in this league with Heidelberg United and will be one of their main sources for goal. Former South Melbourne and Pascoe Vale custodian Stefaan Sardelic did well following his mid-season move last where he established himself as the number one, while former Whittlesea forward Sami Nour proved to be a revelation following a mid-season move from the Ranges, scoring eight goals in nine starts and has in the past attracted interest from Melbourne City boss John van’t Schip, who invited him for a trial with the A-League side last year.
What to expect in 2016: Judging by certain pre-season performances, Bulleen may be one of the competition’s entertainers this season, although a more pragmatic approach employed by Barba catapulted them to promotion last season. Much will depend on the influence of Ballan in midfield and how other untested players in the top flight rise to meet the standards expected of them.
Barba himself will be out for redemption after being dismissed by Moreland two games into their 2012 VPL campaign and with Monday night football at one of the state’s traditional football venues back in the top flight, the Lions will no doubt be hoping to ride the wave of momentum from last season in their pursuit of establishing themselves in this league and consequently avoiding relegation.