Image: Smile for Peter
2016 proved to be a big year for Geelong SC, achieving promotion to State League One after claiming the State League 2 North-West Championship ahead of the Essendon Royals, who also join them in the third tier in 2017.
With pre-season about to commence, the club has showed no respite despite the loss of Championship manager Steve Laurie as well as several key members of the 2016 squad.
Replacing Laurie at Stead Park is former Bulleen Lions manager Fabrizio Soncin, who heads down the Princess Freeway having spent this year as first-team coach at Avondale under Anthony Barbieri.
Prior to that, Soncin had also taken the Melbourne Victory W-League side to Grand Final success in 2013, the club’s first major honour in the competition while also working with Bendigo City in 2015.
His work with the NPL2 regional side saw him work with Papua New Guinea international George Slefendorfas, who has joined him at Geelong as the club’s big-name signing following the departure of Scottish forward Sean McIlroy.
A formidable front man, Slefendorfas has featured in the top flight previously with Heidelberg United as well as spending a short time at Sunshine George Cross, before two years with Bendigo City in the NPL.
He moved to Epping Stadium at the beginning of the year, forming a partnership up front with Atilla Ofli and scoring 12 league goals in 24 games.
Hard-working midfielder Scott Robson is another recent addition to the club from Altona Magic, having spent two years at Paisley Park Soccer Complex which included winning the State League One Championship this term.
Prior to that, Robson had featured in the NPL for the Moreland Zebras under Danny Gnjidic, recording a total of 40 appearances during his time in the state’s second tier.
Former Melbourne Knights defender Nikola Srbinovski is the third new signing under Soncin, moving to the club from State League Two outfit Hoppers Crossing.
Srbinovski made 19 appearances for the club in 2016, and made his senior debut with the Knights in 2013 before departing Somers Street at the beginning of the 2015 campaign.
His time at his junior club included 14 league appearances under Andrew Marth, while also helping Croatia win the 2014 Dockerty Cup, as well as making an FFA Cup appearance away to Olympic FC.
The trio of signings have been joined at Stead Park by a host of re-signings, with former NPL regulars Dusko Delic (ex-Sunshine, Hume), Isyan Erdogan (ex-Preston, Hume) and Thomas Matthews (ex-Bentleigh, South Melbourne)
2016 squad members Louie Bentley, Chris Balaburova, Alex Stojanovski and Josh Talev have also re-joined, taking the total number of confirmed signings to double figures.
Speaking to the Geelong Advertiser upon the appointment of Soncin as manager, Club President Mick Nikolovski said the addition of the former Victory W-League coach was a signal of intent from the club which is noted for producing former Socceroos Kris Trajanovski among others.
“The club has a clear vision of where we want to be and we will continue to bring the right people to the club to ensure future success. We have a five-year road map and all decisions come back to achieving the milestones in that road map,” he said.
“No secret, becoming the next NPL team in Geelong is one of them,” Nikolovski added.
After a momentous and memorable 2016 which saw Makedonia put their name back on the Victorian football map, the club is determined to keep the momentum going heading into an ever-more competition State League One campaign in 2017.