Sunshine George Cross’ preparations for the 2016 NPL2 season have kicked off with a host of new additions to the senior squad, including the signature of forward Juso Julardzija.
The 26-year-old forward joins the club after spending the last 18 months at the North Geelong Warriors, where he amassed 12 league goals in 36 appearances.
Julardzija joined the Warriors from the St Albans Saints and was reunited with his former coach Micky Colina at Elcho Park, proving a pivotal component of the club’s march towards promotion in 2014 which was eventually secured against his former employers in St Albans.
He makes the move to Chaplin Reserve following North Geelong’s relegation from the top flight, and will be expected to provide goals for Tony Ciantar’s men in 2016.
Also joining Julardzija at George Cross is 18-year-old midfielder Anthony Marafioti, who makes the move from Green Gully, where he made his senior debut during the the 2015 NPL season.
Adding to the youthful make-up of the senior squad for the subsequent season is the club’s elevation of three of their most promising youngsters into the senior squad.
Ryan Dragovic, Nathan Liberto and James Micevski have all been promoted from the U20s after making their senior debuts this year.
The former NSL outfit also announced a change in the backroom coaching staff, with the experienced Franz Weimper replacing the outgoing Renato Liberto as senior assistant coach to Tony Ciantar.
Weimper has previously worked with George Cross in various capacities and makes the short move to Chaplin Reserve, having most recently taken charge of the St Albans Saints on a caretaker basis following the departure of Joe Kovacevic late in the season.
He had also recently featured at Bendigo City in 2015 and Oakleigh Cannons as an assistant to Miron Bleiberg in 2014.
The signings of Julardzija and Marafioti, in addition to the elevation of the exciting teenagers and the experience of Weimper, adds balance across the club which is embarking on a new era under new technical director Sean Gale.