Oakleigh Cannons have secured Championship winning defender Steven Topalovic for the 2016 and 2017 NPL seasons, after the centre-back signed a two year deal with the club.
The 24-year-old formed one of the league’s most potent centre-back pairings alongside Jack Webster at Bentleigh Greens this season, as the Kingston Heath outfit charged towards Grand Final glory at Lakeside against South Melbourne.
He made 26 appearances in 2015 following his move from childhood club Dandenong City.
The City junior rose to prominence in 2009 on the TV show Football Superstar before joining Miron Bleiberg at Gold Coast United, where he was part of the 2009/10 NYL winning season.
Topalovic then returned to Victoria, joining Michael Chatzitrifonos’ table topping Richmond side.
He joined South Melbourne in 2011 and consolidated his reputation as one of best defenders in the Victorian Premier League, before a serious injury ruled him out for many months.
After another stint at Richmond, followed by a move to Dandenong Thunder, he re-joined Dandenong City in the club’s inaugural NPL campaign in 2014.
His performances led him to being snapped up by Bentleigh this season, where he continued his good form on the way to the NPL championship.
“It was nice to experience this step up again and obviously playing with and against higher-calibre players, especially when you’re winning, it just makes everything all the sweeter,” Topalovic told the Corner Flag earlier last season.
The defender joins Thomas Lakic and Corey Slevin as the Oakleigh’s new acquisitions for 2016, with Mirjan Pavlovic, Sean Rooney, Rowan McNamee, Matthew Foschini departing the club.
Meanwhile, Adrian Chiappetta, John Honos, Dean Piemonte, Aron Wilford and Goran Zoric have confirmed their commitment for two seasons.