They’re the experienced heads crucial in any team to help provide guidance on and off the pitch to the next generation. With long and decorated careers behind them, the battle at this level becomes more difficult with a greater balance of family and work life. The release of the NPL player points system helped reveal the competition’s 20 youngest at heart players, and we’ve taken a look at each one of them in some detail.
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1. Felix Rosman 28/12/1976 (39 years, 82 days) – Bulleen Lions
The league’s very own Benjamin Button seems to get better with age as he approaches his 40th birthday later this year. Featured for the now defunct East Richmond in the lower state leagues in the 90s before spending a decade at the Oakleigh Cannons. We Thought we had seen the last him of when he joined third tier Port Melbourne in 2010 but played his part in two promotions for the Sharks, before moving to St Albans in 2014 where he featured in the Saints successful FFA Cup run. His mythical-like status grew ever greater as he helped Bulleen return to the top flight and is performing well in 2016.
2. Rodrigo Vargas 20/10/1978 (37 years, 151 days) – Green Gully
Football fans across the state thought they had seen the last of the pony-tailed, no-nonsense centre-back following his departure from Melbourne Victory in 2012. In six years at the club, Chilean-born Vargas had won two A-League Championships over 139 appearances for the Victory, while also earning two Socceroos caps. However, he promptly returned to former employers Green Gully, helping them claim the 2013 Dockerty Cup in addition to making 91 appearances for the Cavaliers, adding to the 60 he made for them in the mid-noughties. Also had a coaching stint at Green Gully Reserve when he and former teammate Stephen Downes took over the reigns mid-way through last season.
3. Jeff Fleming 08/09/1979 (36 years, 193 days) – Avondale
It’s hard to believe the former All Whites midfielder is still only 36 given his longevity after first arriving in Melbourne in 2001 when he signed for Green Gully. He spent the next 14 seasons at the Cavaliers – albeit spending one summer away back in New Zealand with Canterbury United, in addition to a short-term loan with the now defunct New Zealand Knights in the A-League. Four VPL Championships, two Dockerty Cups and numerous club awards highlights his importance in Gully’s success over the years. Ended his long association with the club last year by signing for Avondale, where he proved to be instrumental in the Avengers comfortably securing their top flight status.
4. John Honos 18/04/1980 (35 years, 335 days) – Oakleigh Cannons
One of three goalkeepers on the list, the former Bentleigh Greens junior moved to Greece at an early age in his senior career and primarily featured in the lower divisions of Greek football alongside his younger brother Lambros. Returned home in 2013 and signed for Oakleigh ahead of the inaugural NPL campaign in 2014. Was instrumental in the Cannons successful season under Miron Bleiberg where they finished second behind rivals South. Captained the side in 2015 as they reached the Dockerty Cup Final only to be thwarted by Chris Taylor’s men once more while playing his part for Oakleigh in their run to the FFA Cup Quarter-Finals.
5. Michael Ferrante 28/04/1981 (34 years, 325 days) – Pascoe Vale
Part of West Ham’s famed 1999 FA Youth Cup winning side alongside future England internationals Michael Carrick and Joe Cole, he left the Hammers in 2001 without making an appearance for the senior side. Joined Melbourne Victory in 2005 where he won a Championship in season two, before making the move across the Tasman in 2007 by becoming an inaugural Wellington Phoenix player. Moved back home in 2010 by signing for Richmond, before joining brother Vitale at Pascoe Vale in mid-2012, immediately helping the Rams to promotion and consolidation of their top flight status.
6. Aron Wilford 14/01/1982 (34 years, 65 days) – Oakleigh Cannons
Began his career in the Premier League with Middlesbrough in 1999, however was released two years later without making an appearance for Boro. Spells in the lower leagues of Scotland and Wales followed, before moving to Victoria in 2008 by signing for second tier Southern Stars. Helped Dandenong Thunder win the 2009 VPL Premiership, then moved to Bentleigh in 2011, where he was a part of the Greens’ losing 2013 Grand Final starting XI. Moved to the Cannons in 2014 and was pivotal in their FFA Cup quarter-finals run of last season.
7. Michele Crazia 27/03/1982 (33 years, 357 days) – Avondale FC
The seasoned Italian defender moved to Avondale in mid-2014 immediately helping them to elevation into the NPL. Prior to that he had played in the lower leagues of Italy before moving to Queensland’s Palm Beach from Vanuate based club Amicale. Now on the verge of his 34th birthday and still going strong.
8. Tomislav Milardovic 06/08/1982 (33 years, 226 days) – Pascoe Vale
A St Albans junior, he made his senior debut for the Saints in 2002 before joining sister club Melbourne Knights in their first season back in the VPL in 2005. He impressed at the heart of the Somers Street defence under Chris Taylor, after which he spent a short time with Adelaide United in the A-League. Moved to Richmond in 2009 and helped them claim the 2010 VPL Premiership, returning to St Albans the following season. A further spell at Richmond followed in 2012, before moving to newly promoted Pascoe Vale in 2013, where he provides crucial experience.
9. Ben Surey 18/12/1982 (33 years, 92 days) – Melbourne Knights
An apprentice at Crystal Palace, he was released from Selhurst Park following the Eagles’ promotion to the Premier League in 2004. Eventually moved to Melbourne in 2009 and joined the Knights, where he has been ever since. Comfortable in defence or in the middle of the back, the uncompromising Surey has made 114 appearances for the two-time NSL Champions. He was given the Captain’s armband in 2014, helping Croatia claim the 2014 Dockerty Cup following an extra-time victory over South Springvale.
10. Daniel Jones 05/01/1983 (33 years, 74 days) – Green Gully
Not to be confused with one-half of late 90s Australian pop duo Savage Garden, English-born Jones arrived in Australia over a decade ago and has since established a reputation of being on of the state’s most consistent defenders. Five years at Heidelberg were followed up by a move to Green Gully in 2010 where he has been ever since, helping the nine-time Victorian Champions win two titles along with a Dockerty Cup triumph in 2013, while developing a formidable partnership with Rodrigo Vargas in the centre of defence.
11. Lambros Honos 16/02/1983 (33 years, 32 days) – Port Melbourne Sharks
A Port Melbourne junior, Honos joined his brother in Greece after turning 18 and primarily featured in the second and third tier of Greek football although he did make 5 appearances in the top flight for Egaleo in 2005. Returned to Melbourne in mid-2012 by joining the Oakleigh Cannons for whom he featured for in a losing Grand Final. Joined the newly promoted Sharks in 2013 with his splendid assist memorably helping them secure survival in 2014. Re-joined the Cannons alongside John in 2015 before returning to JL Murphy Reserve this season.
12. Steven Pace 06/03/1983 (33 years, 13 days) – Heidelberg United
A Keilor Park junior who was part of the VIS and AIS set-up at the turn of the millennium, he made his senior debut for South Melbourne in 2001 before joining the Essendon Royals in 2003. Won a VPL Championship in 2007 under Goran Lozanovski at the Preston Lions and returned to the national stage with the Melbourne Victory, where he was used as a back-up defender over the course of two seasons. Reunited with Lozanovski at Hume in 2009, Pace eventually moved to Heidelberg in 2014 where he now forms an experienced partnership with fellow veteran Byles.
13. Griffin McMaster 02/06/1983 (32 years, 291 days) – Bulleen Lions
Originally hailing from the Gold Coast, McMaster established himself as the best young goalkeeper in the Queensland state league scene, joining the then Queensland Roar in 2007. Had a short period as first-choice before departing in 2010 after making 16 A-League appearances in three seasons. Moved to Victoria afterwards, where he has enjoyed multiple stints at the Oakleigh Cannons and Heidelberg United respectively, recently joining the newly promoted Bulleen Lions.
14. Steve Pantelidis 17/08/1983 (32 years, 215 days) – Oakleigh Cannons
The AIS Graduate made his debut for the Altona East Phoenix in the VPL in 2011, joining the Melbourne Knights in the final season of the NSL via a short stint in Denmark. Enjoyed four years at Melbourne Victory, where he won two Championships before further A-League spells with Gold Coast United and Perth Glory. Returned to the Oakleigh Cannons last year following a season plying his trade in Malaysia with Mehmet Durakovic’s Selangor.
15. Alan Mulcahy 17/12/1983 (32 years, 93 days) – Port Melbourne Sharks
The Irishman moved to Melbourne in 2009 by joining the Springvale White Eagles after making a name for himself in the Irish top flight. Three seasons at Southern Stars followed, where he helped the Dingley-based side achieve promotion to the VPL. Moved to Hume City in 2013 before joining Dandenong Thunder in 2014, captaining the side until a mid-season move to the Sharks last year saw him re-kindle his midfield partnership with fellow Irishman and former Stars teammate Alan Kearney.
16. Luke Byles 08/01/1984 (32 years, 71 days) – Heidelberg United
Began his career with home-town club Southampton and was part of the Premier League outfit’s reserve side in the 2003/04 Premier League season. Moved to Melbourne in 2010 and joined Heidelberg United, before joining their rivals South Melbourne in 2012. However, he returned back to Olympic Village in 2013 and helped the Bergers earn promotion back into the top flight at the first time of asking. Recently made his 100th appearance for the Warriors, a club he now captains.
17. Ramazan Tavsancioglu 07/06/1984 (31 years, 286 days) – Hume City
Hume City’s defensive stalwart made his senior debut for Port Melbourne in 2003 before spending two years in Turkey. Upon his return home he joined South Melbourne. Spent six seasons at Lakeside, winning the 2006 Championship, in addition to short-term injury-replacement stints in the A-League with Melbourne Victory and North Queensland Fury. Moved to rivals Oakleigh in 2011, where he was a part of two successive Grand Final losing sides, before having spells at Southern Stars and Dandenong Thunder.
18. Stjepan Gal 08/06/1984 (31 years, 285 days) – Port Melbourne Sharks
The Experienced goalkeeper made his debut between the sticks for childhood club St Albans Saints, eventually succeeding Marijan Vunderl as first-choice at Churchill Reserve. Eventually joined Western Suburbs under Mike Chatzitrifonas, before joining his manager at Richmond in 2010 winning a Premiership in his first season. Returned to Dinamo in 2013 and made a mid-season switch to the Sharks the following year, where he has been ever since.
19. Wayne Wallace 12/06/1984 (31 years, 281 days) – Bentleigh Greens
The Hull-born midfielder enjoyed a lower league career in England before moving to Australia in 2008 by joining second tier Sunshine. Immediately helped George Cross achieve promotion before consolidating their place in the top flight. Returned back to the UK before his former Sunshine supremo Andy O’Dell brought him back to Melbourne in 2011 when he joined Bentleigh. Has made over 100 appearances for the Greens, captaining them along their memorable 2014 FFA Cup run and 2015 Championship.
20. Massimo Murdocca 02/09/1984 (31 years, 199 days) – Avondale FC
Surprised many by joining Avondale mid-season last year after making 268 top flight national league appearances in a career which began as a 15-year-old with Carlton in the NSL. Most memorably won two A-League Championships with Brisbane Roar under Ange Postecoglou before returning back to Victoria in 2013 by signing for Melbourne City. Injuries curtailed his second season at City, with his contract not being renewed, prompting the NPL switch.