Image: Mark Avellino
With the Westfield FFA Cup set to kick off tonight with last year’s semi-finalists Hume City entertaining former NSL powerhouse Marconi Stallions, anticipation and excitement is reaching fever pitch levels at many NPL grounds across the country. TCF decided to profile some familiar names now plying their trade for interstate clubs, having previously featured in the top flight of Victorian football in the past decade or so, with half a dozen of these 13 players set to match up against Victorian opposition in the coming weeks.
***
Richard Cardozo, 30 (Manly United)
Younger brother of former Socceroos striker Pablo, he first moved to Victoria in 2006 and featured for Green Gully before partnering his brother at Richmond. Moved to Hume in 2010 and won the Golden Boot the following season before returning to the club in 2014 following a spell in Austria. Now leading the frontline at Cromer Park for the club based in Sydney’s northern suburbs.
Robert Cattanach, 31 (Canberra Olympic)
ACT forward who began his career at Olympic before winning the 2004-05 NSW Premier League Player of the Season award. He then joined South Melbourne and spent the latter half of the 2005 VPL season with the club, before returning to Sydney where he featured for Manly United for many seasons, while also being on the books of Sydney FC on a short-term injury replacement contract.
Jake McLean, 23 (Brisbane Strikers)
The attacking midfielder starred for Brisbane Olympic and memorably scored a double in 3-1 victory over the Melbourne Knights on the opening night of FFA Cup action in 2014. Moved to Victoria a few months later by joining the Oakleigh Cannons, helping Arthur Papas’ side reach the quarter-finals of the competition before returning to Brisbane this year.
Rhys Meredith, 26 (Brisbane Strikers)
Originally from the Gold Coast, the versatile attacker impressed in the Queensland top-flight with Redlands United before joining South Melbourne in 2013. Featured 21 times over the course of the season before returning back home where he has also featured for Brisbane Olympic and now finds himself at the Strikers, who make their third consecutive appearance in the competition.
Mirjan Pavlovic, 27 (Marconi Stallions)
Combative Croatian-born centre-forward who featured for both the Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix earlier in his career. Had four separate stints at Sydney United as well plying his trade in India, where he met Papas, who linked up with him at Oakleigh mid-way through the season, scoring seven times in 13 league games as well as the winner in the 1-0 Round of 16 win away to Metro Stars.
Sean Rooney, 27 (Marconi Stallions)
Pavlovic’s childhood friend and Stallions strike partner began his career at Blacktown City before debuting in the A-League with the Newcastle Jets via the Sydney FC Youth team. Left the club in 2011 and like Pavlovic had a stint in India as well as multiple spells at Blacktown. Reunited with Pavlovic at Oakleigh mid-way through last season, where he struggled with injury.
Jason Saldaris 25, (Florent Athena)
Perth native who first joined South Melbourne in 2012, where he served as an understudy to Peter Gavalas before spending some time training with AEK Athens and Perth Glory. He returned to Lakeside Stadium in 2014 and was the club’s number-one as it lifted the inaugural NPL Championship prior to returning back home, where he tasted FFA Cup action with Bayswater City last season.
Shaun Timmins 25, (Florent Athena)
Coventry City and Birmingham City junior who was capped by the Republic of Ireland at youth level before moving to Perth in 2011, where he played for Sorrento and ECU Joondalup. Moved to Victoria in 2013 and featured for Green Gully, before a short spell at the Wellington Phoenix. Won the 2014 NPL Championship alongside Saldaris at South and recently left Hume City and returned to WA.
Acim Tomic 26, (Surfers Paradise Apollo)
Hard-working versatile midfielder who is capable of playing in defence first moved to Victoria in 2011, where he played for Dandenong Thunder under Stuart Munro. Moved to Hume City the following season before returning to Queensland. Briefly returned to Thunder last year and scored on debut, but this year has been at the heart of the Gold Coast minnows’ spectacular FFA Cup run.
Glen Trifiro 27, (Sydney United)
The former Young Socceroo is the younger brother of former Melbourne City midfielder Jason and moved down to Victoria with him in 2011 as they both joined Northcote City. Impressed in the centre of the park as City won the Dockerty Cup before joining his brother and manager Peter Tsolakis at South Melbourne the following year. Recently spent two years with the Central Coast Mariners.
Tomislav Uskok 25, (Sydney United)
Boyhood Melbourne Knights fan who ended up captaining the club last season after earlier making his senior debut with Richmond in 2009. Won promotion to the top-flight with St Albans in 2010 before moving to Somers Street in mid-2011, where he helped the club win the 2014 Dockerty Cup. Moved to Edensor Park at the end of last season via a six month spell in the A-League with the Mariners as well.
Adam van Dommele 31, (Metro Stars)
Left-back who represented the Joeys at the 2001 U17 World Cup before a spell in England with Hartlepool United. Returned back home at the inception of the A-League, spending the first two seasons with home-town club Adelaide United before working under John Anastasiadis at South Melbourne. Moved back to SA in 2009 and has now played over 150 times for his current employers.
Liam Wooding 23, (Metro Stars)
Attacking midfielder who made his A-League debut for Adelaide United in 2012 without ever making another appearance for the Reds. Starred for the Stars in 2013 before crossing interstate and spending 2014 with Northcote City, where he featured in every league game, scoring five goals alongside fellow Adelaide-native Evan Kounavelis. Returned to Metro Stars last year.