Photo: Graeme Furlong
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be presenting a series of ‘Get to know’ pieces looking at the careers of playing and coaching participants of the four NPL Victoria clubs in the national state of the FFA Cup, who progressed through the state qualifying rounds to reach the Round of 32 onwards. Today we look at Green Gully, who are making their maiden foray into the national cup competition’s main stage, where they will be pitted up against the Central Coast Mariners.
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Goalkeepers
Rani Dowisha
Age: 24 Games: 45 Goals: 0
Former Melbourne Victory Youth goalkeeper who struggled to find his feet in senior football until a memorable FFA Cup campaign with third tier State League side South Springvale in 2014 saw him make the move to Green Gully last year. Has established himself as the side’s undisputed first-choice although he will miss the game tonight after being sent off in last Friday’s league loss to Bentleigh. Born in Syria, he has attracted the interest of the Iraqi National Team in the past.
Sebastian Mattei
Age: 25 Games: 0 Goals: 0
Was Dowisha’s former Victory Youth teammate who also spent time on the books of Melbourne Heart as an understudy to Clint Bolton. Featured for Heidelberg United and the Western Suburbs before playing as an outfield player in the lower state leagues. Joined Gully in 2015 as a goalkeeper coach and was promoted to the role of back-up following an injury to former custodian Kieran Gonzalez. Is set to make his competitive debut for the club tonight.
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Defenders
Yohei Iwasaki
Age: 29 Games: 21 Goals: 0
Experienced Japanese left-back who began his club career in Brazil and has also spent time on the South American continent by plying his trade in Paraguay. Returned to Japan in 2010 where he was on the books of J-League side Albirex Niigata before playing in India where he first made contact with Papas who brought him down to Melbourne at the beginning of the year. Can also play in a more attacking role on the left wing.
Daniel Jones
Age: 33 Games: 150 Goals: 7
Team captain who arrived in Australia well over a decade ago and initially made his name at Heidelberg United, going onto make over 100 appearances for the Bergers over a five year spell at the club. Moved to Gully in 2010 and immediately helped them claim back-to-back VPL Championships while also lifting the 2013 Dockerty Cup. Forms one part of the most experienced centre half partnership in the league alongside Vargas.
Matthew Reid
Age: 20 Games: 49 Goals: 2
Versatile defender who can slot in anywhere across the back four, he made his senior debut for the club two years ago before enjoying a breakthrough 2015 which saw him cement his place in the Gully starting eleven. An accounting student, he is set to make his 50th league appearance for the club in this week’s trip to Oakleigh.
Callum Richardson
Age: 20 Games: 16 Goals: 0
Originally from Bunbury in Western Australia, the young defender spent some time in England with Burnley before returning to the country early last year. Was on a short-term contract with Melbourne City at the beginning of 2015-16 A-League season before joining Gully in pre-season. Comfortable at both centre-back and also at right-back.
Rodrigo Vargas
Age: 37 Games: 168 Goals: 16
Former Melbourne Victory stalwart who earned his senior breakthrough in the VPL at Springvale City two decades ago before impressing at the Port Melbourne Sharks. Played NSL with the Melbourne Knights before in addition to winning a VPL Championship with Gully in 2005. Joined the Victory the following and went onto make over 100 appearances for the club in six years which saw him help them win two Championships while also representing the Socceroos on two occasions.
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Midfielders
Evan Christodoulou
Age: 25 Games: 35 Goals: 13
Attacking midfielder who was a finalist in the first season of Football Superstar, he made his senior breakthrough with the Western Suburbs in 2010 before featuring in the VPL for ex-NSL outfits Sunshine George Cross and Heidelberg United. Moved to Oakleigh mid-way through 2012, enjoying a successful three year spell at the club before joining Gully in June last year where he been played in a more advanced role where he has been a crucial source of goals from midfield.
Oner Kucuk
Age: 18 Games: 0 Goals: 0
Youngster who was elevated into the senior side in the most recent transfer window after the loss of several key players. Has performed well in the 20s this term under the stewardship of club legend Andy Vargas, who is the older brother of Rodrigo.
George Lambadaridis
Age: 24 Games: 20 Goals: 2
Teen prodigy who made his senior debut for the Altona Magic aged 16 at a time when Papas was the team’s assistant coach before playing under John Anastasiadis at Oakleigh in 2009. Spent time with Belgian powerhouse Club Brugge in 2009-10 but returned to Australia in 2011 to sign with the Brisbane Roar. Earned a Young Socceroos call-up but successive knee injuries restricted his time at the club to just 10 appearances over four seasons before joining Gully this campaign.
Charlie McCormick
Age: 18 Games: 0 Goals: 0
Like Kucuk, was promoted onto the senior roster mid-season and like his 20s teammate has sat on the bench in recent weeks waiting patiently in the wings. From Bendigo, he Is currently undertaking his VCE studies.
Tomas Murphy
Age: 22 Games: 30 Goals: 0
Box-to-box midfielder who moved to Green Gully at the beginning of last season and was given his debut at the club by former manager Bob Stojcevski. He has primarily featured off the bench this season and has been used as midfield cover by Papas but could be a starter if certain players don’t recover from their injuries. Works as a barista.
Kliment Taseski
Age: 25 Games: 21 Goals: 3
VIS Graduate who featured in the Melbourne Victory Youth team under Mehmet Durakovic before joining the Melbourne Heart in their inaugural A-League season after making an impression in senior football with the Altona Magic whom he helped win a VPL Championship. Made four first-team appearances before dropping back down to the VPL in addition to a stint in Sweden’s lower leagues. Capable of playing at right-back as well, his father Ilija played in the NSL.
Luke Walker
Age: 29 Games: 22 Goals: 0
Originally from Newcastle, the defensive midfielder played at Manly United under former Mariners manager Phil Moss before moving down to Victoria in 2011, joining Papas at Oakleigh. Spent two and half seasons with the Cannons, losing successive Grand Finals and has prior FFA Cup experience after captaining the Edgeworth Eagles in their narrow 2-1 defeat to Melbourne City last year.
Aaron Ward
Age: 23 Games: 5 Goals: 0
Versatile midfielder who is capable of playing a more advanced role, he joined Gully exactly two months ago alongside Davies having spent the last few years with Northcote City. His father Danny played for the club and scored the winning goal in Gully’s 1986 Dockerty Cup triumph. Scored one of the goals of the season last year while playing for City against Avondale.
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Forwards
Liam Boland
Age: 24 Games: 34 Goals: 25
Gully’s main attacking threat, the well-built centre forward is originally from Perth where he played for the likes of Florent Athena and Perth SC before moving to Melbourne in 2015. Initially joined Oakleigh where he struggled to make an impact, he moved to Gully mid-way last season where his goalscoring exploits saw him bag 15 in 13 league games. Expect him to cause the Mariners defence some troubles.
Jay Davies
Age: 24 Games: 8 Goals: 2
Englishman who joined Gully in the recent transfer window from State League One side Cairnlea. He has previously featured for the likes of Peterborough, Woking and Farnborough. Scored a memorable Lionel Messi-esque goal in the cup semi-final against Hume City a fortnight ago and like the Barcelona superstar, will be sporting a bleach blonde hairstyle in time for tonight’s fixture.
Nick Krousoratis
Age: 22 Games: 13 Goals: 7
Another former Football Superstar contest, he made his senior breakthrough at Richmond before joining Port Melbourne in 2014. Was the Shark’s top goalscorer last year and earned himself a move to Gully where although impressive, has struggled with injuries which have sidelined him for the better part of the last three months and is not expected to feature tonight.
Anthony Ragusa
Age: 23 Games: 20 Goals: 1
Melburnian who was part of the Newcastle Jets Youth team in 2012/13 before returning to his home-town where he featured under his father Nino at Werribee City. Helped the Bees consolidate their top-flight position in 2014 but was part of the City side which experienced relegation last campaign. Moved to Gully this term and has been a useful attacking outlet, primarily featuring off the bench.
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Coaching Staff
Manager: Arthur Papas
Retired at an early age after a succession of knee injuries blighted his playing career, he quickly turned to coaching where he has been one of the pioneers of the football program at Maribyrnong College. Won Coach of the Year in first season in charge of Oakleigh before assisting John Aloisi and Gary van Egmond at Melbourne Heart Youth and the Newcastle Jets. Returned to Oakleigh last year after three years in India where he managed the country’s under-23 side and club side Dempo, he has done well in his debut season at Gully.
Coach: Shaun Ontong
Young Socceroos captain under Ange Postecoglou a decade ago, his professional career was curtailed by numerous injuries having featured in the A-League for both Adelaide and Newcastle. Retired at the beginning of the decade after playing under Papas at Oakleigh in 2011 and worked alongside his coaching mentor in India before becoming his assistant at both Gully and Oakleigh while also leading the Booroondara Eagles to league glory last season in the WPL. From Canberra, his father Paul played in the NSL.
Assistant Coach: Agim Sherifovski
Former forward who enjoyed a decorated VPL career with the likes of Sunshine George Cross, Heidelberg United, Fawkner and Altona Magic while also having a brief stint in the NSL with South Melbourne in the mid-90s. Was assistant to Nino Ragusa at Werribee, helping the club achieve two promotions in three years before departing the Bees mid-way through last season to join Papas and Ontong and Oakleigh, and then pairing up with the duo at Gully as well.