The new National Premier League season is upon us, and eight teams will embark on the odyssey to try and claim the silverware come the end of the campaign. Former Monaro Panthers Head Coach, and now regular in the BarTV commentary team, Frank Cachia, runs his eye over these set-ups and looks at what to expect in 2023.
Canberra Croatia
Any other club would be satisfied being crowned the champion team in 2022. But despite being League winners last season there’s likely a feeling of disappointment that that was the only silverware it added to the already full trophy cabinet at Deakin Stadium The positives going into 2023 are the retention of coach Dean Ugrinic and senior players Matt Grbesa, Stephen Domenici, Daniel Barac and Ryan Keir. The additions of Kaz Patafta, Daniel Sparrow and Franc Greco all add experience and quality. The setbacks are the loss of two hugely talented youngsters in Matej Busek and Cassidy Tanddo which means less depth as well as big shoes to fill. A club that’s won 30 plus titles is always a threat to any silverware on offer. If they can overcome some early season suspensions, they are likely to be very ominous towards the back end of the season.
Main Man: Ryan Keir
Key Addition: Kaz Patafta
Emerging Talent: Noah Vanderpol
Canberra Olympic
2023 is a key season for Canberra Olympic. Having dominated the competition for close to five years, Olympic have struggled to make an impact on the National Premier League for some time now. They’ve invested heavily, and by the looks wisely, on talents such as Thomas James and Callum Smith who join mid-year signings Nik Popovich and Nathen Megic to build a solid group of senior players that would start in any team in the league. The return from long term injury of Luca Macor is important, but it’s the return to the NPL coaching ranks of Paolo and Daniel Macor that has most of football community looking at Olympic this season. The loss of Nick Faust is significant, his pace, experience and quality in defence will be missed.
Main Man: Nik Popovich
Key Addition: Thomas James
Emerging Talent: Elliott Alberto
Gungahlin United
Stability is key. Gungahlin United seem to be the least affected this season by changes to personnel. Minimal movement will help Chris Caggiano transition from Assistant to Head Coach. The retention of Josh Gaspari is critical. Arguably, the best player in the league, Gaspari remaining loyal to the club could be the difference between the Gunners making up the numbers or being the team to beat. On their day can beat anyone in the league, a side boasting Gaspari, Philippe Bernabo-Madrid, Tom McLachlan and Jack Green, with the additions of Antoni Timotheou, Jackson Paesler and Maxx Green should be thereabouts come the pointy end of any competition. The loss of Jeremy Habtemariam, Leon Michl and Will Roberts is obviously going to have impact, a good start to the season will go a long way to a successful year.
Main Man: Josh Gaspari
Key Addition: Maxx Green
Emerging Talent: Michael Paragalli
Monaro Panthers
The Treble winning side that has added even more quality over the off-season. The appointment of former Assistant Coach Ian Worthington means a good knowledge of the club, the players and most importantly the recipe for success from last season. New recruits such as Roko Strika, Sam Roestbakken, Connor Mynott-Smith and Ben Obst would start in most sides, but just as significant is the retention of 2022 player of the season Jordan Thurtell, alongside the likes of David Jenkins, Michael John, Zac McLaren, and Gabe Cole. Their test will be replacing the loss of quality and experience in the shape of Andre Carle, Josh Calabria, Amilio Kista, Nikos Kalfas, Darren Bailey, and Kyle Senior – who would all start in elevens across the competition. A solid pre-season should see them start well and maintain momentum from the 2022 campaign.
Main Man: Jordan Thurtell
Key Addition: Roko Strika
Emerging Talent: Jack Ellwood
O’Connor Knights
Anyone thinking that a top four finish in 2022 for the Knights was a fluke is in for a rude shock. There was nothing lucky for a team returning to the top-flight taking on and getting results against the best sides last year. Rather than resting on their laurels, Miro and Aleks Trninic were active, aggressive, and early recruiting for season 2023 adding depth to already formidable group. The disappointment for the Knights will be the loss of Connor Mynott-Smith to finals rivals Monaro Panthers. His combination with Pat O’Rourke and Micheal Adams was a feature of their last campaign and hard to replicate. What we like about the Knights is how well they prepare; they will be ready to go from the first whistle and sure to test every team in the competition.
Main Man: Pat O’Rourke
Key Addition: Lachlan Fields
Emerging Talent: Jak Matic
Tigers FC
Individually I see this group as the most talented side in the competition. A complete rehaul to the 2021 champions after missing on a top four finish in 2022 has seen them emerge with a quality class that could well push for honours this season. What seems to be the most striking aspect of this version of the Tigers side is the shared responsibility across the team. Last year seemed to see a lot of reliance last year on just one or two players. The new recruits give Tigers a fresh look. They have brought in two league champions in Nik Taneski and Hristjan Tanoski and three Grand Final and Cup winners in Amilio Kista, Nikos Kalfas and Kyle Senior – hard to argue that this group added to Josh Gulevski, Jakob Cole and Julian Borgna won’t be extremely hard to beat in anything they contest this season.
Main Man: Josh Gulevski
Key Addition: Kyle Senior
Emerging Talent: Jake Bishop
Tuggeranong United
O’Connor Knights won a close run NPL2 title in 2021 and then finished 4th in the NPL and semi-finalist in the Australia Cup qualifiers the year after. Tuggeranong United cruised to a title in the Capital League in 2022 – who’s to say they can’t replicate a similar level of success? They have kept a stable core from the previous year’s double winners with some additions to add recent NPL experience to a hard working dedicated group. They will not be under illusions the task that lay ahead of them, and much will depend on the strength and resilience of their defence minus star Harrison Buesnel now with Wollongong Wolves, whilst their ability to hurt teams will largely fall to Sam Walker and Luke Stevens. Cam Doherty returning from a long term injury is a key inclusion to the club’s fate in 2023.
Main Man: Sam Walker
Key Addition: Cameron Doherty
Emerging Talent: Clancy Hislop
West Canberra Wanderers
The club faces a tough task to match the feats of season 2023 where they finished 7th and reached the final of the Australia Cup Qualifiers and were within touching distance of the club’s first Men’s senior trophy. A nursey for emerging talent the side’s success attracted interest elsewhere and now finds itself looking to rebuild after the loss of the majority of its starting eleven. George Economopoulos and Dom English will have their work cut out to have a fully functioning squad ready to take on the best in the city in the early part of the year. No doubt they will improve over time, but they will need to do all they can to stay in touch early and then build from there.
Main Man: Angus Bailey
Key Addition: Riley Brown
Emerging Talent: Ibrahim Obeid
KEY POINTS 2023
New coaches abound in the NPL as Paolo Macor, Ian Worthington, Chris Caggiano, and Jimmy Kanaridis come to the fore. All four are new to their role at the club this year, all four in charge of teams expected to do well. Each has experience of the league in some form though so will head into 2023 looking to use that to their advantage.
A quick start is imperative. Even though it is a long season, a slow start could easily cost you a league title, a top four birth or worse put you in a relegation battle. Early wins work on a number of levels. They get you points on the board, but they also help you build confidence. A slow start is extremely hard to recover from and you are continually playing catch up.
Squad depth is increasingly vital. Success can’t be achieved with the same eleven week-n and week-out. A 21 Round competition, plus potentially finals and any prolonged run in the Australia Cup will evaluate the strength of resources of any club that wasn’t sustained success. Collating quality depth and keeping them happy will be a key indicator of a side prepped to challenge.
