Green Gully is not getting too carried away with the impressive start to the pre-season friendly circuit by its new-look squad.
The Cavaliers have played two of last season’s top-six National Premier League Victoria soccer clubs and come away with a win and draw.
Cavs general manager Raymond Mamo was quick to put those outcomes into perspective.
“The results don’t matter in pre-season games,” he said. “It’s just a good indicator for coaches to see players who are newly signed and players who are still trialling. That’s what pre-season games are about for all teams.”
The 1-0 victory over the Melbourne Knights on Friday night and the 1-1 draw with Hume City that preceded it must have been reassuring for the Green Gully faithful as the Cavs’ goals were both scored by new recruits.
The Cavs – state champions in 2011 and ’12, and Dockerty Cup winners in ’13 – underwent their biggest clean-out in years in the off-season, with less than a handful of first team walk-up starters from last season remaining with the club.
But the Cavs’ coaching staff, led by senior coach Slobede Stojcevski, must be encouraged by their side’s January form.
“We’ve basically got about seven new players and we’ve got to make sure they gel,” Mamo said. “These hit-outs are good; they will help prior to the season starting.”
Alon Blumgart put in an early submission for goal of the pre-season when his long range strike blasted the cobwebs from the top of the net in the draw with Hume City.
It was more than just the goal that impressed Mamo about Blumgart, a one-time Melbourne Heart youth player signed from Bendigo who has the potential to fill the vacant defensive midfield position.
“That was a cracker of a goal and we want to see him do a few more of those in the season,” Mamo said.
“The guy has got a big heart; he’ll give you 150 per cent every game.”
The match winner in the one-goal win over the Knights was produced by striker Nikola Markovski, the biggest signing of the summer. The Macedonian is showing his class up front yet has only been in the green shirt for 180 minutes.
“He’s been outstanding. He’s a very good character and I’m delighted to have him at the club,” Mamo said. “He’s fitted in fantastic.”
