Green Gully is hoping to take the next step in the National Premier League competition this season.
After finishing mid-table after being in the finals conversation for much of the season, the Cavaliers have plenty of improvement in front of them this season.
Coach David Chick, who is going into his second season in charge, said they were a lot better placed than 12 months ago.
He said was itchy to get the season underway.
“It’s been a long pre-season and I’m itching to get going,” he said.
“We’ve done a fair bit of prep but we still need the last couple of weeks of work to be where we want to be.
“I think it’s been one of the better pre-seasons that I’ve had.
“We’ve had good player availability from the start of the pre-season which is a big contrast to last season.
“We went to Tasmania … which was good for team cohesion.”
While happy with the pre-season, Chick knows that it doesn’t always translate into results on the pitch.
He said half the squad from last season had remained and they had been able to keep all but one player who they had wanted to keep for this year.
“I came in the year before and there were only a handful of players and I wasn’t sure if they were staying or not,” Chick said.
“We’ve been able to bring in some exciting players which was not possible 12 months ago. They’ve decided to come to the club this year.
“Hopefully we can keep this group together for a while. I’m excited by the group.”
The Cavaliers have looked to add more depth to their attacking group, signing four attackers.
Chick said that was one area that they thought they lacked in.
Among the signings for the Cavaliers are two-time NPL goalkeeper of the year Michael Weier, Somali international forward Bilal Habib, midfielder Oskar Karlsson, Yusuf Ahmed, Kur Kur, Taofiq Olomowewe and Lucas Simao.
Chick said they had built a squad with plenty of talent and hoped it would show on the pitch.
The Cavaliers are hoping to return to finals this season, for the first time since 2022 this season.
“We were four points short last year and were in the middle of the table,” he said.
“We were near the bottom he year before and then moved into the middle.
“Natural progression is to play in those big games and into the top six.
“We need to find those points be in the top six. The league is even harder.
“I think we have got better, so have other teams. Hopefully we can play in some finals.”
The Cavaliers kick off their season on Friday night against Heidelberg United in the one of the opening two games of the season.
In other round one matches, Caroline Springs George Cross faces Bentleigh Greens and St Albans Saints play Dandenong City.
