It is rush hour for clubs preparing for the newly formed National Premier League.
The on again, off again saga of Victoria’s version of the NPL has caught clubs on the hop.
Football Federation Victoria announced successful applicants, revealed their draw and almost in the blink of an eye the inaugural season is upon us.
While many of the clubs’ power brokers will be burning the midnight oil to make sure everything is in order, there is a familiar air of serenity at Green Gully.
The Cavaliers will enter the campaign with one of the most settled and proven line-ups in the league.
Cavs coach Jeff Fleming has retained the bulk of the list from last season and promoted from within to re-energise the squad.
“It’s happened a little quicker than what we were expecting, but I think we’re as prepared as anyone,” he told the Weekly.
“Most of the players were with us last year so we’ll basically re-focus them, work on a few things and hopefully we can hit the ground running. That’s a huge advantage.”
Green Gully is a powerful name in Victorian soccer.
Founded in 1955, the Cavs were part of the former NSL in the 1980s.
The club has been Victorian Premier League champions nine times, including back-to-back winners in 2010-11.
It is the reigning Dockerty Cup champion, a trophy it has won five times.
Players are keen to play at the well-run club, and its retention rate is second-to-none.
Fleming knows how lucky he is to coach a club so highly respected.
“That’s the great thing about the stability we have at Gully, you’re able to keep these players for a longer period of time,” he said.
“You get to know them quite well, their strengths and weaknesses, and you can use that to your advantage.”
It has not all been smooth sailing for the Cavs. Their pre-season form, albeit in limited outings, has been rocky.
“We’ve been a little bit inconsistent,” Fleming said.
“I’ve been a little bit disappointed with the performances, so hopefully we get the bad ones out of the way now.”
Who would bet against the likes of the Vargas brothers – Rodrigo and Andy – Jason Hayne, Osagie Ederero and Brent Fisher from turning it around?
The Cavaliers host Werribee City in their season opener at Green Gully Reserve on Sunday at 3pm.
With finals scrapped and a first-past-the-post format adopted by the NPL, the notoriously slow starting Cavs will need to change their ways this season.
“It’s a system that rewards the team that is most consistent throughout the season so you can’t afford to have a five or six week patch where you lose games and drop points,” Fleming said.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Knights will host Northcote City in an opening round match at Knights Stadium from 8.30pm on Friday.
In NPL1, St Albans Saints play Springvale White Eagles on Sunday, while Sunshine George Cross hosts Brunswick City.
