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The Victorian Premier League (@FFV_VPL) kicks off this weekend and resident experts on Victorian football David Manuca (@davidmanuca) , Christian Layland (@layles89), Ilija Stankovski (@ilija_st90) and myself (@TheCondo) give our thoughts on how its going to pan out.
Bentleigh Greens - 8th Last Season
The Squad - A little Melbourne Victory flavour about Bentleigh, have added Lawrence Thomas and Luke O'Dea to the team that already included Luke Pilkington. Have lost both Peter (South Melbourne) and Luke (Northcote) Gavalas.
The Star - Wayne Wallace. Last years best and fairest.
The One to Watch - Luke Pilkington.
The Star - Wayne Wallace. Last years best and fairest.
The One to Watch - Luke Pilkington.
David Says - Last year Bentleigh were unlucky to miss the finals, and this year I can't see them finishing higher.
Christian Says - You could call them 'under-the-radar' but you could also call them boring. Nothing particularly notable about them though they did improve last season. Mid-table would be a good result.
Christian Says - You could call them 'under-the-radar' but you could also call them boring. Nothing particularly notable about them though they did improve last season. Mid-table would be a good result.
Ilija Says - Can't see them staying up this season, tough season ahead for the Greens.
Scott Says - Things not going so well for the Greens, a tough season ahead. Relegation a possibility.
We Predict 10th
Dandenong Thunder - 9th Last Season
The Squad - Have added some quality in Ross Thompson (Hume) Nate Foster (Canada) Enes Sivic (NTC) Brian Bran (Oakleigh) and Craig Elvin (Heidelberg) which far out-weigh the losses.
The Star - Luke Sherbon - a genuine VPL star.
The One to Watch - Nate Foster, fresh from breaking goal scoring records in College football, already has a pre-season hat-trick.
The Star - Luke Sherbon - a genuine VPL star.
The One to Watch - Nate Foster, fresh from breaking goal scoring records in College football, already has a pre-season hat-trick.
David Says - Have recruited well, compiling one of the best midfields on the league. As long as supporters and officials behave, they should contest for top two spot.
Christian Says - Have made some big, exciting signings but will need to gel quickly to challenge for the Minor Premiership. A big push by club officials to change the club culture needs to be commended and will make a difference.
Christian Says - Have made some big, exciting signings but will need to gel quickly to challenge for the Minor Premiership. A big push by club officials to change the club culture needs to be commended and will make a difference.
Ilija Says - After last season's disappointing finish expect the Thunder to come out firing, anything less than the championship will be considered a failure.
Scott Says - Plenty of quality added to the squad, big things expected. Although I'm not sold they can go all the way after finishing 9th last season.
We Predict 2nd
Green Gully - 1st Last Season
The Squad - the title winning squad remains laregly intact with additions of Ederaro, Cicak (Oakleigh) and Rhys Keane (NZ) and the retention of Melbourne Heart and title winning specialist Nikola Roganovic.
The Star - Greame Hockless.
The One to Watch - Osagie Ederaro (from Heidelberg).
David Says - Last years Champs came from no-where to clinch the premiership before defeating Oakleigh in the GF. This year they will be hard to beat as they search for three straight.
Christian Says - Solid squad and will be there abouts come seasons end. A three-peat is not out of the question but it will be hard work.
Christian Says - Solid squad and will be there abouts come seasons end. A three-peat is not out of the question but it will be hard work.
Ilija Says - Back to back Champions, will be back up there again to try and complete the hat-trick.
Scott Says - Going for three on the trot will be tough, but don't discard. Maybe some experienced signings to be added soon. Watch this space!
We Predict 3rd
The Squad - The experience of player/coach Andy Vlahos will be massive, Melbourne Heart 2nd choice 'keeper Seb Mattei will step in for the Griffin McMaster (Moreland) the loss of Ederaro and Elvin may hurt
The Star - Andy Vlahos, still up there with the best in the league.
The One to Watch - If Evan Christodoulou puts in another good season he will be A-League bound.
David Says - A win on the final day last season would have seen Heidelberg win the minor premiership. They lost to relegated Springvale and finished fifth. They should just make the finals.
Christian Says - Always consistent, they will be hungry to succeed after last season's final round choke.
Christian Says - Always consistent, they will be hungry to succeed after last season's final round choke.
Ilija Says - Can't see them as real contenders, finals will be considered a success.
Scott Says - Andy Vlahos at the helm is a huge boost, finals bound.
We Predict 5th
The Squad - Have lost a heap of talent and experience in Vlahos (Heidelberg) Thompson (Dandenong) Acevski (Coach) and goal scoring machine Richie Cardozo (Austria)
The Star - Atilla Ofli, although only 17y.o. there is big wraps on the attacking midfielder
The One to Watch - Jose Guerrero the 19 y.o. from Chile will bang 'em in.
David Says - Led for most of last season before imploding at the end., will struggle to make finals.
Christian Says - A loss of key players will see Hume finish mid-table, but without being disgraced.
Christian Says - A loss of key players will see Hume finish mid-table, but without being disgraced.
Ilija Says - Always have high expectations, nothing new this season. Finals is a priority.
Scott Says - Lost a heap of experience after a fairytale ride last season, can't see finals for them this year.
We Predict 7th
The Squad - Not many rumblings from Sommers St in the off season. The losses were expected and the gains were thin.
The Star - Josip Kozic, the captain, the talisman, the inspirational leader.
The One to Watch - Louis Fenton, Danny Tiatto rates him so who are we to argue.
David Says - It's hard to predict whats in store, but I think they will be lucky to survive the drop.
Christian Says - Hard to say, with no real big signings and a poor record last season it doesn't bode well. Good things have been said about the coaching squad, which could make the difference.
Christian Says - Hard to say, with no real big signings and a poor record last season it doesn't bode well. Good things have been said about the coaching squad, which could make the difference.
Ilija Says - Will want to improve on tenth last season.
Scott Says - Just held off relegation last season, will be hard pressed to do it again. Hard to fathom one of Australia's biggest and best clubs heading to State League.
We Predict 11th
Moreland Zebras - 1st Last Season in State League
The Squad - Have added Chris Grossman (Nth Qld) last seasons goalkeeper of the year Griffin McMaster (Heidelberg) plus South Melbourne trio Carl Recchia (captain), Steven Weir and Daniel Vasilevski.
The Star - Chris Grossman and Griffen McMaster - hopefully two players back in the A-League soon.
The One to Watch - Vinnie Farrety. He's 21 and will improve as the season goes on (so says McMaster).
David Says - Up from State League and recruited well. Enough quality to at least make the finals.
Christian Says - Could finish first, could finish last - impossible to tell.
Christian Says - Could finish first, could finish last - impossible to tell.
Ilija Says - Great new editions to the side, should challenge for finals.
Scott Says - Plenty of money has bought plenty of quality, big leap from State League though.
We Predict 4th
The Squad - the losses are big, Trent Rixon, Jason and Glen Tifiro and De Nittis (South Melbourne) and the signings are not.
The Star - Hard to say as they all left, but Kalifatidis and Chiappetta go well.
The One to Watch - 19 y.o. Jonathan Voulgaris will fill a large void.
David Says - After losing their Mirabella cup winning coach and three best players, will find it tough.
Christian Says - Lost their best three players and their coach, The Mirabella Cup winners will no doubt be hurt by their losses. If they struggle early they could find themselves in the relegation dog-fight.
Christian Says - Lost their best three players and their coach, The Mirabella Cup winners will no doubt be hurt by their losses. If they struggle early they could find themselves in the relegation dog-fight.
Ilija Says - Narrowly missed out on finals last season, aim will be to be amongst the contenders however that will be tough with loss of key players.
Scott Says - Loss of Tifiro brothers and Rixon to hard to cover, will be safe though.
We Predict 8th
Oakleigh Cannons - 2nd Last Season
The Squad - Jesse Krncevic and Daniel Dragicevic (South Melbourne) are good signings especially if Krncevic can keep his cool.
The Star - Ricky Diaco, a very consistent VPL performer who scores when its needed.
The One to Watch - Craig Goodwin, Hayden Doyle.
David Says - Just missed out on Mirabella Cup, Premiership and Championship; won't be as good this year.
Christian Says - The loss of Arthur Pappas is a huge blow, a great young coach who did very well with the squad last season. Expect to see them start of well before drifting off in the second half of the year.
Christian Says - The loss of Arthur Pappas is a huge blow, a great young coach who did very well with the squad last season. Expect to see them start of well before drifting off in the second half of the year.
Ilija Says - Heartbreaking last season, can they come back?
Scott Says - Coach Arthur Pappas a big loss, Krencevic a big gain. Too many teams have improved for Oakleigh to make a run for it again this season.
We Predict 6th
Richmond - 7th Last Season
The Squad - Still have Ferrante who is a sensational leader and have added a great defender in Topalovic (South Melbourne) John van't Schip's son Davey also finds a place in the Eagles squad this season.
The Star - Ferrante should be playing at a higher level.
The One to Watch - Topalovic could be the centre back Melbourne Victory are searching for.
David Says - Haven't been busy in the transfer market and will find it difficult to improve on last season.
Christian Says - Will most likely struggle this season, didn't have a great 2011 and haven't added.
Christian Says - Will most likely struggle this season, didn't have a great 2011 and haven't added.
Ilija Says - Disappointing 2011 campaign, will need to improve in 2012 but I can't see it happening.
Scott Says - Finished off 2011 well, but don't think they have enough to stay up this season.
We Predict 12th
South Melbourne - 4th Last Season @smfc
The Squad - Very impressive gains in Rixon, Tifiro (Glen and Jason) as well as Dimi Tsiaras (Richmond) but the losses of Recchia (Moreland) Krncevic, Dragicevic (Oakleigh) aren't to be taken lightly.
The Star - Trent Rixon, just a goal scoring machine.
The One to Watch - Dimi Tsiaras - back at the club where he was a junior, should shine.
The Star - Trent Rixon, just a goal scoring machine.
The One to Watch - Dimi Tsiaras - back at the club where he was a junior, should shine.
David Says - New manager, new players and a new era, apparently. Things are looking good down at Lakeside and they will be the team to beat.
Christian Says - Early season favorites and rightly so, a redeveloped stadium, squad and coaching staff could just put them on the Championship pathway.
Christian Says - Early season favorites and rightly so, a redeveloped stadium, squad and coaching staff could just put them on the Championship pathway.
Ilija Says - Semi-finalist last season, great summer signings including Rixon. Just like the Thunder anything less than a Championship will be considered a failure.
Scott Says - The sleeping giant has awoken, will win the league and win it easy.
We Predict 1st
Southern Stars - 2nd Last Season in State League
The Squad - Added Pat Sullivan (Shamrock Rovers) , Yanni Gelanos (South Melbourne), David Stirton (Melbourne Victory youth) and John Fitzgerald.
The Star - Pat Sullivan will be the signing of the season.
The One to Watch - David Stirton will want to have another crack at the big time.
David Says - Real unknown, Stars have some good players in their squad but it remains to be seen if that's enough to keep them up.
Christian Says - Relegation favorites but will do better than most people think. Some key signings and a winning mentality from two successive promotions will put them in good stead for their biggest season.
Christian Says - Relegation favorites but will do better than most people think. Some key signings and a winning mentality from two successive promotions will put them in good stead for their biggest season.
Ilija Says - Not sure what to expect from the newcomers, will survive the drop, surprising a few.
Scott Says - Only lost four games in two seasons, big jump but have the players to stay up.
We Predict 9th