Victorian Premier League 2013: Two minute preview

The Victorian Premier League kicks off the 2013 season this weekend and as always The Football Sack will keep you right up to date with what's going down. Here is our quick guide to the season. 







Bentleigh Greens 

Last Season
4th

Coach 
John Anastasiadis.

Ins 
Luke Fitzpatrick (Southern Stars), Kyle Joryeff (Richmond SC), Liam McCormick (Southern Stars), Luke Sherbon (Dandenong Thunder), David Stirton (Southern Stars), Ross Thompson (Dandenong Thunder), Stuart Webster (Dandenong Thunder)

We say
Finished 4th last season and have added loads of quality players. On paper Bentleigh look as good as any side we've seen in recent times.

The Football Sack predicts 
Champions



Dandenong Thunder

Last Season 
Champions

Coach 
Chris Taylor

Ins 
Luke Hopper (Hungerford Town - England), Matthew Park (East Fife FC - Scotland), Steven Topalovic (Richmond), Zac Walker (Oakleigh Cannons)

We Say
The reigning champions were unstoppable last season and deserved their domestic treble. They will be the hunted this season and have lost some stars, but will still be a very decent side despite a home-game lock-out for the first half of the competition.

The Football Sack predicts 
2nd




Oakleigh Cannons

Last Season 
Runners-up

Coach 
Bill Theodoropoulos

Ins 
Griffin McMaster (Wellington Phoenix), Steven Gray (Melbourne Heart)

We Say
Two massive signings for the perennial there-abouters. Will again be there abouts this season.

The Football Sack predicts 
3rd



Green Gully Cavaliers

Last Season
3rd

Coach
Dean Hennessey

Ins
Michael Anderson (North Geelong Warriors), Tom Cahill (Richmond SC), Sean Harding (Ballarat Red Devils), Scott Muirhead (Richmond SC)

We Say
Always a strong club and will be keen to get back to their double championship winning ways of two years ago. The loss of Hockless is somewhat offset by the arrival of Tom Cahill

The Football Sack predicts
4th




Port Melbourne Sharks

Last Season
2nd in State League One

Coach
Eric Vassiliadis

Ins
Kristian Sarkies (Heidelberg United), Kamal Ibrahim (Heidelberg United), Ros Honos (Oakleigh Canons), Graham Hockless (Green Gully), James Riccobene (Heidelberg United), Adam Nakic (Melbourne Knights)

We Say
Some huge signings for the newly promoted Sharks should see them push for finals in their return to the top division, but much like Moreland Zebras last season, will they gel? Massive wraps on Ros Honos from people in the know!

The Football Sack predicts
5th



Melbourne Knights

Last Season
8th

Coach
Andrew Marth

Ins
Chris May (Heidelberg United), Tommy Fraser (Whitehawk - England), Bobby Vidanovski (Hume City), Joseph Konyit (NK Vrapce - Croatia), Hassan Daramy (Bonnyrigg White Eagles - New South Wales)

We Say
Andrew Marth took the Knights from strugglers to  finals contenders in a short period last season and now with a pre-season under his belt should have this team right up there fighting for a finals spot.

The Football Sack predicts
6th



South Melbourne

Last Season
6th

Coach
Peter Tsolakis

Ins
Tyson Holmes (Sunshine Coast Fire - Queensland), Alan Kearney (Southern Stars), Rhys Meredith (Redlands United - Queensland), Carl Recchia (Moreland Zebras), Renco van Eeken (Hardenberg - Netherlands)

We Say
The hype this season is nowhere near what it was this time a year ago. The squad is good and will give a good shake in claiming a finals spot.

The Football Sack predicts
7th



Northcote City

Last Season
5th

Coach
Goran Lozanovski

Ins
Michael Eager (Redlands United – Queensland), Evan Kounavellis (Adelaide Blue Eagles – South Australia), Frazer Siddall (Southern Stars)

We Say
Just slipping away from the big boys it seems. Finals a stretch.

The Football Sack predicts
8th



Richmond

Last Season
7th

Coach
Jean-Marc Imbert

Ins
Petar Franjic (Bangkok Glass - Thailand), Kliment Taseski (Moreland Zebras), Josh Groenewald (Melbourne Heart)

We Say
Have managed to keep their head above water the last few seasons and will do so again.

The Football Sack predicts
9th



Southern Stars

Last Season
10th

Coach
Zaya Younan

Ins
Andrew Viola (Richmond SC), Halil Gur (Dandenong City), Ramazan Tavsancioglu (Oakleigh Cannons)

We Say
The Stars have a young squad, have lost quality players as well as their coach and are in transition. Won't make finals.

The Football Sack predicts
10th



Hume City

Last Season
9th

Coach
Lou Acevski

Ins
Sean Canham (Hereford United - England), Deejay Firth (Sunshine Coast Fire - Queensland), Sait Guler (Southern Stars), Josh Knight (Port Talbot Town FC - Wales), Dakota Lucas (Sunshine Coast Fire - Queensland), Alan Mulcahy (Southern Stars), Craig Sives (Shamrock Rovers - Republic of Ireland)

We say
Hume need some stability. Finals seem a long way off at the moment.

The Football Sack predicts
11th



Pascoe Vale

Last Season
1st in State League One

Coach
Vitale Ferrante

Ins
Tom Milardovic (Richmond), Davey van 't Schip (Richmond), Hernan Espindola (Melbourne Victory),
Stefan Sardelic (Altona)

We Say
Will find the step up hard in their first ever season of VPL; haven't brought in enough quality to stay competitive but will trouble sides at their home ground.

The Football Sack predicts
12th

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