Melbourne Victory heads into its 2018 NPL2 West campaign with a relatively settled squad and on the back of a fine Foxtel Y-League season.
Victory showed good signs throughout the Y-League season, finishing second in Group A.
Gareth Naven’s side is set to face far different challenges – particularly physically – in NPL2.
But Victory heads into the competition, beginning with Sunday’s clash against North Geelong Warriors, with a settled squad.
Winger Jack Palazzolo, 17, is the only player added to the Victory squad, signing from Pascoe Vale.
Most of the squad featured in the NPL2 last season, with winger Nicholas Sette and midfielder Brady Quinn making the most appearances of those remaining at the club.
Hyundai A-League players Christian Theoharous, Josh Hope, Cameron McGilp and Pierce Waring are also part of the squad.
Waring scored nine goals during the previous NPL2 campaign, with only Sette (10) managing more, while the forward netted six times in the Y-League.
Of Victory’s 22-man NPL2 squad, seven players were also included for the AFC Champions League.
Along with Theoharous, Hope, McGilp and Waring, Young Socceroo Sette, goalkeeper Matthew Sutton and Birkan Kirdar – a Joey who celebrated his 16th birthday earlier this month – were also named in the squad.
Victory, which finished ninth in the NPL2 West last season, will play 15 of its 28 matches this campaign at Epping Stadium.
Goalkeeper Stephen Hatzikourtis and Callum Goulding have left Victory, signing for Kingston City and Langwarrin respectively.
Melbourne Victory NPL2 squad: Aaron Anderson, Benjamin Carrigan, Luke Goulding, Nicholas Hatzigeorgiou, Josh Hope, Thierry Iradukunda, Joshua Kelic, Birkan Kirdar, Brandon Lauton, Cameron McGilp, Maker Maker, Majak Mawith, Jack Palazzolo, Brady Quinn, Yazid Said, Nuh Sehavdic, Nicholas Sette, Matthew Sutton, Christian Theoharous, John Vakirtzis, Andrew Visciglio, Pierce Waring.
