SOCCER
Langwarrin has signed Northcote City aces Alun Webb and Zac Bates but has lost star striker Archie Macphee to Dandenong City.
Macphee has proven himself at the second and third tiers of Victoria’s NPL set-up and wants a chance to test himself at the top NPL level.
Webb, 31, and Bates, 25, will prompt a tactical change to Langy’s game style — one that could excite the local side’s supporters.
Webb played for Rhyl and Llandudno in Wales before a stint with Chattanooga FC in the USA.
He arrived here to play with Adelaide Croatia in the pandemic-ravaged 2020 season, then came to Victoria to play with Melbourne Knights the following year before joining South Melbourne for the 2022 season.
He has been at Northcote for the past two seasons and was its leading scorer this year.
Langwarrin gaffer Jamie Skelly is confident that he’ll prove to be a very good signing.
“He can play anywhere across the front line,” Skelly said.
“Webby’s a consistent scorer and we are expecting him to come in and score for us.
“He’s different to Archie in that he’s probably more dynamic and loves to get in behind defenders whereas Archie’s strength was receiving the ball and bringing others into play.
“Webby’s more likely to play off the shoulder of defenders so we won’t have a real target man like Archie.
“This gives us a chance to change our style a little bit and we’ll potentially play through our midfielders then try to get the ball to Webby in behind.”
There was little trouble luring Webb to Lawton Park.
“He was keen to come and it was a relatively simple process discussing roles and contract details.
“He knows a few boys in our squad and received positive feedback about the environment, the team and what we are about, so he made the decision fairly quickly.”
Bates had been on Langy’s radar for some time.
“We’ve been speaking to Zac for a number of years,” Skelly added.
“He used to live locally and we’ve always tried to get the best local players but he was at South Melbourne then Northcote.
“Although he’s moved closer to the city he knew that this has always been an option for him but it’s just been an issue of timing and he felt the time was right.
“He’s big and strong, a hard worker and a really good finisher.
“Zac primarily plays wide but he can play as a 10.
“He loves to receive the ball and drive at defenders and he’s very good technically.”
Webb and Bates will officially join their new teammates on Thursday 6 November for the start of pre-season training.
The squad will have seven sessions before a block of games pre-Christmas.
For those missing their regular football fix, Langwarrin will be in action against the following opponents (kick-off times TBC):
Saturday 22 November v. UK tour squad, Lawton Park;
Saturday 29 November v. Dandenong Thunder, TBC;
Saturday 6 December v. Altona City, TBC;
Saturday 13 December v. Melbourne City, Lawton Park;
Saturday 20 December v. Nunawading City, Lawton Park;
Tuesday 23 December v. Skye Utd, Lawton Park.
Langwarrin is also likely to play a friendly on Tuesday 9 December, but the opponent, venue, and kick-off time are yet to be confirmed.
Skelly plans to build a fitness base for his squad before managing game time and fine-tuning game style during the pre-season itinerary.
“We’re trying to build the squad and to improve every year and I think the players coming in will definitely improve us.
“There’s a real enthusiasm around the squad to understand why we started so badly last season and to rectify that next season.
“The players are keen to ensure that doesn’t happen again and to be ready when it all starts up next year.
“We’ve had discussions with them about where they need to be when they come back to training.
“Some are running, some are in the gym and some are doing injury prevention work.”
Skelly could make another couple of signings during the off-season, so his squad remains a work in progress.
STATE 6 NEWS
Mount Eliza has re-appointed Gerry McDonagh as head coach with Graeme Ferguson as his assistant. Tyler White is reserves coach.
To retain the services of the highly regarded McDonagh is no mean feat.
The former NPL head coach guided the senior squad to its best-ever finish in a one-off year where the State Leagues restructure meant every club that didn’t finish in the top two in State 5 was relegated.
“That definitely put a dent on what we achieved by finishing third,” McDonagh said.
Mount Eliza dropped five points in its last four games to relinquish second spot — and safety — to Seaford United.
“We went into the season lacking depth and losing a couple of boys in the back half of the season didn’t help.”
Midfielder Noah Green joined the club this year and had an outstanding season, drawing praise from his coach.
“Noah’s a terrific footballer with a phenomenal work rate and how he’s blended and reacted to the players has been excellent.
“He came here because he wanted to enjoy his football again and thankfully we were able to give that to him.”
Green won the players’ player award at last weekend’s presentation night, with Austin Mcewen winning the best and fairest and top scorer awards. Callum Hope won the coach’s award.
McDonagh is likely to start pre-season next month and is keen to see what impact the leagues restructure has on his club.
“The challenge for us is to attract players to State 6 so we’ll have to see how that pans out.”
Assistant coach Ferguson, who is also the club’s head of youth development, focuses on the under-15s to under-18s and mentors the reserves.
He’s in his third year at Emil Madsen Reserve and is bullish about Mount Eliza’s prospects next season.
“We might lose one or two as we have a very young squad and some of them are finishing uni so they don’t know yet where their placement might be,” Ferguson said.
“But I’m expecting most of them to stay and I don’t see why we wouldn’t be pushing for promotion and hopefully win the league after last season.”
OTHER NEWS
Seaford United last week announced the appointment of Paulo Pinheiro as head coach. His assistants are Jason Alizzi and Steve Keenan.
Pinheiro and Alizzi were in charge of Seaford’s reserves this year, missing out on the title on goal difference.
Pinheiro has also coached at Skye United and Frankston Pines and was last in charge of Seaford’s senior team 10 years ago after taking over from Darren Roberts.
“I got a call about the job and I thought about it and decided to go for it,” he said.
“The seniors played really well this year and I want to keep that momentum going.
“I have talked to the players and everyone seems to be onboard and I expect the bulk of the squad to stay.
“I want to bring energy and fun to this group – they deserve it.
“I’m really happy with where things are at the moment and I want to continue that into the new season.”
