Messenger Soccer League captains and players talk about their school’s chances ahead of 2019 college season
Confidence is high ahead of the Messenger Soccer League season as Adelaide colleges get set to face off in a new two-conference system.
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Confidence is high ahead of the Messenger Soccer League season as Adelaide colleges get set to face off in a new two-conference system.
Matches kick off on Wednesday night and 17 colleges will battle in two geographical sides of the competition before being split into two tiers for finals.
Blackfriars, Gleeson, Pembroke, Prince Alfred, Rostrevor, St Ignatius, St Paul’s and Trinity take each other on in the north/east conference.
The south/west conference features Cardijn, Christian Brothers, Immanuel, Mercedes, Pulteney, Sacred Heart, Scotch, St Michael’s and St Peter’s.
The top four of each conference at the end of a round robin will face off in the division one finals, while the remaining four will compete for the division two title.
Messenger Community News has spoken to eight captains and star players ahead of the campaign.
BLACKFRIARS
A core, tight-knit group of Year 12s has Blackfriars primed for the season, according to midfielder Jai King.
The Prospect school will kick off its campaign in the college competition against Gleeson on Wednesday night at Jet Park.
King believed there were more Year 12s in the Hounds’ squad than there ever had in recent memory.
“There are a few Year 11s and Year 10s, but we’ve got a good group of Year 12s that have been together for four or five years, so there’s been a big build up for us,” King, 17, said.
“We’re definitely looking to knock the ball around well.
The midfielder said Adelaide United Youth prospect Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio and Raiders under-18 pair Lachlan Palmieri and Jordan Mugford would be key to Blackfriars’ hopes.
CARDIJN
Cardijn captain Jordan Steer believes the southern college is refreshing with youth in 2019.
The central midfielder said his side would implement a high-pressure style to launch its attack.
“We’ve got quite a young side this season but we jell really well together,” Steer, 17, said.
“Previously our open sides have been dominated by Year 12s but this year there is only a few.
“The majority of our side are in Year 11.
“We look to win the ball back quickly when we lose it, play out from the back and move the ball fast to get on the counter attack.
“We really emphasise winning the ball back quickly and not letting the other team just control the game.”
Cardijn hosts Christian Brothers in the season opener.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS
Christian Brothers is looking to respond after a tough 2018 season with plenty of hard work ahead of its campaign, according to captain Matthew Di Matteo.
“Everyone is really excited to be honest,” central midfielder Di Matteo said.
“We’re all ready to pull our socks up, work hard and hopefully get good results.
“We didn’t have the best season (last year).
“We started quite well but dropped off towards then end.
“Especially intercol, our biggest game, we lost so that was disappointing.
“We’ve been working on our game in all areas, making sure we get all the little one-percenters right.”
CBC is away to Cardijn in round one.
GLEESON
Gleeson captain Cooper Nunn is expecting a stout defence to be his side’s strength as it eyes a successful run.
The Golden Grove college has produced plenty of SA soccer talent in recent years.
Nunn said the defensive focus had been driven by one of those exports – Gleeson graduate, former A-League defender and current Campbelltown City player Daniel Mullen, the college’s high performance coach.
“Compared to last year, where we had players all over the shop, this year we’ve settled down a bit more, got into training earlier and sorted out commitment from everyone,” Nunn said.
“For our team, we’re looking like more of a defensive team this year.
“Not saying we will struggle up front – we have the potency to play well in the front third – but I think defensively is where we have strength in numbers and coaching staff at Gleeson.
“Especially Daniel Mullen, his defensive work with us is really good and I think that will help the team a lot.”
Gleeson has a tough test against Blackfriars to open the campaign.
IMMANUEL
Immanuel captain Alex Tsavalas expects gradual improvement and a team-first attitude to hold the Novar Gardens college in good stead this season.
With new coach Eddie Briscoe at the helm, central midfielder Tsavalas said Immanuel would approach its matches with a fresh approach.
“We’ve got a very young side with potential, if we work together,” Tsavalas, 18, said.
“We don’t have superstar players but all have our own strengths, fast attackers, strong defenders, so if we all work together we should improve on previous years.
“We’ll look to play out from the back more, keep the ball and look to counter-attack quickly.
“We’re definitely more of an attacking team. We’re stronger up front and have some good midfielders who can play the ball out wide and long balls over the top.
“It might not be the prettiest game at times but we’ll do the best we can and try and get the wins.”
Immanuel plays St Peter’s first up.
PRINCE ALFRED
Prince Alfred skipper Blake Favretto hopes a young squad will bring vibrancy and energy to Princes ahead of a crucial campaign in the college’s 150th year.
The centre back said a Year 12-heavy team in 2018 had left gaps to step up into for this season’s players.
“We’ve got quite a young squad and we’re looking to develop them as much as possible,” Favretto, 17, said.
“At the moment we’ve got quite a lot of pace up forward and on the wings, so we’ll obviously look to use that but we’re also looking for quick, one-touch football, play it around and use those boys up front as much as possible.
“Because the squad is young, it’s quite vibrant and energetic.
“Especially in our 150th year we want to represent the school as best as possible and I think we’re in a good place to do that.”
Prince Alfred squares off with St Paul’s in the first match.
SACRED HEART
Sacred Heart will have a target on its back this season after a strong 2018 but the Somerton Park college is welcoming the pressure, according to captain Caden Yates.
The attacking midfielder was confident Hearts were in for another competitive campaign with a “promising” squad.
“We feel like we’ve got a strong team this year, the coaching has been great, everyone respects the coaches and team chemistry has been really good,” Yates, 17, said.
“We won the twilight tournament last year and had a really strong team.
“I reckon a lot of teams will be wanting to beat us but we’re raring to go.
“I would expect tiki-taka, real quick movement but a strong midfield and defence.”
Yates said Hearts would be led by West Torrens Birkalla duo Christian Tinnion and Marcus McInerney, along with Cumberland United goalkeeper Charlie Yull.
Sacred Heart has a bye in round one before opening the season against Pulteney.
ST PETER’S
A tour of England last month, including visits to train with world-class academies at Premier League clubs Mancester City and Tottenham Hotspur, has St Peter’s primed for another shot at success in 2019.
Saints’ first XI side travelled to the UK and also played seven matches against schools and academy sides, including English Championship club Brentford.
Centre back Peter Unerkov said the team was in synch ahead of the campaign.
“Last year was a pretty successful year for us ... this year there’s been a bit of a change in the team but we’re still looking good,” Unerkov, 17, said.
“We’ll look to play out from the back, within reason, as much as we can and just build from there.
“We just went to England for two weeks, so we’ve played together a fair bit now.”
Unerkov earmarked skipper and right back Adam Slimming as Saints’ key man.
“He’s quick and pretty solid as a defender,” Unerkov said.
“And there’s Jasper Hoffman, who is our striker and was our leading goalscorer last year as a Year 11 – he’s looking in good touch.”
St Peter’s kicks its season off against Immanuel.
patrick.keam@news.com.au
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