Blue Eagles captain Chris Annicchiarico is a lawyer by day and fierce defender by night

Adelaide Blue Eagles captain Chris Annicchiarico says Monday night NPL is a real boost for crowds, fans and players.

ADELAIDE Blue Eagles captain Chris Annicchiarico is a bit like a super hero.
A mild-mannered commercial and tax lawyer for WRP Legal and Advisory by day, Annicchiarico will on Monday night don the Azzurri cape in a battle to beat Para Hills at the Marden Sports Complex from 8.15pm.

The downside to the late kick-off is that the adrenaline lingers, Annicchiarico says.

After loading up on carbs by downing pasta post-match in the Azzurri clubrooms, he starts to settle in the early hours of the morning before reporting fresh for work at 7.15am in Victoria Square.

“I must admit it’s difficult with the recovery side of things,” the 27-year-old said.

“By the time you clean up, eat and get home it’s about 11.30pm and close to 2am before I can get to sleep because you’re still pumped from the game.

“It’s a small inconvenience. But the Monday night games have worked out well and I’m sure the travelling clubs and fans enjoy it as well.”

The Blue Eagles are attracting the best crowds seen at the club in years, largely due to the interest in their new Italian signings, striker Emanuele Testardi and centre back Ivan D’Adamo.

“Having Emanuele and Ivan has given us a big lift and they bring in some good experience from overseas,’’ Annicchiarico said.

“They’re contrasting players, Emanuele is more of an old-fashioned No. 9, he likes to hold up the ball, he’s good in the air and he’s very strong and he has very good link-up play.

“Ivan has been slotting in next to me at centre back, he’s got great composure, has a very good positional sense, qualities you can’t buy.

“Emanuele is certainly a fiery full-blooded Italian, that’s for sure, that’s what I like to see on my team rather than having to mark him.”

Blue Eagles have a chance to climb to third sport on the NPL ladder with a win or Para Hills could jump the home side if the Knights earn their first three points of the season.

“It’s been quite a positive start to the season,”Annicchiarico said. “We had that big derby win against Campbelltown (3-2) and we ground out a few results against Adelaide City (3-3) and West Adelaide (1-1).’’

“We played Para Hills in preseason, they’re well structured and difficult to break down and they’re always up for a battle, it’s always tough.”

The clash winds down a weekend where a goal from Peter Mercurio helped the Croydon Kings sting Olympic’s 100 per cent record in a 1-1 draw at Polonia Reserve.

Adelaide City edged closer to having positive points when the club started at minus six for contract breaches in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Raiders at the Croatian Sports Centre.

Johnny Warren Medallist Marcos Flores scored his third goal in four City matches.

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