NPL Victoria 2023: Players to watch revealed
From internationals to emerging stars, the NPL Victoria 2023 campaign is set to entertain. Here’s some of the players to keep an eye on.
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Another exciting NPL Victoria season is upon us with countless of star players set to take the season by storm.
A mix of talented locals, overseas and interstate players will take the field during the season with the first of 182 home and away matches to begin on Thursday, February 16 between South Melbourne and Moreland City.
Leader Sport has put together a list of the players to watch for the 2023 campaign.
MANASE ABANDELWA (Bentleigh Greens)
Western Australian winger Manase Abandelwa will be an exciting player to watch in the Greens line up this season. He is a short nippy winner who is not afraid to take players on with his dribbling skills and speed. He also has a good strike from mid range.
GIAN ALBANO (Melbourne Knights)
Forward Gian Albano is an exciting attacking player who is exceptional in one-on-one situations. He has the ability to take on defenders and finish strongly as well as assists.
DARCY ANASTOVSKI (Altona Magic)
Moves to Paisley Park after a stint with Melbourne Victory‘s NPL team. The talented youngster played 20 NPL3 matches last season and will now make the step up to the top flight. Coach John Markovski has been impressed by his form in the pre-season and will be a key part of the club’s youthful look. Arrives alongside fellow Victory youth player Aaron Anderson. The central defender played 10 NPL3 matches last season and made his professional debut against Daegu FC in the 2019 AFC Champions League.
KENNY ATHIU (Heidelberg United)
The King is back. King Kenny returns to Olympic Park five years after announcing himself as a potential star. The 201cm striker has since played for Melbourne Victory, Sri Pahang in Malaysia, Visakha in Cambodia, Essendon Royals and made seven appearances for the South Sudan national team. Athiu netted 43 times in 74 appearances for the Warriors and will form a deadly one-two punch with Kaine Sheppard up front.
MARIO BARCIA (Bentleigh Greens)
An experienced 32-year-old who will be the defensive rock in the middle of the pitch for the Greens. Barcia will help with build up play and will be sharp and aggressive in defence. He moved from Avondale to Oakleigh in the mid-season transfer window last season where he finished the campaign with a title.
CIARAN BRAMWELL (Melbourne Knights)
In the last two practice games the Knights have played, Ciaran Bramwell has scored all seven of their goals. He is an exciting attacker who has represented Perth Glory in the A-League on 27 occasions.
AYDEN BRICE (Avondale)
The star defender shifts from Melbourne Knights - where he was captain - to Avenger Park in one of the biggest NPL recruiting coups of the off-season. Brice played all bar three games in the three seasons he was with the Knights and will add another strong presence in Avondale‘s backline. At 26, the New South Welshman is entering the prime of his career and looms as a key addition in Avondale’s hopes of jumping back into the NPL top-six and fighting for the premiership and championship. Brice comes across with Knights teammate, goalkeeper, Tom Manos.
JOSH HOPE (Green Gully)
The former Melbourne Victory attacking midfielder is full of talent. He is set to be a standout player in the NPL Victoria competition this season if he is able to comeback from an injury.
DANNY KIM (South Melbourne)
The former Brisbane Roar A-League footballer was an integral part of Bentleigh Greens triumph in the Dockerty Cup and making the final stages of the NPL and Australia Cup competitions last year. He arrives at South Melbourne this campaign and looks to be major player in their line up with the ability to play as a central midfielder or attacking midfielder.
MITCH ROOKE (Bentleigh Greens)
New recruit Mitch Rooke is a midfielder who comes from NSW. He is an attacking threat who also takes great free kicks. Spectators may not see him until a few rounds into the season due to an injury he is recovering from.
OLIVER KUBILAY (Oakleigh Cannons)
You can’t go past the work rate and effort that you see from Oliver Kubilay week in week out. He often gets forgotten about in the Cannons midfield with the likes of Joe Guest and Tyson Holmes playing alongside him but Kubilay is certainly one that has taken big strides in recent seasons. He is also set to take the role of vice-captaincy in the Cannons side this season.
JORDON LAMPARD (Green Gully)
The 24-year-old is an athletic left back who can play through all the phases of the game. He had a strong season last year and is set for a breakout year which could see him rise to new levels.
SCOTT LOCHHEAD (Dandenong Thunder)
Arrived at the Thunder mid-season last year and made an instant impact. Now signed on for 2023 and with a full pre-season under his belt, Lochhead looms as a key player in the club‘s NPL finals push. The Scot played for both Rangers and Celtic’s youth teams, Dunfermline Athletic, Clyde and Forfar Athletic before making the move to Australia and signing for Pascoe Vale then Oakleigh Cannons. Still only 26 and will plenty of high-quality football in front of him.
LEO MAZIS (Dandenong Thunder)
The talented youngster was a part of Celtic’s youth system before moving to Serie C club Triestina. However, the outbreak of Covid in Italy saw him depart after only a month. He trained with A-League clubs Adelaide United, Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners before returning to Europe and signing for Spanish side Palencia CF. While originally signing for Hume City, Mazis will suit up for the Thunder in 2023 and promises to be a strong addition to a squad looking to break into the NPL top-six.
DYLAN MCGLADE (Hume City)
A classy attacking midfielder from Cork City FC in Ireland who have an eye for goal. McGlade arrives at Hume for his first season.
CALEB MIKULIC (North Geelong)
Was prolific at NPL2 level last season, netting an incredible 18 times in 20 appearance. Scored back-to-back hat-tricks against Goulburn Valley Suns and Brunswick City as he scored in five consecutive games. Will find life harder against some battle-tested defences in the top flight but has more than enough class to test even the best backlines. Formed a strong partnership with George Elliss and Nelson Salvatore up front, who both added six goals last season.
YAGOUB MUSTAFA (Hume City)
The speedy attacker is set to be an exciting new signing for Hume City. Mustafa arrives at the club from Bentleigh Greens and has shown in the past that he can score with both feet.
IVAN RAZUMIC (St Albans)
He was the goal scorer who got St Albans’ season off to a flyer last year when he scored against Avondale away from home to give his side the impressive 1-0 victory. The nippy winger, who has played much of his juniors at the club, could be set for another exciting season.
KAINE SHEPPARD (Heidelberg United)
Finished the 2022 campaign as the NPL‘s equal third leading goalscorer with 15. After stints with Newcastle Jets and Western United, the Warriors will be hoping he can again bang in the goals regularly this season if they are to improve on last season’s elimination final exit and Australia Cup Round of 32 appearance. One of the competition’s most lethal marksmen, Sheppard is short odds to be among the leading strikers in 2023.
LUCA TAVARE (Port Melbourne Sharks)
Impressed in his first season of NPL football in 2022 after stepping up from Northcote City. The Sharks hope he can continue to improve this season after finishing last year with six goals in 27 appearances. An exciting prospect that should benefit from Mohamed Adam‘s arrival as a fellow attacking midfield-forward. If Tavare is scoring goals then Port Melbourne will be competing for high honours once again in 2023.
COREY THOMAS (Moreland City)
The reigning NPL2 league best-and-fairest and Players‘ Player will play a major part in promoted City’s NPL campaign. Thomas played 22 matches and while he only scored one goal was a key cog in his club’s premiership triumph. The Welshman will be a marked man in the top flight but has the class to remain a threat with the ball at his feet.
TOMOKI WADA (Avondale)
The Japanese midfielder arrives at Avenger Park from Indonesian club Persikabo 1973. Has previous experience in Japan‘s J2 League and South Korea’s K1 League, reaching the South Korea’s FA Cup final with Incheon United in 2015. Before his season in Indonesia, Wada was a star of the NSW NPL with Rockdale Illinden, helping the club reach the 2021 grand final. Will add another layer of creativity and dynamism to Avondale’s midfield following the departure of Stefan Valentini.
ANDREW WITHERS (Port Melbourne Sharks)
Backstopped one of the most improved defences in the competition last season. Port Melbourne conceded 37 goals in 26 games in 2019 and 21 in 18 in 2021. However, the Sharks tightened up significantly in 2022, conceding 23 times in 26 matches - second only to premier South Melbourne - as Withers kept 11 clean sheets. He will be a major player in the club‘s hopes of improving on last season’s excellent campaign.
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