Oakleigh Cannons refreshes its squad as it looks to climb NPL Victoria mountain in 2024

Premiership contender Oakleigh Cannons has given its playing squad a refresh as it looks to climb back to the NPL Victoria summit in 2024.

Alex Salmon in action for Oakleigh Cannons.

A change is as good as a holiday, as they say.

Oakleigh Cannons hopes a refresh of its playing group can help it return to the NPL Victoria summit in 2024.

The 2022 champions and 2023 Dockerty Cup winners are expected to once again be among the leading contenders for silverware this season.

Senior regulars Chris Lucas, Alexander Fiechtner, Brandon Lundy, Anton Mlinaric and Daniel Clark have departed.

Western United youth midfielder Noah Taylor was confirmed on Monday with more announcements expected in the next week.

Joe Guest in action for Oakleigh Cannons.

Respected coach Chris Taylor said the club was pleased with its progress ahead of the new season.

“We know we’re a club that wants to achieve things and that’s probably why we changed things around a little bit,” Taylor said.

“We’ve got a couple of young players in, freshen things up, so that it’s not the same year-in and year-out.

“Things are travelling reasonably, we’ve assembled a squad and got a few new signings we’re going to announce this week.

“Over the next two weeks we’ll dot the Is and cross the Ts and finalise two or three little things, so we’re not too far away.”

Oakleigh kicks off its 2024 campaign at Jack Edwards Reserve against NPL new-comers Manningham United.

Last season, the club finished third in the league and reached the preliminary final, losing 2-1 to South Melbourne in the 92nd minute.

The Cannons claimed the Dockerty Cup with a 3-0 victory over Heidelberg United and reached the Australia Cup Round of 32, going down to Melbourne City in a 3-2 thriller.

Alex Salmon finished the year with 13 goals, third most in the league, while Stefan Valentini netted nine times and defender Connor Hampson scored seven.

Joe Guest will once again be an integral part of the Cannons line-up as one of the best creative midfielders in the NPL.

Oakleigh has warmed up for Round 1 with friendlies against Port Melbourne, Brunswick City, Beaumaris and Melbourne City NPL and faces NPL rival Green Gully on Saturday.

Taylor was reserved when discussing expectations.

“We’ve had quite a few (matches) … I think we’ve won them all but it’s not about the result, it’s about getting players fit and trying to sort your formation and system out.

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“We know we’re going to be there or thereabouts, if we get a bit of luck I daresay we could win things again.

“Football is football, we won (the grand final) after winning a penalty shootout and in extra-time in the finals and then had a big win in the final.

“Last year we probably didn’t have the luck, a couple of decisions went against us and sometimes that’s the way results are achieved, it can be quite cruel.

“I felt we were the best side last year, us and Avondale would have been a good final.”