St Albans confident of stronger NPL Victoria showing following ‘professional’ pre-season

A focus on an improved pre-season preparation and several new faces has St Albans confident of a stronger showing in NPL Victoria in 2024.

Michael Grgic in action for St Albans.

A more professional pre-season has St Albans confident of a stronger showing in NPL Victoria 2024.

The Saints finished 11th last season, seven points clear of the relegation zone, undefeated in the opening five games of the year but winning just five of the last 21.

The club has undergone several key changes ahead of coach Ryan McGuffie’s second season.

As many as 15 new faces have been brought in, including an expanded coaching team.

McGuffie believes better preparation over summer will deliver improved performances.

“This year I asked St Albans to back me in regards to bringing in a new strength and conditioning coach and new goalkicking coach, which they have done,” McGuffie said.

Dylan McGlade in action for St Albans.

“Last year I was taking the whole pre-season in regards to fitness but this year is a bit more professional.

“I played professionally for 17 years, so I was just doing the pre-season based on things I’ve done and things I know will get you fit.

“Having a strength and conditioning coach, it gives you a better insight into what you’re doing week-in, week-out.

“Last year by Round 4, we started with 22 players, and we had 16 or 17 fit players so obviously my pre-season didn’t prepare them too well.

“They were mainly soft tissue injuries but this year, touch wood, we haven’t had any injuries so far.”

Roy Hunter has been named goalkeeping coach, while Stefan Dezan and John Yiannoullou have been brought in to lead strength and conditioning and medical respectively.

Despite leaving in the mid-season transfer window, George Ott still finished as St Albans leading scorer last season with six goals.

Skipper Michael Grgic was second with four as the club finished with the third fewest goals in the competition.

Star striker George Ott moved to Avondale mid-season. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Preparations for the new season have ramped up with St Albans playing out a 2-2 draw with VPL1 club North Geelong Warriors at the Croatian Cup earlier this month.

The Saints then went down 2-0 to premiership contender South Melbourne at Lakeside Stadium on Thursday.

The club kicks off its campaign with a trip to Murphy Reserve and a clash with Port Melbourne on Saturday, February 10.

McGuffie was pleased with how his squad was shaping up.

“It’s been good, we’ve managed to get a decent squad of players together. We’re really pleased with the squad,” he said.

“We lost 2-0 to South Melbourne, that was a good hit-out, Estaban (Quintas) has them playing a good brand of football that’s very defensive.

“There were a lot of positives and I think we can improve a lot … and if they were top of the league last year we’re not far off.

“(Last year) was my first year as senior coach and there was an occasion where we went six games without a win and that’s the first time in my life that that’s happened, so that was hard to take.

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“The transfer window we lost six or seven players that moved to different clubs, so it’s difficult for a team in the NPL to readjust.

“We played the last eight games without a No.9.

“With the way the NPL structure is it takes two or three years before you can say this us your team … but the players we’ve got now are the players I want in the squad.”

St Albans first match at Churchill Reserve will see it play host to reigning premier and champion Avondale on Sunday, February 18.