Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Gold Coast City FC

A solid pre-season and key attacking recruits are the key to Gold Coast City’s push to reclaim PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues silverware in 2016 according to coach Grae Piddick.

The club has confirmed its squad for the season ahead with the major additions in the attacking third of the pitch after the club struggled to fill the void left by former competition MVP Chris Lucas last year.

Piddick said the side is eager to start the campaign after a long pre-season that was designed to prevent a repeat of a sluggish start that ultimately cost the side a spot in the top four in 2015.

“Last year we had some key players that moved on and it took us a while to get going. The start of the season really cost us last year but we came home strong,” Piddick explained.

“So this year the focus is to start well and if we can do that then the aim is finals football. We changed our pre-season a bit and that was about playing more games and forging combinations and making sure our players gel.”

Plenty of familiar faces return for City in 2016 - including midfielders Justyn McKay and Ben Litfin as well as wide players Nik Mirkovic and Roman Hofmann and goalkeeper Shane Viitakangas – however it is the new recruits in the front third that appear set to offer Piddick’s side the punch they lacked last year.

Joining returning striker Jarrod Kyle are a raft of local products eager to represent their hometown club on the national stage.

Goal-happy striker Lyndon Dykes joins from Redlands United and brother Rhys and Morgan Saunders have been recruited from local Gold Coast community clubs, while dynamic winger Daniel Dragicevic has returned to the coast from a one year stint with former PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Champions Sydney United 58.

Piddick says he expects his arsenal of attacking weapons to prove a handful for defenders across the league.

“We lacked a bit of firepower last year, especially with Jarrod Kyle injured, but we’ve added these attackers and the good thing about them is they are from the Gold Coast and they all enjoy playing for and on the coast.”

“So for me it’s just about making sure these boys are able to play a full season and don’t get injured and if they do that then I expect them to score a lot of goals for us.”

However, Piddick was quick to add that titles are won by defences. He said former Hyundai A-League and Palm Beach SC star Kristian Rees, who has transitioned into an assistant coaching role this season, has been passing on his knowledge to the backline which includes proven performers Eoghan Murphy, Matthew Jones and Tim Jackson.

“If you want to win titles and be successful then your backline and team as a whole need to make sure they don’t concede goals,” Piddick said.

“From our point of view we are always focusing on making sure we are difficult to score against knowing that we have the capability to score goals.”

Despite being one of the most nationally recognised clubs in the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues courtesy of their Westfield FFA Cup achievements, Piddick said this season his charges are eager to establish City as the name synonymous with football on the Gold Coast.

“There’s an element of getting that Gold Coast City brand out there. It’s still a Palm Beach owned entity but we have already seen the benefits of the name change.”

“We have changed the name to be more representative of the whole Gold Coast region and from that perspective it has been successful.”

“But on the national stage people may not know who Gold Coast City are right now but I don’t think it will be long before they see Gold Coast City out there and performing well,” Piddick concluded.

Gold Coast City FC Squad - PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues

 

Shane VIITAKANGAS, Matthew JONES, Tim JACKSON, Drew JESKEY (visa player), Riley DILLON, Jason CAMPBELL, Justyn MCKAY, Roman HOFMANN, Jarrod KYLE, Ben LITFIN, Nik MIRKOVIC, Simon BRADLEY, Rhys SAUNDERS, Lyndon DYKES, Eoghan MURPHY, Lochlan REUS, Rees DUNCAN, Morgan SAUNDERS, Daniel DRAGICEVIC, Lucas CHICCO