South Coast United had a shocker of a start to their 2016 campaign, losing the opening five matches and conceding 20 goals in the process. Captain Greg Valic then took over the reins as player-coach and saw his side slowly climb the ladder to a respectable 10^th, only once letting in more than two goals a game.

The off-season has seen a massive exodus from Ian McLellan Park and not many players in to strengthen the squad. Valic is still in charge, but the start could be as tricky as it was in 2016, judging by results in the pre-season Fraternity Cup.

United lost their two main goal scorers in Liam Unicomb (to Kemblawarra Fury) and Gongjun Lee (to Poland), they’ve lost four players to Corrimal, and former favourite Dinko Terzic is now knocking them in at a revived Coniston.

Players to watch

Greg Valic’s leadership is going to be even more essential to South Coast in 2017 than it was in 2016. Tommy Skara and Ricky Bertakis have remained and can create good opportunities for any strike force United can muster. And Denis Stojic can use his height to good advantage.

Veteran Steve Dimitrievski has been brought in from Wollongong United, and scored South Coast’s only goal in their Fraternity Cup pool last month. Junior Mushaba made a handful of appearances for Rockdale City Suns under-20s last season and looks promising. Yu Takahashi is United’s Japanese import, and there is a teenager who has made a few appearances in the first team and may well come on with the team struggling: so watch for Ivan Bratansak if he gets a game.

Season expectation

Any team with Greg Valic in charge will not go down without a fight, and however badly United might start the 2017 campaign, they will draw inspiration from 2016 and their come back from a point-less first five matches.

But I don’t think I’ll be alone in pencilling in South Coast United to be propping up the ladder at the end of the 22 Rounds.