Greek fans couldn’t have asked for a better NPL season this year as four Greek sponsored clubs dominated the league. Now it seems the FFV is banking on that fandom to flock to the new season by booking champions South Melbourne and runners up Oakleigh Cannons to play the opening match of the 2015 season.
The blockbuster grudge match scheduled for February 19 at Lakeside Stadium will see thousands of Greek Australians head down to seek some validation that their team deserves their support once again.
One person who’s a little bit miffed at the fixture is Oakleigh Cannons’ head coach, Miron Bleiberg.
He understands the FFV’s reasoning, but says if he could have it his way, the Cannons would be playing South Melbourne later on in the season.
“As a coach I would like to think it would be better to play them after a few rounds because then I learn about them and I can adjust,” he tells Neos Kosmos.
“If I know more about the opposition, it gives me an advantage tactically on how to play them, because now we’re going for the unknown.”
But playing in front of thousands is quite a highlight for Miron and his players.
“We’re in a performance-based industry, all the players would like to play in front of 10,000 people, not 300 people,” he says.
FFA Cup semi-finalists Bentleigh Greens will be welcomed back with a game against newly promoted team North Geelong.
Thrown into the unknown, the Greens will at least be hosting fans back at Kingston Heath, just months after their stands were at capacity against Perth Glory.
Heidelberg will also host their fans at Olympic Village as they take on Pascoe Vale in their first match.
Port Melbourne Sharks and Northcote city will travel to meet Hume City and Green Gully respectively in their opening matches.
This time, the NPLV will have 14 clubs contesting the title and will see the return of the finals series, something that has coaches ecstatic.
The NPL finals for the top six teams will start on August 28-30 and conclude on September 13.
There will also be several fixtures which will be played on ANZAC Day.
With the added teams, fixtures will be scheduled on Thursdays and end on Mondays.
“I’m happy that our NPL is 14 teams now, other states only have 12 teams so it means more games,” Bleiberg admits.
Buoyed by the popularity of the FFA Cup and the impending AFC Asian Cup next year, the FFV will be expecting a surge in interest, hoping to bring more people over to supporting grassroots football.
With the new NPL1 structure splitting into two areas, the FFV is extending its reach and introducing some new teams.
NPL 1 East and NPL 1 West will make way for Eastern Lions, Moreland City, Nunawading City, Murray United, Melbourne Victory (youth) and Melbourne City (youth) to join the ranks.