Opinion
In the latest FFA Cup preview, I take a closer look at the NNSW NPL and one of its strongest clubs, Broadmeadow Magic.
The club was founded in 1966 by the local Macedonian community.
Broadmeadow has been very successful and has collected 18 trophies including state leagues, state league grand finals, presidents cups and state cups, as well as a being runner-up on multiple occasions.
However, the cabinet in recent years has run a little sparse. The last piece of silverware was added in 2014.
The Magic’s run in the NNSW NPL this campaign appears to have fallen by the wayside as well. After looking comfortable for the majority of the season so far, the Magic’s strong form disappeared into smoke.
With only one win from the past five games played, the Magic has now rocketed down to fourth on the table – seven points off the summit and three points behind the team directly above them.
Even though the Magic picked up that crucial win last match day, any momentum they were hoping to build on from this much needed victory has been put on hold. NSW’s severe lockdown restrictions have meant matches have had to be postponed indefinitely.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The manager of the team is Anthony Richards.
Richards was given the head coach role in 2020 after two seasons as an assistant when Broadmeadow made the surprising decision to part ways with former A-League legend Ruben Zadkovich.
Several players also left that season and Richards wasted no time in ushering through the youth as well as making changes to the club’s fitness regime. They ended up finishing second.
Broadmeadow’s top scorer currently has nine goals and is a name fans of the A-League will be familiar with, James Virgili.
The former Celtic triallist and one-time youngest player in the A-League spent six seasons at the Newcastle Jets with varying degrees of success. There was no questioning Virgili’s skill to beat a man, but after several seasons the Jets released a player that still struggled to finish moves in the final third.
The A-League’s loss has been Broadmeadow’s gain, as Virgili has been a revelation, netting 70-plus goals in just over 100 matches.
Virgili is without a doubt in the equation for best forward in the NPL nationally over the past five years. The chance to play in the A-League again has more than likely gone for the now 29-year-old. He still has the ability to cause issues for the Wanderers’ defence.
Mitch Rooke has backed up Virgili with seven goals so far this season.
The former Manly United player is now in his second season with the Magic and his creativity and delivery from dead-ball situations will be things to keep an eye on.
Virgili’s strike partner Sam Walker has also contributed five goals this term.
Walker won the 2018 Jennings Medal for best player in the comp, scoring 40 goals for his previous club Lake Macquarie in three seasons and he will be hoping to add to his goal tally when the season commences.
Broadmeadow’s A-League opponents the Western Sydney Wanderers will be under a lot of pressure to win here.
Manager Carl Robinson has been backed again when it seemed likely he was headed for the sack after the abysmal A-League campaign ended with the team missing the finals and multiple clubs upset with the way the Wanderers went about recruiting Robinson as well as players.
The club has been on a recruitment spree and there is absolutely no excuse for the club to not only win here, but the realistic goal of trying to win the FFA Cup. A bad result though will see Robinson under even more pressure to hold onto his precarious job.
Broadmeadow will need to delve into their bag of tricks in the hope of finding some form of magic to cause an upset here.
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