In a period of utter dominance Melbourne City have won the regular season competition three out of the past four seasons, as well as being the runners-up in three of the last four Grand Finals.
Outside of Sydney FC’s grip of the previous decade, the A-League has not had a club have such a stranglehold of major trophies like Melbourne City’s.
But all that could be about to change, after an incredible off-season that has so far seen eight players depart the club.
Five of the Grand Final starting XI that were humiliated 6-1 by the Mariners are gone (Thomas Lam, Tom Glover, Aiden O’Neill, Jordan Bos and Valon Berisha). A sixth member from that line-up – Marco Tilio – is likely to also follow out the exit door for Europe.
A further three players who were on the bench that fateful night in Richard van der Venne, Scott Jamieson and Matt Sutton have also left the club. It is staggering to think that nine out of the 18-man Grand Final squad will not be wearing City’s baby blue jersey next season.
Also released were the South Australian pair of Raphael Borges Rodrigues and Kerrin Stokes, who have been mainstays in the Victorian NPL side.
Large turnovers of squads are not uncommon each year in the A-League, but it is extremely rare to see a premiership-winning side torn apart.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
While the other 11 clubs will be popping the champagne bottles in anticipation of new challengers for the title, the corking may be premature – as City is well positioned to undertake this rebuild.
City have arguably the best football director in the competition, in former Adelaide United football director Michael Petrillo.
Petrillo is heavily backed up by James Pool, who is the only full-time Australian-based scout and has a direct line of communication with the City Group’s managing director of global football, Brian Marwood.
City have the financial muscle to pull off a rebuild, but with the salary cap rules, players from their maligned academy setup will be required to make the step up.
Bos was the club’s first-ever true homegrown star player who recently transferred to Europe for a multi-million-dollar fee. In season 2023-24 we may soon see the next one in Emin Durakovic.
If not for a combination of injuries and concussion, Emin, who is the son of former Socceroo Mehmet Durakovic, would’ve debuted for Rado Vidosic’s side in 2023.
Emin is one of the most highly-regarded midfielders in his age group in the country and with how depleted City is in the middle of the park, should see regular action next season.
Emile Peios is another highly-touted midfield prospect who could get minutes as well – his ability to transition into attack, plus an eye for goal could prove useful.
Rampaging right-back Peter Antoniou may find himself in the squad more regularly, even at his tender age – Antoniou already has the ability to attack as well as defend down the right-hand side.
Sebastian Esposito and Harrison Shillington have been defensive lynchpins in the NPL team – with Shillington in particular highly thought of internally.
Even with this batch of talented youngsters, City will still need to recruit experienced players. A-League veterans Steven Ugarkovic and Jamie Young will come into the squad for next season.
The club also has announced their first new visa recruit, Udinese’s Tolgay Arslan, who has family in Australia and pulled out of negotiations with the Western Sydney Wanderers to sign for the premiers.
The connections they have with other clubs under the umbrella of the CFG should also see more interesting acquisitions from Europe to go with the already well-established forward line, spearheaded by Jamie Maclaren.
City will still be expecting to play finals football next year, but there is a small opening for multiple other clubs to move ahead of them in the race for the championship.
The dynasty of the 2020s may be over, but City could start a new one with their talented academy and the resources of the CFG behind them.
Garry
Roar Rookie
I would argue City didnt have youth..ave age supposedly 27 (MV 27.4)
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The problem I see for City if they lose Tilio and if Nabbout has a bad season with injuries, its not like McLaren will pick up the slack and create anything. Aiden Oneill at CCM and Roar underwhelming compared to at City . He was younger Ugarkovic is older seems on a downward spiral since his best Newcastle deal. City have been totally dominant over weak teams in the regular season in the last two season, finals and top of the table clashes they have been second best to the other top teams.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
AA MC, MV, SFC & WSW the clubs considered the big four all have coaching issues none seem to keen on developing their squads with youth they seem to think buying older players from Europe is the answer... HHHmmmmm roughly a couple of weeks before the 21/22 season, Monty was the new coach and there was a bit of a get together and Monty was speaking and he made a comment about the league as a whole and where he saw the Mariners.... He said something like this.... we are a development league, that needs to focus on youth development developing as many young players as we can, most don't understand this.... the idea we can compete with the US, Asia and the Middle East for older players is well past its use by date.... he will focus on doing that i.e youth development and bring in players he believes he can also develop and who will help in the development of younger players in the team.... MC had youth, AU had youth, Mariners had youth and all were quite successful you could also argue that WSW success came from their younger players as well.... SFC, MV & WU in particular seem quite reluctant to play and develop their youth and see winning as the essential and take what they see as the less risky way to success...
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
the expectations are that city (backed by the CFGs endless money) will challenge every season - especially with that high calibre forward line. - those same expectations are also placed on sydney fc, wanderers and victory if those expectations are not delivered (eg not qualifying for the 6) then i would expect heads to roll in terms of the coaching staff (how poppa retains his job after last season is beyond me) playing group and board positions. i dont believe anything is moving nicely behind the scenes for any of those clubs *victory and sydney both require new coachs and complete rebuilds - im not confident that victory is that much worse off that sydney despite where they finished last season *i dont see the wanderers going any further with rudes, hes stabillised the club and thats great - but i dont think hes the man to take them to the next level - they also have not been able to keep a steady squad together for multiple seasons now. *city needs a new coach, not sold on rado undertaking the extensive rebuild in front of the club - city will throw money at players, but money doesnt always guarantee success all 4 of these clubs have visa spots open for season 23/24, will be interesting who they sign - especially since 3/4 require a high calibre striker
Midfielder
Roar Guru
AA Question without notice... Do you think the expectations as to what's achievable exceeds what is achievable... and when expectations are not delivered as expected / demanded its seen as a failure... when in fact some things are moving along nicely but never seen in that light...
Midfielder
Roar Guru
AA I think MC's youth development is not given enough credit as they used lots of talented young players... mostly from other clubs but they still played them unlike some clubs.... Will be interesting to see how they rebuild the their team... me thinks they will do a good job... The biggie for me is MV.... can they rebuild....
Grem
Roar Rookie
I read a 6 figure fee with sell ons. Thanks SS
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
had no dealings with either player or agent, so i cant provide too much personal insight good prospect - very comfortable with crosses, communicates loud and clear, great reflexes for a keeper of his height (i think he'll grow another inch or two as well) needs to work on his distribution (accuracy of passes) i'd be interested to know the financials of the deal since hes under 18, there'd be a developement fee going to the club, but since the move has been classed as an "undisclosed fee" - that means mariners got a chunk of money (i'd probably estimate between 100k-200k) he holds a euro passport which made the whole deal easy for bayern and theres no better country for a young aussie keeper to learn his trade then germany. the bigger issue is this is yet another former wanderers player that has transferred to the mariners in the past 18 months that has now bee sold as a profit. i believe they have the right man in charge of the wanderers academy currently, however with rudes as boss - these really talented kids will not see any game time. theres another 6 wanderers players also in the mariners academy, that have transferred there in the past 12 months
Grem
Roar Rookie
And a nice little deal for CCM with Anthony Pavlesic off to Bayern Munich. You think he’ll do well?
Grem
Roar Rookie
A really interesting article SS. During last season I mentioned any club (City included) is only one poor coaching choice and a couple of average import spots away from a slip down the ladder. Refer to Sydney FC 2 seasons ago and last season was average as well. It also works the other way too, with astute choices like Montgomery, Tulio, Sillvera, etc for CCM. I’m hoping Brisbane can climb under Aloisi and a couple of clever signings as well. Tolgay does look a good signing, coming straight from Serie A and seeing some new players grow this year such as Emin will be exciting. I will keep a look out for the other players you mentioned and I look forward to your prediction for next season for City once their squad is settled.