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Glenorchy Knights have made some very good signings for their NPL side.
I have been impressed with their two strikers, Stefan Cordwell and Joshua Redfearn.
They both score goals and don’t make a fuss about it. They just do the business.
Their finishing is clinical and they will test some good defences this season.
Stefan Cordwell, 23, is a New Zealander and he should be a huge asset for the Knights.
He is listed as a midfielder but is excelling at striker.
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Redfearn, 22, was a star striker with Auckland United last season and the Kiwi looks set to shine here.
Centre-back Jack Glover, 24, is from Cairns and looks the real thing, too.
The Knights have also signed two defensive midfielders in Josh Cauderuccio from Melbourne and Dimitris Theodorou from Perth. I have mentioned both players before on this blog.
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Midfielder Jake Parish, a Tasmanian who was with Melbourne City and has played college football in the USA, is another top signing.
Joel Sammut, Anthony Mamic and Jacob Clothier have signed from Olympia Warriors.
The Knights rested some key players in their 3-1 win over Clarence Zebras on Saturday.
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Olaf Conforti, George Ivanov, Nicholas Mearns, Danile Schmidt and Josh Jones were on the bench, while Tyler Harrison and Riley Dillon weren’t even named.
If the Knights don’t give the NPL title a good shake this season, there is something wrong.
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The Social Summer Cup began on Sunday at North Chigwell.
The results were:
Group A
Nelson 3-2 Metro
South East United 1-4 Barnstoneworth United
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Group B
Nelson 6-1 Metro
DOSA 5-0 Taroona
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DOSA’s Brady Watson, the man who scored 52 goals last season, is in fine touch again.
He netted a hat-trick against Taroona, with Jacob Davidson and Jacob Clark each scoring once.
Which leads me to the topic of the venue, namely North Chigwell.
I can’t help but feel that Metro, and football, have been dudded.
The two pitches were in good condition, but the venue has always had two pitches.
The lighting has been improved, but the old club house is still there.
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At the risk of being accused of bringing up sour grapes yet again, I refer to an article I posted back on 7 March 2019 - five years ago.
“The largest single investment in Tasmanian football was announced at North Chigwell today with the Federal Government granting $12.8 million for the construction of a Northern Suburbs Junior Football Hub at Metro’s ground.
“Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley and FT Director Jim Lange joined MP Andrew Wilkie to announce the $12.8 million in Federal Government funding.
“Also present were Mayor of Glenorchy City Council, Ald Kristie Johnston, Metro FC President Darrin Chaffey and Northern Suburbs Junior Soccer Association President Bianca Tolputt.
“The grant will fully fund the construction of a Junior Football Hub that will boast five separate pitches, two of them with a synthetic surface.
“In addition, the new facility will have high-quality lighting, new female-friendly change rooms, a function centre, spectator stand and increased car parking.”
There it is, in black and white. Now, five years later, what do we have? Two grass pitches that have always been there.
Which other sport would tolerate this?
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Some more photos from Saturday's NPL Summer Cup action:
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