Western United has confirmed its squad list for the 2022 NPL 3 season, the second campaign that the Club will be involved in.
United’s inaugural academy side wowed NPL 3 audiences last season, sitting in third place and just a point off top spot in the competition when the season was abandoned due to COVID-19.
The 2021 side gave platforms for the likes of Adisu Bayew, Rhys Bozinovski, Ajak Deu and Ben Collins to earn scholarship contracts and senior debuts for Western United, and many of the 2022 crop will be hoping they are next in line.
Western United General Manager of Football Mal Impiombato said this next crop of youth-team players will continue to take the Club towards its long-term goals in the West.
“The establishment of our Academy is an important part of our long-term strategy of developing an elite player pathway for our boys and girls in the West,” he said.
“We want to ensure we provide the platform for our aspiring footballers in the West to represent our Club and play the game they love.
“With a wealth of experience and knowledge on the talented player pathway, the inclusion of Anthony Frost to bring this project to life is a significant acquisition for the Club. We look forward to an exciting 12 months ahead as we continue our journey.”
Western United Academy Director and NPL Seniors Head Coach Anthony Frost said that after seeing some 70 players, he is delighted with the final squad.
“I’m really pleased with the final make-up of the squad. We’ve been really proud of the work that’s been done to bring in a number of players that we’ve scouted throughout the state,” he said.
“We’ve got a good balance between young players with high potential, but also some more experienced players that can potentially help us perform in the senior NPL competition.
“We believe we have some very exciting young players that we hope the NPL competition provides a platform for them to show everyone what they’re capable of doing and push for involvement in A-League Men team in the future.”
When scouting players and looking to finalise the squad, Frost said he and his staff were not only looking into the ability of the player, but also ensuring their attitudes and values align with those of the Club.
“We look at the character of the individual, ensure that they align with our values and ultimately are wanting to push themselves to play at the highest level,” he said.
“The quality of the player from a technical and tactical standpoint as well; we make sure that they’re capable of making really good decisions under pressure in tight areas, but also capable of finding different solutions in a game.”
After making that brilliant entrance into the NPL 3 competition last year, Frost said fans of the local game can expect a similarly exciting approach from Western United, and opposition sides can face a tough test whenever they face the Green and Black.
“People can expect to see a team that wants to try and dominate in all moments of the game, with and without the ball,” he said.
“They’ll see players not afraid to express themselves, a team that is going to represent the values and type of club that the team from the west should represent – hard working, aggressive in all moments.”
Pre-season preparations will continue for the side with friendlies scheduled against Manningham United, Melbourne Victory and Brimbank Stallions in the coming weeks before the season kicks off for Western United on March 20, with a home clash against Nunawading City at City Vista Recreation Reserve.
Full Western United NPL 3 Squad
| First name | Surname | Previous club |
| Thomas | Alisandratos | Hume City |
| Jae | Ciarma | Melbourne City |
| Daniel | Cincotta | Western United |
| Daniel | Di Francesco | Western United |
| Nathan | Dib | Western United |
| Adam | El-Hayek | Avondale FC |
| Charlie | Emery | Western United |
| Obiora (Obi) | Eze | Albury City |
| Liam | Farrugia | Melbourne City |
| Gus | Greer | Western United |
| Rashid | Hayek | Melbourne City |
| Noah | Holmes | Western United |
| Sabit | James | Western United |
| Khoder | Kaddour | Melbourne City |
| Zac | Kocankovski | Western United |
| Jordan | Lauton | Ballarat City |
| Oli | Lavale | Western United |
| Peter | Lay | Western United |
| Sebastian | Lomonaco | Melbourne City |
| Mayen | Mayen | Avondale FC |
| Ryan | Mudaliar | Brisbane Strikers |
| Jake | Nadjovski | Western United |
| Ben | Nasdiep | Melbourne Victory |
| Sebastian | Neceski | Western United |
| Yianni | Panakos | South Melbourne |
| Thomas | Pisani | Melbourne City |
| Max | Pollara | Green Gully |
| Jalil | Regague | Western United |
| Charbel | Shamoon | Melbourne City |
| Greg | Siamoa | Western United |
| Vasilios (Billy) | Souvlis | Green Gully |
| Kristian | Tramontana | Western United |
| Abel | Walatee | Western United |
| Parker | Williams | FTS Glen Eira |
| James | York | Melbourne Victory |
