Things have been busy at Hume City in preparation for this week’s launch of the National Premier League season.
With all but four players from last season’s playing group departing, City has been busily adding new talent to its squad.
City technical manager Dean Hennessey said they’d signed the final players for their 20-man squad last week, just before the transfer deadline closed.
“It’s been pretty daunting time with the transfer window being brought forward,” Hennessey said on Wednesday. “I was at the club until 11pm finalising everything.
“We ended up signing a couple of players from Brisbane Roar, and promoted a couple of under-20 players, to finish our squad.”
Danny Kim and Jayden Prasad have made the move from Brisbane and impressed in the short time they’ve been with City. Prasad was selected for the Young Socceroos squad last year.
Hayden Tennant, Karl Baricevic and Oliver Kubilay have been promoted from the under-20 squad.
Only captain Nick Hegarty, Theo Markelis, Daniel Clark and Kristian Trajceski remain at City from last season.
Hennessey, who took over towards the end of last season, said they had worked hard in the offseason to not only jell together, but to build a new game plan.
“We played four games within a week,” he said before another practice match, this time against Cairnlea. “There’s a new system they’re learning, and we had a great result, beating Brisbane Strikers.
“Physically, we are in good nick and I feel they are freer, mentally, as they now know the system.
“The players have hit every target we’ve set. Not only are they hitting the targets, they’re beating them. As a coaching group, we couldn’t ask for any more from the playing group.”
Hennessey said all new signings had been offered two-year contracts as the club builds a long-term squad. He said three or four of the new senior players have come from the club’s under-20 squad.
“The average age of the squad would be 23 or under,” he said. “It might take a bit of time to get it right, but in my 34 years being involved in dressing rooms, I haven’t seen a closer group.
“They’ve jelled really well together.”
Despite the significant changes, Hennessey said they had set their aim on bringing home some silverware. City has made the finals of the Dockerty, NPL and FFA Cups the past two years.
“We’re a very ambitious club … our aim is try and win something.
“The main aim, though, is to bridge the gap on the top two to three sides.
“Finals is also a must,” Hennessey added.
Hume City kick off their season on Saturday night, hosting Melbourne Knights, at 5.30pm.
