By Tara Murray
Lalor United isn’t going to rest on its laurels and is hoping to have an immediate impact in FFV state league 3 north-west.
After winning its first senior championship in 25 years, Lalor has been promoted from state league 4 north into state league 3.
While many sides are keen to cement their spot in the higher division when promoted, Lalor coach Tony Sterjovski said they had bigger ambitions.
“We want to have a good crack at it,” he said.
“The players have returned eager and ready to go. Last year is done and dusted and we’re focused on 2019.
“We’ve got one goal in mind and that is to be promoted again. We want to finish top two and I’ll do everything I can to get us there.”
Sterjovski said there was a real confidence around the playing group and the club as a whole.
He said they were focused on improving both on and off the field.
On field, Lalor has kept most of last year’s playing group, added six players while releasing five.
Sterjovski said the new signings should add more strike power up forward.
The first signing announced was that of last year’s state league 3 north-west leading goalscorer Jayden Mercieca.
At just 20, Mercieca, a former Sunbury United player, has plenty of room for development.
He’ll be joined up front by Zoran Petrevski, who comes across from state league 1 north west team Sydenham Park.
Petrevski previously played with Preston Lions, Altona Magic, Melbourne Knights and Hume City.
Sterjovski said has was excited to have both players join the club.
“Zoran will add experience to our current attacking stocks.
“He is naturally fit, powerful and can score goals, together with 2018 State League 3 top goalscorer Jayden Mercieca we believe they will be a handful for any defence in the league.”
Another former Sydenham Park player, Aleksandar Koltovski has also joined Lalor and will help at the defensive end.
Jayden Veljanovski and Andrej Georgioski have returned to the club after playing elsewhere, while Filip Dimovski has also joined the club.
Sterjovski said the club feels they have a good mix of youth and experience.
The team, which started pre-season in December, will have its first taste of game play in the Macedonian Cup this weekend.
It will then head to Shepparton to play in a fundraiser match.
They’ll kick off preparations with some friendlies against teams in higher leagues.
