2018-2019 SFL Preview: Balga FC

Last season: Inactive

The great unknown this season. What lay in store from the new side from the North nobody can tell. Though being based in the North could give them an edge if reports of twenty or so new faces at trials are anything to go by.

Former South Perth and AFC man Matthew Dudek helms the newbies, promptly sending the rumour mill going into overdrive with talk of Michael Dudek jumping ship from EWA to join his sibling. Tough sell to leave the Champions for the newcomers. Blood may be thicker than water, but cant quite compete with a big ol trophy and a few Gavranic stepovers.

Still they’ve made a few signings of note. Darko Mikic was tearing up Draft for Perth United and chiming in with goals in the SFL not too long ago before they went down. Last sighted at Kingsway Carioca in the SFL Championship, he’ll resume cutting his teeth on SFL defences in the summer. The Perth United connection doesn’t quite stop there. Scott Duffy locked in to mind the posts this season to remind watchers how he held the likes of Fremantle, Stirling and Cumbre at bay for Ange Pilla and company barely a year ago.

Can they tempt more in the front door? The idea of training North tempting for a lot of players dissatisfied with commuting to the Southern training bases. Having picked apart Carioca this window, can they get in the ear of a few more players or scour UWA for potential newcomers?

One name is Sean Byrne. Can they tempt him to shun past allegiance to South Perth, and jump on over quicker than you can say Megs Benedict? His experience would be welcome to dictate proceedings from the backline. Who can tell what lies in store this season, but the league is watching.

Main Man: Matthew Dudek

Let the sibling rivalry begin. Once together at South Perth, now rivals at EWA and Balga. The new club his brainchild as they make the step from socials to the SFL. The dainty flanker with the slick haircut holds experience in the Championship and JSFL with the former boys in sky blue. Inaugural campaigns are notoriously difficult for freshly minted clubs. The Club founder should prepare for a season of lows, highs and constant comparisons to Michael Dudek. It’s over to the club founder to prove he’s more Schwarzenegger, and less DeVito.

One to Watch: Darko Mikic

Perth United insiders always rated him highly and no wonder. Bagfulls of goals in Draft and a few handy strikes for Perth United as they treaded water in the SFL. Carioca felt his contribution too as they battled away in the SFL Championship. Futsal is rarely the place to park a bus. To the sharpshooters go the plaudits, Balga will be hoping to see goals from the man up top.