Sydney Olympic - 2015 Season Review

Round 1 (W) - OLYMPIC 3-0 South Coast Wolves
Round 2 (W) - Parramatta FC 0-4 OLYMPIC
Round 3 (D) - OLYMPIC 2-2 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Round 4 (D) - A.P.I.A Leichhardt 2-2 OLYMPIC
Round 5 (W) - OLYMPIC 1-0 Rockdale Suns
Round 6 (W) - Manly United 0-2 OLYMPIC
Round 7 (W) - OLYMPIC 5-1 Marconi Stallions
Round 8 (W) - Blacktown Spartans 3-4 OLYMPIC
Round 9 (L) - Blacktown City 4-2 OLYMPIC
Round 10 (W) - OLYMPIC 2-1 Sutherland Sharks
Round 11 (L) - Sydney United 3-0 OLYMPIC
Round 12 (D) - South Coast Wolves 1-1 OLYMPIC
Round 13 (L) - OLYMPIC 0-1 Parramatta FC
Round 14 (L) - Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3-1 OLYMPIC
Round 15 (W) - OLYMPIC 2-1 A.P.I.A Leichhardt
Round 16 (L) - Rockdale Suns 2-1 OLYMPIC
Round 17 (L) - OLYMPIC 1-5 Manly United
Round 18 (W) - Marconi Stallions 0-2 OLYMPIC
Round 19 (W) - OLYMPIC 3-2 Blacktown Spartans
Round 20 (W) - OLYMPIC 4-0 Blacktown City
Round 21 (W) - Sutherland Sharks 0-2 OLYMPIC
Round 22 (W) - OLYMPIC 1-0 Sydney United
Finals Week 1 (W) - OLYMPIC 2-0 South Coast Wolves
Finals Week 2 (L) - A.P.I.A. Leichhardt 1-0 OLYMPIC

Waratah Cup Qualifier (W) - OLYMPIC 1-0 Balmain Tigers
Waratah Cup Semi-Final (L) - OLYMPIC 1-2 Blacktown City

FFA Cup 4^th Preliminary Round (W) - OLYMPIC 6-1 Waverley Old Boys
FFA Cup 5^th Preliminary Round (W) - OLYMPIC 3-0 Mounties Wanderers
FFA Cup 6^th Preliminary Round (W) - Manly United 1-2 OLYMPIC
FFA Cup 7^th Preliminary Round (W) - OLYMPIC 3-0 South Coast Wolves
FFA Cup Round of 32 (W) - Gungahlin United 0-1 OLYMPIC
FFA Cup Round of 16 (L) - Hume City 3-1 OLYMPIC

Very similar to last season, 4^th in the League, Semi-Finals of the Waratah Cup, and making it to the Round of 16 of the FFA Cup. Last year we also made it to the NSW NPL Grand Final. That’s maybe why this season feels like such a disappointment. We should have learnt from last season, where lack of quality squad depth hurt us, we didn’t learn and committed the same mistakes again. In saying all that, I believe things could have and should of been different. The loss of Howard Fondyke to a season-ending injury in Round 4 profoundly hurt the squad’s balance, and limited our depth options for the rest of the season, plus the much hyped signing and return to the Club of Tolgay Ozbey for the remaining 3 months of the season backfired. The positivity and optimism that spread through the supporters was short-lived, as he picked up an injury during our Round 17 loss to Manly United, 5 minutes into his 1^st match back for us. He didn’t play again until our last match of the season, the 3-1 loss to Hume City in the FFA Cup Round of 16 a few days ago.

Niko Tsattalios and Troy Danaskos were also injured at different times during the season. So we did have our fair share of bad luck with injuries, injuries to important players at that. As a result the load had to be carried by the likes of Brayden Sorge, Harris Gaitatzis, Go Shirai, Taiga Soeda, Will Angel, Yianni Spyrakis, Dimi Hatzimouratis who virtually played every game. We played 32 games this season, excluding the Pre-Season Cup. Last season was a similar story, that’s why there is more of a feeling of disappointment about this season. We are Sydney Olympic, and we should be able to cover for the inevitable fatigue and injuries to players, we should always have quality depth in our squad. We were caught short for the 2^nd season in a row.

This brings me to the next talking point. The Club Championship, which is a combined points Championship of all results from the 18’s, 20’s and 1^st Grade. We finished 2^nd this season, a great effort, meaning we have some very good players coming through the ranks. Some have already had a taste of First Grade over the past 2 seasons, like Jason Madonis and James Andrew. Other notable performers have been mid-season recruit Adrian Vranic who has been on fire lately, young Goalkeeper John Dimitrakas, the brothers Jack and Oliver Green, Michael Trajkovski, Marcus Duncan and a few others. Hopefully they are ready to and can contribute to First Grade next season.

We are there or there abouts and not far off winning trophies, which at the end of the day is what it’s all about. Sydney Olympic by default will always develop young talent and produce players. Hopefully the Board and the Coaching staff are committed and have already started planning for next season. Inevtably, players will leave which will need to be replaced. A couple of top quality signings on top of that could be all that is needed for us to make the next step.

It has been a big year with the supporters travelling all over Sydney, to Wollongong, Canberra and Melbourne to follow the team, keep supporting this Great Club. Finally to all the supporters feel free to leave a comment if you agree or even if you think I’m talking absolute shit, I would like to get the thoughts of the supporters. Hopefully a big 2016 season is on the cards.

Our 20’s are 1 win away from a Grand Final and will take on the Marconi Stallions in the Preliminary Final at Gabbie Stadium in Seven Hills this Sunday at 1pm. It is the curtain-raiser to the First Grade Preliminary Final between Blacktown City and A.P.I.A. Leichhardt.