www.goalweekly.com $3 INSIDE THIS WEEK... USE YOUR HEAD. CANNONS POSTER FOOTBALL FEATURE ON SIMON O’DONNELL Season 4: Issue 7 Monday 31st March 2008 FOOTBALL FOCUS ON BLUES’ JASON PRINCIPATO Supporting all colours and reporting in black and white Photo: John Punshon GET YOUR KICKS WITH GIRLS! GOAL! WEEKLY. GIRLS! GIRLS! PLUS► ALL THE LATEST FOXTEL CUP & WPL ACTION, LAST BRINGING YOU THE LATEST CHANCE TO WIN A PAIR OF PUMA BOOTS & HEAPS MORE! WPL ACTION EVERY MONDAY. PO Box 142 Port Melbourne 3207 p (03) 9645 1440 e [email protected] www.goalweekly.com Goal! Weekly FOOTBALL FEATURE 23 Simon O’Donnell O’DONNELL’S PREMIER PLAN Baby-faced assassin set to pounce is mates at Peninsula Strikers “You could say that my ca- dubbed him “The Baby-Faced As- reer didn’t really start until I was around Hsassin” last season, and if ace goal- about 25 or 26 years old so I haven’t re- scorer Simon O’Donnell has his way it’s ally played a lot of games. Perhaps that’s a nickname that will come to haunt State why I’ve pretty much remained injury League Division One defenders in 2008. free and I’d like to think I’ve maybe got O’Donnell’s 23 goals in 18 games another four or so seasons left in me.” propelled Strikers to the State Third Divi- His return this season was a major sion South East championship but his re- coup for Langwarrin which has also signed turn to Langwarrin this season, “the club Jamie Heard from Dandenong Thunder, Ben that’s always been my home”, has dra- Cullen from Cranbourne, Jamie O’Donaghue matically raised the expectations of the (ex-Barnet), and Adam Ahmadzai (Warragul). Lawton Park faithful. And don’t expect O’Donnell has been pleased with what O’Donnell to dampen those expectations. he’s seen so far and is confi dent that the “I want to win the championship side is a genuine championship contender. this year and my personal aim is to “If I reach my target of 15 goals score 15 goals,” said the 31-year-old. and Caleb (Nicholes) gets his quota of goals “Langwarrin deserves to be in then we’ll be going alright. It’s a bonus the Premier League. They’ve worked very having Caleb from the start of the season. hard to get where they are and they’ve The same goes for Barry Tulloch, who re- done everything right to promote the game turned from Scotland recently. He’s going in their area. I think that they’ve got the to be a handful out wide. He’s deceptively structure to sustain Premier League status quick and he just motors past people.” and it would be a fi tting reward for some Langy gets it campaign under- very hard-working and committed people.” way on Saturday when it plays host to the And should O’Donnell achieve his Dean Hennessy-coached Southern Stars. scoring target it would be a personal triumph Hennessey has been busy revamping the for a player who had an acrimonious split with fi rst team squad and with the inclusion Langwarrin near the end of the 2006 season. of Colin Quirk from England among oth- “That season I started up front in nine games ers, there’s every reason to believe that and scored eight goals. But I didn’t fi nish those this will be a highly competitive contest. nine games up front, in fact I think I scored “There’s a bit of a history between two goals in one game and ended up play- these sides from last year and the boys ing as a central defender in the second half.” are really fi red up for this one. It should Simply put, O’Donnell was a be a game that’s well worth watching. victim of his own versatility. Langwar- “I’ve also heard that Dandenong rin coach Gus Macleod used O’Donnell Thunder has signed 150 new players as in a variety of positions, sometimes usual and although they sign quality play- based on Macleod’s knowledge of the op- ers it’s a matter of whether or not they can position, sometimes by necessity, but get them to gel as a unit. I think Sunshine O’Donnell always saw himself as a striker. Georgies will be strong too and I’ve watched “I think people saw me more as Langwarrin striker Simon O’Donnell is aiming to pick up where he left off last season. a practice game between Bentleigh and a midfi elder at Langwarrin back then, a Bulleen Royals and they look pretty slick.” wide player. I mean when people think it was through a school friend, Trent Fair- 1996 season in the reserves before heading All in all, it promises to be an about me they don’t think about skill they clough, that he was introduced to the Lang- off to the USA where he did what amounted ultra-competitive First Division with just think about pace. I needed a challenge warrin juniors. Prior to that it was AFL to a marketing cadetship, arranged by his fa- the spectre of four teams being rel- and I needed a chance to play up front.” dreams of one day running out for the ther’s friend, who just happened to be senior egated adding to the importance of get- When given that chance by Strikers Bombers that fi lled the youngster’s head. vice-president of the Sara Lee Corporation. ting off to a fl ying start to the season. coach George Hughes and assistant Dougie “I used to kick a footy around in the When O’Donnell came back to Mel- And that’s what O’Donnell has in Chisholm last season he certainly made the back yard and played footy at school before bourne he didn’t immediately resume playing mind for Saturday. He plans to be fl ying most of it. Throughout Victorian fi rst team joining Langy. I had about four years there but eventually he was lured back to the game past opponents and banging in the goals ranks, only Sinan Mirik from Provisional then I went to Haileybury College and that as a Langwarrin reserves player in 1999. to fi nally announce his arrival to the foot- Two North West side Whittlesea United, put a stop to playing club soccer on Satur- “I don’t think many people at the club knew ball public at large as one of the premier scored as many league goals in 2007. days because I had to play school sport.” me; perhaps there were a couple that re- strikers around. And who’s game enough O’Donnell’s feat is all the more A marketing degree at the Australian membered me playing juniors. I played in to bet against him achieving that aim? remarkable when you consider that he’s Catholic University followed then one day the reserves under Terry Kirkham and then only had six seasons of senior football. he popped down to a Strikers game to watch Robbie Mathieson (present-day senior as- His association with the world game didn’t some mates and he got roped into playing sistant) and it probably wasn’t until about By Craig MacKenzie start until he was around 11 years old and again. Mind you, he only spent half of the my third season that I broke into the seniors. Photos by Darryl Kennedy Back Row: Adrian Cagalj, Felix Rosman, Tex Apostolikas, Frank Lagana, Stelios Drakos, Front Row: Bill Damianos, Juan Nilo, Stuart Kelly, Trent Waterson , Matty Foschini, Ari Drakos OAKLEIGH CANNONS FC Photo: Peter Kakalias Issue # 7 Monday 31 March 2008 Goal! Weekly SOCCERSOCCER HOTLINESHOTLINES 3 [email protected] GRASS ROOTS KICKS OFF! This week’s line-up State and Provi Leagues to begin this week Soccer Hotlines 3 With the commencement of the Foxtel into the capabilities of a somewhat new-look THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES Foxtel Cup Scoreboard 4 Cup seven weeks ago, it has been quite Warriors side easy to forget that the fi rst round of the Port Melbourne are also anticipated State NW2 Magic v Zebras 5 5 Apr KO 3:00PM Pascoe Vale v Maribyrnong State and Provisional Leagues is not due to atone for last year’s dismal season when Greens Hosken Reserve AIS v Cannons 6 to be played until next weekend. they take on Knox City in State League 5 Apr KO 3:00PM Thomastown Devils v Ballarat Behind the scenes, though, the teams Division Two South-East next Saturday, Red Devils Epping Soccer Stadium Lions v South 7 have been quietly lifting their preparations while the Casey Comets will be hoping to 5 Apr KO 3:00PM Williamstown v Werribee City JT Gray Reserve Suburbs v Eagles 8 for round one up a notch over the past month return to Division One for a lengthier stay 5 Apr KO 3:00PM Altona East Phoenix v Altona City and a half to ensure the best possible start to than last year’s brief stint. Paisley Park Soccer Complex Blues v Pines 9 season 2008. There are plenty of other sides 5 Apr KO 3:00PM North Geelong Warriors v The State League Division One is a in addition to the above mentioned sides Moreland City Elcho Park WPL Wrap 12 5 Apr KO 3:00PM Brunswick City v Cairnlea Dunstan perfect example of a league where positive who will be providing some fascinating Reserve Gully v Coburg 14 fi rst impressions will be absolutely vital for match-ups, with 25 leagues kicking off their Knights v Bergers 15 all sides, with half of this season’s teams competitions next week (including the Boys having not played in the league last season.