Goulburn Valley Suns bolster roster with sleek slate of mid-season signings

It spells two words on the lips of anyone in the know at the Suns: excitement factory.

Currie lit up the National Premier League Three last year in his debut season for the Orangemen, scoring 16 league goals and 26 in all competitions.

From there, the Scotsman secured a move to newly promoted Victorian Premier League One side Caroline Springs George Cross and has scored seven goals in 18 games for the Georgies.

Now Currie is back to burn defences in Suns’ colours.

And for that, coach Craig Carley is ecstatic.

“We know exactly what Russ is all about. He gives us a different dimension up top; he can run in behind, we know that he scores goals, he’s a handful for defenders,” Carley said.

“It’s probably something that we’ve been lacking all season in terms of being able to have someone who can hold up the ball up to give our midfielders and the rest of the team a little bit of time to join in with the attack as well.

“Russ comes in with a bit of a point to prove, but I’ve stayed in contact with Russ and always enjoyed his time at the Suns. He’s really looking forward to coming back.”

Currie isn’t the only tall timber returning to McEwen Reserve.

Homegrown defender Liam Kielty has beamed back into the Suns’ camp after several years in Melbourne playing for Pascoe Vale and, more recently, Collingwood City.

A confident and communicative centre half, Kielty is one which Carley has marked as a leader for the Orangemen despite three years’ absence from the club.

“For me, I see Liam as a future captain of this football club for a number of years,” Carley said.

“He was excellent when he was with us previously. He’s a good sized, left-footed centre back and can drive into the middle third and has a good range of passing.

“Not only his ability with the ball, but the vocals he brings as well, it’ll be a big lift for our defensive backline.”

Now for the new boys.

Caroline Springs George Cross has delivered a two-for-one deal as, alongside Currie, the Suns sign a silk-touch Georgies midfielder in Jack Wardle.

Wardle featured 17 times for the west Melbourne-based faction this season.

He also hails from a good pedigree, having spent time in Melbourne Victory’s academy side last year.

Carley described the playmaker as “a good sized, ball-playing centre midfielder” who he cannot wait to see in action.

“He looked really, really good last night at training. We’re looking for him to come in and have an immediate impact,” Carley said.

“He’s a quality technical footballer, just really exciting to be able to sort of mend that bridge between defence and midfield and start our attacks from deep.

“He’s a real handy addition to the squad.”

A vocal shot-stopper rounds out the string of recruits.

Jonathan Pithoulas arrives from State League Two side Altona East, but has also appeared in Caroline Springs George Cross colours in seasons past.

He’ll bolster the Suns’ goalkeeping stocks following an injury to Alexander Georgopoulos earlier in the season and will rival Niki Kitabatake for the number one spot between the sticks.

“He’s a brilliant goalkeeper, very vocal. He’s young, in terms of age, but a good size with a great leg on him,” Carley said.

“He’s another quality addition to our squad and one we’re looking to come in and make an immediate impact.”

However, with new arrivals come fresh departures.

With Currie occupying an import slot, the Suns have farewelled American duo Justin Riescher (five goals) and Noah Cicoria.

“It’s a shame because they’re wonderful human beings, but ultimately it’s a results-driven business,” Carley said.

“Once the opportunity came up to sign a couple of players, certainly Russ as someone we know about, it was a risk we had to take given our current league position.”

Jake Rumble will also be elevated to a senior permanent spot as a visa player.

The mid-season slate wipe is a somewhat drastic, yet necessary, measure, as the Suns find themselves entrenched in a relegation battle, sitting 11th out of 12 sides in the Victorian Premier League Two.

Carley’s side has been in the race for many, if not all, of its 15 hit-outs this season.

But as he grimly depicted, in eight of those matches, the Suns have taken the lead and have come away with no points to show.

The Orangemen are back at home for the first time in two months this weekend and will hope the new and existing faces can lock in for a fierce battle against second-ranked FC Melbourne Srbija.

“We’ve been in the games all along, just lapses of discipline and concentration at key moments is really costing us,” Carley said.

“We’re not playing bad, I thought we’ve been a bit unlucky, but ultimately we are where we are for a reason and we need to turn that around and that’s certainly what we’re hoping to do.

“Melbourne Srbija for me are the best team in the competition, they’re a quality outfit.

“But with the inclusion of these new players, I really think we can be competitive and match with absolutely anyone. I’ll always back our boys to beat anyone on any given day.”