Round One might be in the books, but scouting ahead at each club's season outlook doesn't stop. We chat to Northern Saints coach Tamer Abdallah who provides some insights on what their 2024 campaign will look like.
2023: 3rd (10W, 6L, 137.8%)
Coach: Tamer Abdallah
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"Last season I was able to see where players were at but it worked out really well with us playing finals, which was a great achievement for the club from where we were. We were focusing on fitness and moving the ball quicker this preseason, working inside to out and getting the skill level right up.
"So there was the skill factor, but obviously we want to ensure we can run out a full game with the way we want to play."
LIST SHAPE
"We were able to add some new players to the club and bring back some homegrown juniors. The key for me as the coach is to try and get the juniors back in there because they always give you the best. Once the juniors see the club moving forward, it's more attractive to come back – their parents want to be involved and then the club grows on them. The culture of the club is where it needs to be at the moment!
"With the new players we brought in, I felt we needed some more experience around the ground and I think we got that!"
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"Eddie Withington is looking really good at the moment, hopefully he can keep fit all year round. The others are Khoder Taleb and Nick Bruno that have had full preseasons so they're ready to go. If we get the ball to them, they shouldn't be losing one-on-one and now they can actually start chasing out because they're fit!
"I've taken everyone's passports off them and locked them up at the club so hopefully no one goes away this year!"
2024 OUTLOOK
"This year is about success for the group and the club. I've made it clear to the boys, I want the cup – it's time now with our demographic. I don't want them to have to leave to play in a higher division."
ON THE RECORD WITH TAMER ABDALLAH
Shot after the siren to win, who do you want kicking it?
Nick Bruno.
Biggest pest at the club?
Matty Bennardo.
Who might be viewed as the coach's pet?
Musa Hussain.
One opposition player you’d love on your side?
I'll take a full-back!
Flag tip outside of Northern Saints?
Burnside Heights.
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Bernardo Tenace (Taylors Lakes), Abdullah El-Rafei (Pascoe Vale), Riley Houston (Greenvale), Imran Noureddine (Hadfield), Oliver Klemm (Tullamarine), Houssam Moslimani (Glenroy), Joseph MacCarone (Roxburgh Park), Stefan Valensisi (Pascoe Vale), Joseph Rahme (Strathmore), Thomas Mendico (Barooga), Yusuf Abdullatif (Hadfield), Musa Hussain (Airport West), Abdul Rahman Eless (North Sunshine) & Eren Genc (Taylors Lakes).
Out: Dominick Lo Presti (Glenroy), Aboud Taleb (Glenroy), Khaled Eless (North Sunshine), Liam Peterson (Greenvale), Mahmoud Rafei (Newport), Talat Moustafa (Hadfield), Abdul Rahman Eless (North Sunshine), Tarek Zahraman (Roxburgh Park), Youssef Mourad (Roxburgh Park), Jihad Mourad (Roxburgh Park), Zeyad Elayoubi (Roxburgh Park), Nikola Ninkovich (Bulleen Templestowe) & Adam Hussein (West Coburg).
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
Northern Saints are establishing themselves as a genuine flag contender in 2024 after a strong resurgence under Tamer Abdallah in 2023. He will again lead the Saints who were active in the off-season retaining a lot of key players and attracting some best-22 players. They've also regained homegrown juniors which is a great sign for the club.
Ladder Prediction: Finals, pushing for double chance.
2024 FIXTURE
