There will be no looking in the rear view mirror at past glories for Hoppers Crossing.
The Reds, last season’s FFV state league 3 north-west champions, have the blinkers on, with their sole focus on the new season.
“I want everyone on their toes again,” Reds coach Steve Iosifidis told Star Weekly. “If there’s post-promotion blues, I’m not going to stand for it.
“We can talk about the promotion and celebration and achievements at my age, not while you’re still playing.
“That’s gone, it’s passed, it’s finished.”
Hoppers Crossing will be going for a third consecutive promotion.
If successful, the Reds will find themselves in the top tier of the state leagues, which seemed unthinkable to outsiders three years ago.
In 2014, the Reds won the state league 4 title under Alfonso Opazo, then last year, they went back-to-back under Iosifidis in state league 3.
Iosifidis wants his team to be ruthless from the outset – just like they were last campaign.
Though the Reds secured a 1-0 win over Riversdale in the FFA Cup second round at Grange Reserve on Saturday, Iosifidis was left wanting more from his charges.
“Slowly, slowly, we’re sort of shaping up,” he said. “We haven’t really got the fluency that I’m after yet, but the more games we play, it’s getting better.”
Liam McDermott’s goal was the difference between the sides.
It was a timely one for McDermott too, who had a point to prove to his coach.
“We played a friendly against Yarraville and he came off and I don’t think he was too happy,” Iosifidis said. “He wanted to prove to the coach, ‘I’m not going anywhere, I’m still here’. It was a good way to respond.”
Hoppers Crossing had to show its fighting qualities late.
After Iosifidis has used up his three substitutions, youngster Daniel Taylor exited the pitch with concussion, leaving the Reds to play the last 25 minutes with 10 men.
Dane Garbett was the stand out for the Reds, playing in an unfamiliar left back role.
“That was one of his better games since I’ve been at the club,” Iosifidis said.
Hoppers Crossing will face Altona Magic (SL1) in a blockbuster third round FFA Cup tie this weekend.
In other FFA Cup results, Truganina Hornets pipped Heatherton United 2-1 to set up a date with Keilor Park (SL1) in the third round, while Point Cook thrashed Collingwood City 4-1 to book a third round bout with Monbulk Rangers on the road.
