Jaden Casella has big hopes for Season 2023, as he and his Rockdale Ilinden troops prepare to make a strong impression on the new-look NPL New South Wales competition.
Casella – a star of the club’s run to the final in 2020 – returned to Rockdale in 2022 following a stint with the Central Coast Mariners in the A-Leagues Men and hit the ground running in his return campaign, slotting seven goals in 22 games.
The club’s campaign fell short of finals, however, and Casella says the lack of finals football will actually spur Rockdale onto grander targets in 2023.
“The dynamic of the league has completely changed because you’re not focusing on the top five anymore,” he said.
“Now the focus is first-past-the-post, so I think it just means everyone has to be going for it across the full 30 rounds to get the results to finish on top.”
Casella has been impressed by the work being done by new Senior Coach Paul Dee and his Assistant Coach Nick Stavroulakis.
“Last year, we had a bit more experience in the squad and I think this year the focus has been on bringing in some more young talent, and we’re all looking to make a difference in improving the club’s results compared to last year,” he said.
“Paul and Nick have done well with the squad; they’ve added some very good players, so there’s been a big boost to the competition for spaces in the starting XI.
“It’s been a shorter pre-season this time around, so the focus has really just been on making sure we’re gelling. We’ve been getting stronger and stronger every week, so we’re ready to go hard in Round One.”
Ilinden take on the newly-promoted St George City in a local derby to kick off their 2023 campaign, but Casella said there was no danger of taking anyone lightly.
“We’re coming out all guns blazing from minute one,” he said.
“We’ll want to be in their face and get as big a result as possible.
“We’ve got a big focus on not conceding as many goals in 2023, and at the other end, our front three has been looking good in pre-season, so we’re working hard on gelling and being able to contribute plenty of goals to the cause as well.”