SEBASTOPOL Vikings have signed striker Frank Labakohler on the eve of the club’s round one Football Federation Victoria state league four match on Saturday.
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The 30-year-old former Ballarat Red Devil, who is returning from a break, has been named in the senior squad for the season-opener against Melbourne City at St Georges Reserve.
Labakohler could be the final piece of the puzzle for the Vikings as they aim for an improved finish on last year’s ninth place.
Senior coach Michael Busija said the Vikings had benefited greatly from an uninterrupted pre-season and had significantly boosted their senior and reserves numbers through quality recruits.
“It’s the end of the pre-season and the players just want to get into the game and get things happening,” he said. “We’re confident that we’re ready to go.
“Melbourne City finished second last year and are a really good test straight off the bat.”
The Vikings have targeted Labakohler for a number of years, with his signing becoming increasingly important this pre-season following the loss of Paul McClounan.
Sebastopol has also managed to retain the services of 2013 best-and-fairest winner Marcus Lynch after initial fears he would be unavailable through work commitments.
Busija said the club had worked hard to change its training standards in the off-season after several disappointing performances in 2014.
“I felt like we made some compromises last year that we didn’t have to make,” he said.
“We probably accepted second-rate preparation and standards, where our training commitments and our level of professionalism probably has to be like a state league one or two club.
Busija said the Vikings’ aim was to finish in the top half of the competition after 11 rounds.
Six new faces will run out for Sebastopol’s senior clash against City, with Labakohler joined by goalkeeper Nick Henry, who played in Ballarat’s 2013 Ballarat District Soccer Association championship, along with Adam Swards, who was part of the Reds’ 2014 triumph.
SENIOR LINE-UP: Nick Henry, Jake Romein, Robin Lim, Alex Antonelli, Scott Berg, Matt Jamieson, Adam Swards, Ryan Rykers, Kyran Taylor, Frank Labakohler Will, Georgiou; subs, Nick Dean, Luke Swards, Jai Sharp.
michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au
