RIVERSIDE OLYMPIC

Finish

8th in NPL Tasmania (Played 21, Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 17, goals for 29, goals against 82, goal difference -53, Points 6)

Round of 16 in Lakoseljac Cup

Top scorer

Fletcher Fulton (10)

Story of the season

It can't be sugar-coated, it was a nightmare campaign results-wise. When the spine of the previous year's side - keeper Jarrod Hill, midfielder Liam Gilmore and top scorer Nil Sanz - swapped Windsor Park for a shared Melbourne apartment, with centre-back Aaron Kidmas and attacker Matt Spanos also leaving, it was always going to be hard. The result was it took until the last of 21 matches to register a win. Scoring was not the major issue - the team found the net in the first 10 rounds - it was the goals against column that did the damage. Only four times (three versus Clarence) were opponents limited to less than three goals as Devonport enjoyed 8-0 and 6-1 wins before South Hobart won 10-2. A lengthy ban to keeper Dan Nash and poor disciplinary record of four red cards and 30 yellow (up on the 28 of last year) didn't help, while the reappointment of coach Alex Gaetani was clearly not welcomed by all.

Team style

When they click, Olympic can match it with the best in the state. But those moments are too few and far between. Gaetani's front three offers a regular goal threat - particularly given the creativity of top scorer and reigning player of the year Fletcher Fulton. Meanwhile the defence is not as bad as 82 goals against suggests, with centre-backs Tom Prince and Ryan McCarragher particularly fearless while also threats in the opposition's penalty area.

Pivotal moment

About 3.45pm on Saturday, June 19. Olympic were 4-1 up against Kingborough, had just scored two beauties, were playing with a swagger and heading for a first win of the season. Already on one yellow card, Todd Mitchell dived in unnecessarily, collected a second and the first of three quickfire reds as the team imploded, only hanging on to a draw because the Lions hit the woodwork five times late on. That elusive first win would have to wait another 11 games.

Highlight

With 17 losses already, Olympic fell behind in their final fixture at Clarence and looked destined for the ignominy of a winless season. However, goals from Mitch Jones, Fulton and a perfect send off in popular Argentine import Luca Vigilante's last appearance doubled the team's points tally for the season and delivered both a long-overdue rendition of the club song and a positive campaign record over the Zebras having already twice drawn with them.

Best player

A hard-working and talented front-runner who joined Olympic having played all his junior soccer across town at Launceston United, Fulton is a good chance to claim back-to-back player of the year awards. Scoring 10 goals when everyone else combined could only muster 18 shows his value to the team. Experienced beyond his teenage years, Fulton also has the eagerness to take on any opponent regardless of reputation or standing.

Honourable mentions

Having played up front for Northern Rangers and left-back upon joining Riverside, Will Humphrey has found his niche, becoming one of NPL Tasmania's most composed and reliable holding midfielders. Prince was magnificent at both ends of the pitch before becoming the highest profile dissenter about Gaetani's reappointment.

Quiet achiever

Jasper King has been a mainstay of the defence since Olympic joined the statewide competition and remains a solid and consistent weekly contributor despite some demoralising scorelines.

Best prospect

Max Reissig has added rampaging surges forward to his repertoire of defensive resilience and creative distribution. Learning off the likes of Vigilante and Taylor Neilson, he has the defensive midfield role locked in for the foreseeable future.

The coach says

"We're very much together but certainly need some help and support for me as a coach," Gaetani said. "We need more resources to be at the level of other clubs. We need to strengthen the team with experienced players because we have lost so many over the last 12 months. We are very down on what a club needs to be a successful NPL club and we need to commit to that."

Next season

Gaetani said the club will actively pursue imports. Despite having one of the healthiest junior memberships in the state, they need outside experience, having reaped the benefit in their maiden NPL season through Sanz and Vigilante. With the likes of Tyler Fischer, Shane Cartwright, Rob Gerrard, Sam Ridgard and now Gedi Krusa, cross-town rivals City have shown how an injection of quality can galvanise a youthful but promising squad.