Avondale Heights SC

Established: 1984

Home ground: Avondale Heights Reserve

Coach: Anthony Barbieri

2013 finish: 2nd in State League Two North-West

Leader says: The club has become used to success after four promotions in the past five seasons, but might need to temper its expectations. Should be around the mark for a mid-table finish.

Bendigo FC

Established: 2013

Home ground: Epsom Soccer Complex

Coach: Steve Martin

2013 finish: New club

Leader says: Martin, Sunshine George Cross’s captain in 2013, has his work cut out to bring the best out of the fledgling club. Improvement from the club’s younger players will be his first priority.

Box Hill United SC

Established: 1925

Home ground: Wembley Park

Coach: Arthur Georgiou

2013 finish: 5th in State League 1

Leader says: Georgiou traditionally places high expectations on his team and 2014 will be no different. Box Hill has kept the core of its young group together for three seasons and will be out to build on a strong campaign last year.

Brunswick City SC

Established: 1980

Home ground: Dunstan Reserve

Coach: Joe De Martino

2013 finish: 4th in State League 2 North-West

Leader says: A big season for the third Moreland club in the top two tiers of Victorian football. Numbers have been strong on the pre-season training track, but likely many clubs 2014 shapes as a season of consolidation for Brunswick City.

media_camera Brunswick City’s Gareth Richards does battle with Whittlesea Ranges’ Nicuplas Sarbin during the 2013 season. Picture: Adam Elwood

FC Bulleen Lions

Established: 1973

Home ground: Veneto Club — David Barro Stadium

Coach: Fab Soncin

2013 finish: 7th in State League 1

Leader says: Like many of the former State League clubs in the division, FC Bulleen Lions will be aiming for a high finish under Soncin. Finding a proven scorer will be one of the Lions keys after they scored just 27 goals last campaign.

Dandenong City SC

Established: 1981

Home ground: Frank Holohan Soccer Reserve

Coach: Ivan Duzel

2013 finish: 2nd in State League 2 South-East

Leader says: New players and a new technical director have Dandenong City confident of achieving a high finish in 2014. The club will boast several of Melbourne Victory’s youth players in its senior squad.

Kingston City SC

Established: 1974

Home ground: The Grange Reserve

Coach: Nick Tolios

2013 finish: 7th in State League 2 South-East

Leader says: Former Melbourne Victory youth player James Karvelis shapes as the club’s most exciting off-season signing. He will be one of a host of younger players given a chance by Tolios as the club focuses on laying a foundation for future success.

Moreland Zebras FC

Established: 1978

Home ground: De Chene Reserve

Coach: Danny Gnjidic

2013 finish: 4th in State League 1

Leader says: Stability is the reason Moreland Zebras enters 2014 with confidence after losing only two members of its senior squad from last year. The Zebras want to be part of the top tier of Victorian football and are intent on showcasing their quality this year.

media_camera North Geelong Warriors‘ Matthew Demo flies for the ball in a game against Altona East Phoenix last year. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

North Geelong Warriors SC

Established: 1967

Home ground: Australian Croatian Sporting Centre

Coach: Ante Skoko

2013 finish: 10th in State League 1

Leader says: The Warriors have become Geelong’s premier team by virtue of Surf Coast’s decision not to accept a place in the NPL. North Geelong scored just 18 goals last campaign and will need to find their attacking flair to succeed in a tough division.

Richmond SC

Established: 1953

Home ground: Kevin Bartlett Reserve

Coach: Grand Brebner

2013 finish: 11th in Victorian Premier League

Leader says: Richmond is prepared to focus as much on development and the brand of football it plays under Brebner than being one of the division’s top teams. Expect it to be more than competitive against most sides under the former Melbourne Victory midfielder.

media_camera Richmond's Sam Sheppard competes against Pascoe Vale's Luis Roddi during the 2013 VPL season. Picture: Josie Hayden

Springvale White Eagles FC

Established: 1975

Home ground: Whites Eagles Stadium

Coach: Zlatko Milhaljovic

2013 finish: 1st in State League Two South-East

Leader says: A very consistent team in 2013, Springvale White Eagles built its success on a watertight defence which leaked only 24 goals. Will have the advantage of being an unknown quantity against previous State League teams.

St Albans FC

Established: 1953

Home ground: Churchill Reserve

Coach: Toby Paterson

2013 finish: 8th in State League 1

Leader says: The Saints’ hierarchy is working hard off the ground to rebuild the club after it struggled in State League 1 last season. Former Dandenong Thunder boss Paterson is at the helm, with Barry Devlin (Sunshine George Cross) and Felix Rosman (Port Melbourne) among the key signings.

Sunshine George Cross

Established: 1947

Home ground: Chaplin Reserve

Coach: Tony Cianter

2013 finish: 3rd in State League 1

Leader says: The Georgies look a stable outfit and should have high hopes after their efforts in State League 1 last season. Robert Santilli, Serdar Pir and Zoran Petrovski are among those to re-sign, but former skipper Barry Devlin has crossed to St Albans. Should win more than they lose.

media_camera Sunshine George Cross will be out to make its mark in its first campaign in NPL1. Picture: Glenn Daniels

Whittlesea Ranges FC

Established: 1970

Home ground: Epping Stadium

Coach: Vinko Buljubasic

2013 finish: 9th in State League Two North-West

Leader says: Not just content with making up the numbers, Whittlesea Ranges will embark on 2014 looking at its campaign as one where it can development young talent but also achieve good results. If it pulls off two planned overseas signings, Whittlesea could surprise a few teams.