Essendon Royals are pleased to welcome back Adrian De Petro for the 2026 VPL2 season. De Petro joined mid-season from Werribee City in 2025, and the fullback’s industry and dynamism on the ball stood out straight away as he started the last four games of the season. Now with a full preseason under his belt […]
Essendon Royals are thrilled to welcome Adrian Zahra to our VPL2 squad for the upcoming season. Zahra needs little introduction in Victorian football circles. With 254 top-flight appearances for Heidelberg United, Melbourne Knights and Port Melbourne Sharks, he is one of only 27 players in the history of Victorian football to have broken 250. The […]
Essendon Royals are delighted to announce that Phil Riccobene will return for the 2026 VPL2 season. A stalwart of Victorian football, this will be Riccobene’s third campaign with the Royals. The central defender brings a wealth of experience, making over a century of top-flight NPL appearances for Avondale, culminating in lifting the Premiership/Championship double in […]
Essendon Royals is delighted to welcome defender Jake Talevski to the club ahead of the 2026 VPL2 campaign. Primarily a right or left full back, the 24-year-old arrives at Cross Keys via Geelong Soccer Club. “I wanted to join a winning club close to home. And for me, Essendon roles is a no-brainer,” says Talevski. […]
Essendon Royals are delighted to announce the return of club favourite Josh Markovski for the 2026 VPL2 season. Markovski was part of the Royals side who were promoted from State League One North-West in 2022, before going on to play top-flight NPL for Altona Magic and Port Melbourne Sharks. The forward most recently lined up […]
Essendon Royals are pleased to confirm the signing of forward Mike Romas for the 2026 VPL2 season. Romas arrives in Essendon after a season back home in Adelaide but is no stranger to VPL2. Before his break from the game, he held leadership roles at both Box Hill United and Nunawading City, including captaining Box […]
Essendon Royals are pleased to confirm the signing of Lucas Alessi, who joins the club after spending the past three seasons with Melbourne Victory’s NPL program, including senior football exposure at the top-flight level in 2025. Alessi arrives as part of an exciting younger group set to play a growing role in the Royals’ senior squad. […]
Essendon Royals are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Ben Bowler ahead of the 2026 VPL2 season. Bowler arrives from league rivals Altona City, where he established himself as one of VPL2’s standout midfielders in 2025. Known for his composure, physical presence and ability to control games under pressure, he adds vital experience to […]
Essendon Royals are thrilled to announce the signing of promising young defender Zac Kocankovski. Kocankovski joins the Royals from Geelong Soccer Club after graduating from the Melbourne City and Western United youth teams, captaining Western’s NPL2 side in 2023. The 22-year-old also spent two seasons abroad in Macedonia with Belasica and Bregalnica Stip. “I wanted […]
The Essendon Royals are pleased to welcome midfielder Anthony Trajkoski for the 2026 VPL2 season.A creative presence with an eye for goal, Trajkoski arrives to add guile, invention and attacking punch to a Royals side that already produced the third-highest goal tally in the league last year. The 27-year-old joins after a strong spell with […]
