2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW Season Preview
Pre-season is over and we can now smell the start of the 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW season kicking off this Friday evening at Cromer Park.
Sixteen teams look set to battle it out not just for the Premiership but Championship in what will be an enthralling year for all involved with this premier Men’s competition.
Let’s check out how each team will line-up as well as their prospects in 2024 in the official season preview.
APIA Leichhardt FC
APIA Leichhardt will be looking to make it two Premierships in a row after a stellar season in 2023.
Winning 20 matches and losing just five, APIA had the best start to life under new coach Franco Parisi.
Their season began with a 12-match unbeaten run, which included four draws and eight wins, before a 4-0 loss against Sydney FC hurt the eventual Premiers.
They followed with four wins in a row, a loss to Sydney United 58 and then another unbeaten run of seven games, but once more, they then lost 4-0, this time to Manly United.
After another loss, this time narrowly to Blacktown City, APIA secured the title thanks to three wins from four games.
The big news of their off-season is the departure of Jason Romero, but the striker only started 11 matches throughout the campaign due to his time at A-League Men outfit Macarthur FC, meaning the Champions weren’t reliant on him for the season.
APIA scored a highly impressive 2.1 goals per game in the previous campaign from 17.3 shots per 90, and with the signing of the exceptional Seiya Kambayashi from Manly United, will be looking to go from strength to strength this season. APIA have also brought in South Australian ace Luigi Ditroia to further strengthen the line-up.
Anthony Bouzanis will assume the role as the number one keeper for the club following the departure of 2023 Goalkeeper of the Year Ivan Necevski.
Having already clinched the Macron Cup as a piece of preseason silverware to begin their campaign, APIA will be the team to beat for the 2024 NPL NSW Men’s campaign.
APIA Leichhardt 2024 squad: Anthony Bouzanis, Seiya Kambayashi, Josh Symons, Anthony Sparacino, Jack Stewart, Nick Sullivan, Ben Gibson, Rory Jordan, Sebastian Boffa, Jared Macerola, Jack Armson, Themba Muata-Marlow, Sean Symons, Jordan Segreto, Adrian Ucchino, Alexander Parkes, Michael Kouta, Eddie Caspers, Dakota Askew, Evan Davis, Alex Denmead, Luigi Ditroia, Nick Azzone
Blacktown City
Blacktown City will be looking to build on a successful previous campaign where they finished third and look to remain in contention to clinch the converted NPL NSW Men’s title.
Last campaign, Blacktown won 17 of their 30 games, while drawing six and losing seven.
Blacktown finished the season with a sensational unbeaten run of 12 games – 10 of which were wins.
In this period, they scored 28 goals, an average of 2.3 per match whilst conceding just nine, an average of under a goal per 90.
The side’s let down came midway through the season, where they suffered five losses in ten matches and won just eleven out of the 30 available points during that period.
More than half of their total losses (5) came across a ten-game period in that stretch, with Blacktown only suffering defeat twice outside that period – incidentally both times to NWS Spirit.
Jak O Brien’s 16 goals were highly significant in Blacktown’s contention, with the forward gaining 23 goals and assists combined.
He is remaining at the club for the new season, along crucial veteran Travis Major, who claimed 12 goals and assists last campaign.
Meanwhile, they are also aided by the continuation of defensive starlets Lachlan Campbell and Grant Lynch, who helped secure Blacktown to be the best defensive side in the competition, conceding 32 goals – the least of any team last campaign.
Campbell averaged the most accurate passes per game for Blacktown last campaign and Lynch once more combined his futsal skills with a devastating sense of efficiency in attacking and defending situations.
New signings wise, Blacktown have two stars returning – Joey Gibbs from Iceland and Mitchell Mallia who has been lured out of retirement – and have also added Jayden Trenkoski, Martin Fernandez, Jacob Maniti and the promotion of youngsters Abbas Karnib and Julian Rodriguez.
Danny Choi, an NPL Men’s star, will hope injuries do not hamper his run back to the starting line-up.
Blacktown, having retained a similar squad to their successes of the previous year, with a sparkling of quality new additions, will be one to watch this campaign, with their first match against reigning Premiers APIA Leichhardt set to be a clash of immense quality and fire to help open the new NPL NSW Men’s campaign.
Blacktown City 2024 squad: Tristan Prendergast, Jayden Trenkoski, Lachlan Campbell, Grant Lynch, Adam Berry, Travis Major, Jak O’Brien, Reuben Awaritefe, Mario Shabow, Danny Choi, Tyren Burnie, Mitchell Mallia, Abbas Karnib, Benjamin Berry, Martin Fernandex, Nicholas O’Brien, Julian Rodriguez, Cayden Henderson, Jacob Maniti, Joey Gibbs
Central Coast Mariners
Central Coast Mariners will be looking to improve on a season where they finished 12th on the table, six points clear of eleventh place.
The Mariners won nine matches throughout the season and drew six, but lost 15, which is the same amount of Western Sydney Wanderers and Sutherland Sharks, who both finished directly below Central Coast on the table.
In the last eight games of the season, the Mariners failed to register a win, losing seven and drawing once; prior to that, they were on a winning streak of three matches in a row.
The Mariners begun the season in a similar manner, not tasting victory in their opening four games and just once in their first eleven.
However, in the period following, they won five out of six, propelling them up the table.
Throughout the season, the Mariners seemed to be on streaks, struggling to turn poor results around but flying high when finding a little string of success.
They will have a new look this season, however, with former assistant Lucas Vilela coming in for the outgoing Abbas Saad.
As is the case with academy sides – particularly one feeding a team like the Mariners who is more than willing to use youth players – there has been a decent turnover in squad, and the Mariners remain one to look out for due to their combination of prospects and quality.
Their big signing comes in the form of Sydney FC youth product Luka Smyth, who will be looking to find the target consistently this campaign.
They will take on Sydney united 58 at Pluim Park as they look to open their season in a more promising fashion than that of the last.
Central Coast Mariners 2024 squad: Jack Warshawsky, Jai Ajanovic, Daniel Vickers, Dylan Peraic-Cullen, Michael Paragalli, Cher Deng, Andrew Parkes, Harry Menham, Jordan Small, Matej Busek, Lucas Scicluna, Nicholas Duarte, Luka Smyth, Donatien Niyonkuru, Taye Hedley, Yani Nassis, Jacob Tresoglavic, Amponsah Antwi, Prayaag Thapa, Ethan Debono, Adil Toska, Harvey James, Jude Rankin, Rocco Smith, Arthur De Lima, Angus Reid, Freddie Clunas, Sasha Kuzevski, Ahmad El Helou, Alexander Gountounas, Parker Williams, Agieg Aluk, Bailey Brandtman, Will Rankin, Adam Hall
Hills United
Hills United are one of the two promoted sides joining the NPL Men’s competition this campaign, after finishing comfortably clear on top of the FNSW League One Men’s ladder.
The newly promoted side lost just four of their thirty matches last campaign, drawing six and winning the remaining twenty.
They repealed the rewards of their consistency – after winning two of their first four games of last campaign – they responded to a loss to Inter Lions by going on an astonishing 13 game unbeaten run, in which they picked up 35 points out of a possible 39.
Hills then went through the roughest patch of their campaign, in which they won one out of five games, drew two and suffered two defeats (half of their total losses in the season).
Nevertheless, they were still the outstanding side in League One Men, comfortably finishing eight points clear of St George FC in second.
Head coach Luke Casserly will continue to bring a breadth of experience and tactical intuition to his side as they fight to remain in New South Wales’ premier Men’s footballing competition.
He has added the likes of Anthony Frangie, Daniel Petkovski, Caleb Jackson-Brown and Sunday Yona, Thomas Lopez and Yu Okubo to the squad as they look to follow on to their promotion by remaining in the NPL NSW Men’s top flight.
Hills will have a tough beginning to life in the top division, facing Sydney Olympic and Sydney United 58 – two of the nation’s most historic and successful football clubs, with all three of the A-League Men academy sides in the competition sandwiched between.
Nonetheless, they have demonstrated their quality in easing their way to the top division, and will be an exciting breath of fresh air to the NPL NSW Men’s competition.
Hills United 2024 squad: Ryan Wood, Emlyn Cross, Rainer Smahel, Ethan Smith, Brian Jamba, Daniel Petkovski, Wade Giovenali, Eoin Montford, Yu Okubo, Jamal Belkadi, Anthony Frangie, Jordon Lane, Cam Philp, Sam O’Connor, Noah Casserly, Caleb Jackson-Brown, Mitch Smtih, Glen Kelshaw, Thomas Lopez, Byron Ginn, Sunday Yona, Tommy Makko, Nicolai Müller, Jared Rimmer, Darcy Ellem
Manly United
Manly United endured a mixed previous campaign which saw them finish eighth on the ladder, recording 12 wins, six draws and 12 losses along the way.
Manly won three and lost three within their opening six matches of last season, and didn’t draw a match until round 17 of the competition.
While they struggled to find consistency in their results, consistently alternating between victories and defeats, towards the end of the season Manly really found their groove, as they lost just two of their last 11 matches.
They will be looking to begin a new era having said goodbye to a legend of the club in Matthew Sim, who poetically netted a 90th minute goal in his last match for the club to secure the three points in Manly’s last game of the season.
Sim was their joint top goalscorer alongside Harry McCarthy (7), who is a crucial resigning for the upcoming campaign, while Sim also registered the most assists of any player at the club (4).
Manly also lost multiple other important players, as Kambayashi signed for APIA Leichhardt, Bruno Mendes returning to Brazil and former club captain Jimmy Oates moving to Newcastle.
However, three new faces have been added to the team, with Zac Sfiligoi, Joe Fox and Peter Kekeris all joining the new-look Manly side.
The departure list has given coach Patrick Zwaanswijk an opportunity to restructure the squad, as he looked towards the Northern Beaches to make up the core of the new side.
With the teamsheet yet to be complete as trialists make their play to grab a spot, Manly will be looking to propel themselves forwards this campaign.
Manly United 2024 squad: Levi Kaye, Kieren Paull, Zac Sfiligoi, Jesse Piriz, Thomas Fay, Saxon Hillyer, Peter Kekeris, Joseph Fox, Benjamin Koop, Harry McCarthy, Connor Rose, Miguel Bauza, Ezra Palombini, Stefan Visscher, Max Martinello, Finn Ashton, Alen Aganovic, Bilal Belkadi
Marconi Stallions FC
Marconi Stallions will be looking to build on a promising previous campaign which saw them finish fourth on the NPL NSW Men’s ladder.
Marconi won seventeen matches throughout the season, drew five and lost eight.
Their goalscoring record was the joint best in the competition, with their 64 goals only matched by Champions APIA Leichhardt, while they had the second best defensive numbers in the league, with only Blacktown conceding fewer goals.
Marconi began their season with a bang; after losing 3-1 to Sydney United, they defeated Sydney FC and Wollongong Wolves 5-0 and 4-0 respectively.
The period that prevented Marconi from finishing higher on the table was their five matches without victory towards the end of the campaign.
Four draws in five matches, along with one loss to Blacktown, hurt Marconi’s chances, while a splattering of losses throughout the season prevented them from going on a sustained unbeaten run, although they did pick up five wins in succession earlier in in the season.
Marconi’s big offseason departure comes in the form of Jordi Swibel, who netted 15 goals for the side last campaign – their top scorer.
However, he as a more than adequate replacement in the form of James Temelkovski, who netted an astonishing 27 goals in 23 matches – an average of a goal every 73 minutes – last campaign for NPL SA Men title-winners North Eastern MetroStars.
Temelkovski also scored two goals and netted one assist in the Australia Cup, as his side were knocked out narrowly by Melbourne City in the quarter-finals.
Marconi have also recruited ex A-League Men central defenders Cameron Windust and Anton Milnaric as they look to retain their exemplary defensive record, while they’ll be buoyed by Dominic Costanzo remaining on the squad list; the tricky winger netted 10 goals and assisted in seven across the previous campaign.
With a wealth of quality to call upon, Marconi will likely be up there amongst the contenders chasing the prestigious NPL NSW Men’s title.
Marconi Stallions 2024 squad: James Hilton, Nathan Millgate, Cameron Windust, Anton Mlinaric, Franco Maya, James Bayliss, Kyle Cimenti, Daniel Bouman, James Temelkovski, Marko Jesic, Hiroaki Aoyama, Dylan Susovic, Aleksandar Duricic, Liam Youlley, Milislav Popovic, George Daniel, Domenic Costanzo, Jakov Balbasa, Brandon Vella, Mackenzie Syron, Jonathan Soares, Matthew Martignago, Luke Knezevic
NWS Spirit FC
NWS Spirit will be looking to build on a statement first season in NPL Men’s NSW, which saw them finish in 11th place, safely away from the relegation playoff with 16 points separating them from 15th.
Despite their position, Spirit were one of the most exciting teams in the competition last season, playing some champagne football, and taking in part of some of the most dramatic games of the season.
In games in which NWS Spirit were involved in throughout the season, an astonishing 11 goals were scored in the 90th minute or after.
Seven of these were meaningful goals – goals that changed the result at the time and/or had an impact on the final result.
20 goals were scored in the 80th minute or beyond, with 15 of them being a meaningful goal, demonstrating the excitement of watching the Spirit last campaign.
The games that epitomised this was round nine against Wollongong Wolves, where before the 80th minute, the score was 3-2 to NWS Spirit’s opponents.
However, the match ended 5-4 to the Spirit, with NWS netting three goals in the 90th minute or later after Wollongong added a fourth in the 83rd minute.
Meanwhile, they were exceptional at their home at Christie Park; eight of the Spirit’s 11 wins last campaign came at their home ground – including a highly impressive 2-1 win against APIA, who were chasing points to secure the title, while they lost just four matches there compared to their nine away from home.
For the new season, coach David Perkovic has signed Gianni Bouzoukis, Bradley Whitworth, Titus Macharia, Brayden Burr, Ante Bakmaz and goalkeeper Jack Greenwood, while club captain Grant Cornwell will re-join the squad after picking up a knee injury to keep him out of the 2023 campaign.
Spirit will be looking to harness that excitement again this campaign and move their positive home record interstate, as they look to further secure their spot as a formidable force in the NPL Men’s competition.
NWS Spirit FC 2024 squad: Christopher Marques, Anthony Younis, Kyle Shaw, Bradley Whitworth, Corey Kavanagh, Richard Darko, Grant Cornwell, Gianni Bouzoukis, Michael Konestabo, Ollie Wiggin, Titus Macharia, Simon Nicholas, Jarred McKinely, Brayden Burr, Ante Bakmaz, Jake Chidiac, Jesse Michel, Jarod Lum, Luiz Lobo, Jack Greenwood
Rockdale Illinden
Rockdale Illinden will be looking to go one better than their previous campaign and clinch the NPL NSW Men’s title in 2024 after finishing in second place last season.
Rockdale won 18 matches, drew five and lost seven in a highly successful previous season.
Illinden responded to a second-round 6-0 thumping from APIA Leichhardt in the best way possible early in the campaign, winning their next seven matches in a row to make it eight wins from nine to begin the season.
However, a run of three defeats in a row that followed had an eventual strong impact on their campaign which ended strongly with just two defeats from their last 13 games.
Rockdale has experienced an eventful offseason, signing and then releasing star striker Moudi Najjar after South Korea third division side Hwaseong FC came calling for the forwards signature.
However, they signed central-midfielder Blake Ricciuto, a former Rockdale favourite who had been plying his trade in Singapore, as well as Japanese import So Kataoka.
They have also, most crucially, kept Alec Urosevski, who won the golden boot with his astonishing 26 goals at an average of 0.9 per game, as well as star players such as Brenden Cholakian, Isaac Danzo.
Meanwhile, further positive additions include the Speranza brothers Giorgio and Roberto from Marconi, former St George City midfielder Dean Pelekanos and Hunter Elliot.
Rockdale has set up in the best way possible as they look to go one better and finish at the summit of the NPL NSW Men’s competition in 2024.
Rockdale Illinden 2024 squad: Harrison Devenish-Meares, Daniel Collins, Lachie Griffiths, Roberto Sperenza, Giorgio Sperenza, Isaac Danzo, Alec Urosevski, Dean Pelekanos, Bai Antoniou, Brendan Cholakian, Lachie Constable, Brayden Sorge, Yinka Sunmola, Moudy Najjar, Brae Ovens, Ben Wass, Jason Cakovski, Ricardo Rizzo, Hunter Elliott, Mathieu Cordier
Sydney FC
Sydney FC enjoyed a positive previous campaign, finishing sixth on the table with 14 wins, four draws and 12 defeats.
They began their season with three losses in their first four games, before bouncing back with an impressive six-match unbeaten run.
The rest of the season was mixed results, as they never lost or won more than twice in a row, but their quality propelled them to a top half finish.
Sydney will be without key player Clayton Taylor for the season, with the winger currently on fire in his debut professional season in the A-League Men with Newcastle Jets, but they will have plenty of young quality to look towards for the campaign.
Zach De Jesus, Mitchell Glasson, Nathan Amanatidis and Matthew Scarcella, who all have played minutes for the senior team this campaign, will return for the NPL season, while Joseph Lacey will be one to watch as an exciting young prospect.
As is the way with academy sides, they won’t be able to rely on the likes of De Jesus and Amanatidis as they may find themselves indulged in first team duties, but the wealth of quality in Sydney FC’s academy, combined with the coaching ability of Jimmy Van Weeren will make them a side to watch for the upcoming campaign.
Sydney FC squad 2024: Oscar Fryer, Jacob Brazete, Noah Mathie, Bailey Callaghan, Joseph Calusic, Zachary De Jesus, Joseph Lacey, Mitchell Glasson, Marin France, Gus Hoefsloot, Jared Middleton, Wataru Kamijo, Will Kennedy, Lachlan Middleton, Hayden Matthews, Richard Nkomo, Adam Pavlesic, Dylan Rose, Matthew Scarcella, Tyler Williams, Tiago Quintal, Nathan Amanatidis
Sydney Olympic
Sydney Olympic will be looking to rebound after a disappointing campaign last season, in which they finished ninth on the NPL NSW Men’s ladder.
Olympic’s nine draws were the second most of any side throughout the season, as they failed to multiply their one-point gains into three-point wins, to the detriment of their season.
Their campaign began with three straight wins and then four losses in a row, but it was the consistent draws that haunted Olympic’s season.
However, they’ve begun this preseason with a bang, winning two trophies before the NPL NSW Men’s competition has even begun.
They took out the Hellenic Cup and also defeated South Melbourne in the Greek Herald Cup, and look to have made good progress as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.
Meanwhile, they’ve made some impressive signings – namely former Wanderers NPL captain George Antonis and previous A-League Men players Jaden Casella and George Timotheou.
Teng Kuol also signing late for the Blues has only strengthened Haliti’s front third.
If they can convert their draws into wins, and continue their preseason form into the NPL NSW Men’s season, Sydney Olympic could emerge as one of the most credible contenders to take home the title this campaign.
Sydney Olympic 2024 squad: Noah James, Peter Politis, Jackson Bandiera, George Timotheou, Ziggy Gordon, Jack Simmons, Jaden Casella, Sam Macilhatton, Oliver Puflett, Darcy Burgess, Adam Parkhouse, Michael Vakis, William Mutch, Josh Okan, Chris Parsons, Gianni De Pizio, George Antonis, Roy O’Donovan, Abraham Majok, Zac Zoricich, Teng Kuol
Sutherland Sharks
Sutherland Sharks will be looking to build on a tricky 2023 campaign which saw them finish 14th on the NPL NSW Men’s ladder.
The Sharks had their life made harder after losing coach Damir Prodanovic in late June, with Prodanovic becoming an assistant coach at A-League Men side Newcastle Jets.
Prodanovic oversaw some beautiful free-flowing football and positive results – after a rocky start that saw just one win in their first six games, they then lost just twice in their next ten, winning six of those matches.
However, following Prodanovic’s departure, the Sharks won just one match over the remainder of the season, struggling to continue their early season form.
The Sharks, though, have rebuilt for 2024, with new coach Steve Zoric making a wave of new signings.
Zoric is no stranger to this league and his experience will be invaluable for the Sharks run in 2024.
The likes of Matthew Moric, Mo Ahmed, Samuel Gulisano, Nenad Vekic, Mason Fernandez, Jay McGowan, Jacob Cremen Cowan, Kotaro Katsuta, Maxx Green, Ethan Beaven, James Cakovski and Nenad Vekic have joined the squad, with possibly more new additions either finalised or on the way.
With the Sharks given what could be argued to be a fairer opportunity to show their progress assuming a stable year, they are one to watch to rise up the ladder as the NPL Men’s season begins.
Sutherland Sharks 2024 squad: Jacob Cremen Cowan, Chris Lindsay, Jonty Busch, Luke Sauer, Jordan Roberts, Takahide Umebachi, Jake Garner, Mitch Stamatellis, Matthew Moric, James Cakovski, Mo Ahmed, Samuel Gulisano, Kotaro Katsuta, Maxx Green, Nenad Vekic, Mason Fernandez, Jay McGowan, Ethan Beaven, Alex Trajanoski, Ikko Ehode Arimoto, Matty Jackson, Levi Sciuriaga, Jordan Graoroski
St George City
St George City will be looking to build on an extremely promising first season in the NPL Men’s competition, which saw them finish fifth on the ladder.
The exciting side scored the third most goals of any team in the league (behind APIA and Marconi in joint first) as they secured 14 wins, drew nine matches and lost seven throughout the campaign.
St George’s season began with three wins from five, before, after a loss, they went on a unique seven-game unbeaten run in which they drew more (4) than they won (3).
They ended the season in style, losing just two of their last eleven matches, drawing three and winning the remaining six.
St George City will begin the season without electric wing-back Pedro Ferrari, who contributed to seven goals last campaign, the fifth most of any St George player.
They will be keeping their top three in this category, though, with Presley Ortiz (13 goals and assists), Kosta Petratos (12) and Yerasimakis Petratos (12) all remaining at the club.
However, their biggest addition comes in the form of star striker Jason Romero, who is joining from Champions APIA Leichhardt, after a stint with A-League Men side Macarthur FC.
Last season, Romero netted six goals from 11 starts and assisted in two further goals, while demonstrating his technical ability throughout the campaign.
He will be a significant addition to an already skilful forward line and could be what sees St George go from a top-five side to a true contender for the title.
St George City 2024 squad: Jack Kenny, Cameron Fong, Joshua Hong, Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika, Fumoto Kamada, Tarik Ercan, Nathan Roberts, Dominic Cox, Maki Petratos, Jason Romero, Kosta Petratos, Paolo Mitry, Jessi Photi, Andrew Vlahadamis, Brodie Clarkson, Noah Ovens, Presley Ortiz, Louis Khoury, Kai Kamikura, Mohammed Khmais, Matthew Keremelevski
St George FC
St George FC – not to be confused with their rivals – are the other of the two promoted sides joining NPL Men’s after a successful season in FNSW League One Men’s.
They made the playoff on goal difference in part thanks to their 67 goals, the most in the competition, before defeating Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2-1 on aggregate to enter the top division.
St George went on an impressive seven-match unbeaten run early on in their campaign, before going through more mixed results; in their next twelve matches, they won four, drew four and lost four.
However, in their last ten games, they lost just once, winning eight and drawing twice.
The FNSW League One Men’s top scorers had a dramatic, whirlwind season, but made it across the finish line to their goal of promotion.
St George FC have retained the majority of the group that won a spot in the top flight, with the additions of Nikola Skataric, Peter Grozos, Caio De Godoy, George Daniel and Thomas Brown set to further boost their performance this campaign.
They will be looking to consolidate their position in the NPL Men’s competition, which will begin with a match against Manly United to open the new campaign.
St George FC 2024 squad: Andrew Di Blasio, Daniel Axford, Caio De Godoy, Troy Danaskos, Luke Vlastelica, Nicholas Kalogerou, Pat O’Shea, Jessie Spang, Connor Quiligian, Peter Grozos, Harry Jones, Anthony Morobito, Dylan Bozicevic, Cassidy Tanddo, Alex Malfara, Mitch Heapy, Sebastian Cerecedo, Thomas Brown, Mark Rodic, Nikola Skataric, Aedan O’Shea, Evan Souris, Jayden Seeto, Justin Poon
Sydney United 58
Sydney United 58 suffered a disappointing NPL Men’s campaign, finishing 10th on the ladder.
While they concluded their season with a highly successful Waratah Cup trophy, the league campaign was one to forget, as they won eleven matches, drew six and lost 13.
Sydney United began the campaign in fine form, emerging victorious in five of their first six matches, and losing just three of their first 12.
However, in midseason they struggled; in their next 13 games, they won just three, drawing twice and losing eight.
They had a mixed end of season, although making the Australia Cup round of 16 to fall to Brisbane Roar.
However, they will be rejuvenated this campaign under a new leader in the form of ex-Socceroo Zeljko Kalac.
The coach has made no time in making some statement singing, with Carlos De Oliveira joining from Blacktown City, Jordan Ivancic returning to the club, Matthew Hatch and Dejan Bakrdanikoski moving from Marconi and Sydney FC respectively and Shunta Nakamura coming in from Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
With more players still set to join, and the Friendship Cup already under their belt in preseason, Sydney United look set to make a play for top spot on the ladder in the 2024 NPL Men’s campaign.
Sydney United 2024 squad: Oliver Kalac, Cristian Gonzalez, Bailey Rule, Adrian Vlastelica, Anthony Tomelic, Adam Cervas, Jordan Ivancic, Shunta Nakamura, Patrick Antelmi, Carlos De Oliveira, Matthew Hatch, Marco Arambasic, Alessandro Lacalandra, Liam Mcging, Tariq Maia, Mathew Nikolovsku, Aidan Milicevic, Dejan Bakrdanikoski.
Western Sydney Wanderers
Western Sydney Wanderers finished 13th on the table last campaign, successfully steering eight points clear from relegation.
However, this season, they will be looking to push up the table after an exciting end to their 2023 season.
The Wanderers had a tricky start to life in the NPL Men’s competition after being promoted from FNSW League One Men’s, winning just two of their opening eleven matches.
Following on from that, the Wanderers won two in a row, defeating rivals Sydney FC and impressively Manly United despite receiving a red card in the ninth minute, but then won one of their next twelve.
However, in the last five matches, the Wanderers won three and drew two, an impressive record to look to build on heading into the new campaign.
Meanwhile, exciting coach Andrew Christiansen will have plenty of quality to call on, with Alex Bonetig, Marcus Younis, Oscar Priestman, Alexander Baolato, Zac Sapsford, Nicolas Milanovic, Aidan Simmons and Lachlan Brook all registered for the NPL NSW Men’s campaign having become important players for the first team.
However, the Wanderers will be without the vast majority of those players with the concurrent A-League Men campaign and instead will be looking towards other talent, such as Doni Grdic, Adam Buharija, Roman Culina, Jesse Cameron, Leon Cop, Luke Nieuwenhof, Angelo Kalamvokis, Kaan Nizam and Aydan Hammond.
The Wanderers are looking to be as exciting as ever this campaign, as they look to move up the table in 2024.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2024 squad: Taiga Harper, Nathan Barrie, Anthony Pantazapolous, Alex Bonetig, Doni Gridic, Dylan Scicluna, Marcus Younis, Oscar Priestman, Nathaniel Blair, Alexander Badolato, Adam Bugarija, Zac Sapsford, Aydan Hammond, Nicolas Milanovic, Lachlan Brook, Roman Culina, Lukas Ribarevski, Awan Lual, Dimo Dimo, Lucas Sinnott, Andre Rizgalla, Jesse Cameron, Marcus Fernandez, Antony Barbic, Ryley Hollingdale, Joshua Mifsud, Leon Cop, Luke Nieuwenhof, Angelo Kalamvokis, Aidan Simmons, Leon Alizart, Joseph Banza, Phillip Gigliotti, Ryan Devine, Kaan Nizam
Wollongong Wolves
Wollongong Wolves had a solid season in the NPL Men’s competition last season, finishing in seventh place with a record of 11 wins, 10 draws and nine defeats.
It was the consistent draws that prevented the Wolves from really pressuring the upper echelons of the ladder, with their 10 being the most in the competition for 2023.
Wollongong had a tricky start to the campaign, winning three of their opening eleven matches, before going on a five-game unbeaten run, although that consisted of four draws.
In the second half of the season, the Wolves came into their own; in their last fifteen matches, they lost just four games, winning seven and drawing the remaining four as they pushed up the table.
This campaign, David Carney has recruited the services of a highly exciting goalkeeper, with former A-League Men shot-stopper for over ten years Vedran Janjetovic pushing through what was at the time a career-ending injury to return onto the pitch for the Wolves in 2024.
Carney has also kept the majority of the core of his side, with the likes of Mirza Muratovic, Chris McStay and Lachlan Scott set to impress for this campaign.
With Janjetovic as a defensive staple, and a successful season in 2023 to build off, the Wolves are a team to keep an eye on for the 2024 NPL NSW Men’s campaign.
Wollongong Wolves 2024 squad: Harrison Buesnel, Thomas Dunn, Damon Gray, Vedran Janjetovic, Banri Kanaizumi, Darcy Madden, Alex Masciovecchio, Yagoub Mustafa, Christopher McStay, Takumi Ofuka, Samuel Riak, Dylan Ryan, Lachlan Scott, Andrew Takami, Jake Trew, Oliver Yates, Sebastian Hernandez, Dax Kelly, Mirza Muratovic
-By Jack George
