With preseason all but over for yet another year, the time has come for our National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s top tier competition to kick into gear for yet another exciting and fascinating season.
We take a closer look at each of our 12 very proud NPL NSW Men’s club’s fortunes on what to expect in what will certainly be a cracking season for all involved.
Several of our leading commentators and journalists also take their pick on whom they think will be the Champions in the end as well as selecting their verdict on the Golden Boot winner, their top 5 prediction, a team that will surprise and who will get that dreaded wooden spoon.
Don’t forget that each and every match will be LIVE and exclusive on NPL.TV and don’t forget to catch the new NPL NSW Preview Show set to air each and every Friday’s on the same platform.
Sydney United 58 FC
Coach: Tomi Vidovic
Key signings: Sallu Kamara, Chris Payne
Player To Watch: Patrick Antelmi
Rising Star: Jackson Khoury
2020 finish: Champions
What to expect in 2021:
It should be another big year ahead for Sydney United 58. They look to make it back-to-back championship wins after taking out the 2020 season-decider in dramatic fashion from the penalty spot.
Rising young gun coach Tomi Vidovic returns to the club to take over as head coach this season, five years after he was Mark Rudan’s right-hand man during the 2016 campaign.
The Reds have retained most of their established stars, including Matt Sim, Glen Trifiro, Patrick Antelmi and Yianni Perkatis, making things easy for new boss Vidovic as he attempts to replicate their success from 2020.
United 58 has also added quality at both ends of the field with attacking dynamo Sallu Kamara and NPL great Chris Payne while former A-League defender Jacob Poscoliero who signed with squad last year will hope he can make an impact after an injury riddled year.
With plenty of talent across the board and players with a keen eye for goal, Expect Sydney United 58 to be among the top contenders again in 2021.
Rockdale Ilinden Football Club
Coach: Steven Zoric
Key signings: Daniel Araujo, Bai Antoniou, Zac Sfiligoi
Player To Watch: Tomoki Wada
Rising Star: James Temelkovski
2020 finish: Premiers
What to expect in 2021:
It was a breakthrough season for Rockdale Ilinden in 2020 as they clinched a long-awaited Premiership title and were a penalty shootout away from a historic double.
Coach Steven Zoric found a way to capitalise on Ilinden’s great potential in his first season at the club and look to make the most of that same formula this campaign.
Zoric has added quality to his attack with the returning Bai Antonio, while the addition of midfielder Daniel Araujo bolsters what Rockdale has to offer in the middle of the park.
Captain Daniel Petkovski leads Rockdale’s returning cast with Micky Neill, Mitchell Stamatellis, Nicola Taneski, and Brayden Sorge all back for another year.
The famous NPL ‘Baker’ Alec Urosevski will also be gunning for a huge year while the dynamic Japanese duo of star midfielder Tomoki Wada and quality defender Banri Kanaizumi will certainly be in and amongst the Team of the Week candidates on a regular basis.
The pressure will be on Rockdale to prove the 2020 season wasn’t a flash in the pan, but under Zoric’s leadership are a good chance of a return to the finals.
Wollongong Wolves
Coach: Luke Wilkshire
Key Signings: Leroy Jennings, Van Elia, Aidan Munford
Player To Watch: Leroy Jennings
Rising Star: Fletcher McFarlane
2020 finish: 2nd
What to expect in 2021
A second preliminary final exit in as many years last season was a bitter end to another strong campaign from Wollongong Wolves. They will be desperate to go one game further this time around.
Coach Luke Wilkshire has transformed Wollongong into a powerhouse side that has been a frontrunner over the past two seasons. He returns this season determined to help the Wolves taste grand final glory.
Wilkshire has had to reshuffle his squad this offseason after the departure of club veterans Chris Price, Nick Littler and Guy Knight. The former Socceroos World Cup star has again looked to the Illawarra Premier League’s best to bolster the squad bringing in Corrimal’s Van Elia.
The Wolves have also signed star winger Leroy Jennings who had a breakthrough season at Blacktown City in 2020 while also bringing in a quality keeper in Aidan Munford.
It is grand final glory or bust for Wollongong this season with their frustrating finals defeats driving them. The loss of Littler, Knight and Price could prove too much but expect the Wolves to be a title contender in 2021 as Wilkshire’s never day attitude as a coach will certainly spur his players to victories this year.
Sydney Olympic:
Coach: Ante Juric
Key Signings: Brendan Cholakian, Mohamed Adam, Yu Hasegawa
Player To Watch: Hagi Gligor
Rising Star: James Cakovski
2020 finish: 4th
What to expect in 2021
Sydney Olympic has gone all out this offseason to help return the side to the top of the table in 2021.
Olympic has been busy this offseason, adding to its already star-studded roster and will hope their signings can help unlock a team that could not make the most of their massive potential.
Ante Juric returns for his first full season in charge at Belmore after replacing Terry Palapanis last year and will be looking forward to an entire pre-season regime to get his team playing exactly how he wants them.
The addition of Brendan Cholakian is a significant coup for Olympic, with the former Manly United star one of the most creative players in the competition and could be one of the signings of the season.
Japanese Import Yu Hasegawa is an experienced striker who boast a 15-year career in the J-League and will surely be a reliable source of goals for Juric’s outfit.
Add two former Western Sydney Wanderers young guns in Mohamed Adam and Fabian Monge and the squad is littered with even more quality.
Will Angel returns for his eleventh season and leads the returning class from 2020 which includes class defender Tom Whiteside, Jason Madonis, Fabio Ferreira, ace midfielder Hagi Gligor, Adam Parkhouse and Darcy Burgess.
Sydney Olympic have one of the strongest teams in the competition on paper, but coach Ante Juric knows very well games are not won on paper. Consistency will be the challenge but if Olympic can deliver regular strong performances then they are a strong title contender.
Sydney FC
Coach: Jim van Weeren
Player To Watch: Jaiden Kucharski
Rising Star: Aidan Simmons
2020 finish: 5th
A maiden finals appearance will be the goal for Sydney FC this season as the look to build on a brilliant 2020 campaign.
Jimmy van Weeren returns for another season in charge of the Young Sky Blues and will be have big hopes for his team of talented rising stars.
The young coach has managed to retain the majority of his 2020 squad including golden boot winner Patrick Wood as well as Luke Ivanovic, Harry van der Saag, Patrick Flottman Jordi Swibel, Tom Heward-Belle, Callum Talbot and Calem Nieuwenhof who have all featured in Sydney’s A-League squad.
Blessed with quality young guns coming through the ranks, expect to hear the likes of names such as Cameron Fong, Antonio Saracino, Stevan Stanic-Floody, Jaiden Kucharaski, Aiden Mostofi, Scott Browning and Jake Girdwood-Reich to mark their futures for a possible run into Steve Corica’s A-League squad soon.
A fifth-place finish in the previous campaign will have given Sydney FC belief that they are a true contender for a semi-finals berth.
With an extra year of experience under their belt, van Weeren’s side could once again be one of this season’s biggest surprises.
Blacktown City FC
Coach: Mark Crittenden
Key signings: Travis Major, Sean Rooney, Tristan Prendergast
Player To Watch: Travis Major
Rising Star: Ben Berry
2020 finish: 6th
What to expect in 2021
It should be a big bounce back season for Blacktown City who struggled for the most part of the previous campaign before coming alive in the final few rounds.
The man once again in charge is “Mr Reliable” Mark Crittenden who returns for another season in charge at Lily Homes Stadium and will be out to help his side recapture the famed Blacktown City fighting spirit.
Blacktown City greats Travis Major and Sean Rooney headline the offseason additions at the club. Major is back in black after a successful stint playing in the Hong Kong Premier League, while Rooney joins from Marconi Stallions.
Inspiration captain Matthew Lewis leads a strong returning cast from last season which includes Mario Shabow, Grant Lynch and Lachlan Campbell.
Expect Blacktown City to get back to basics this season with a focus on attacking football and their renowned never say die attitude.
A top five berth should be on the cards for City and anything less would be considered a failure for the proud club.
Marconi Stallions FC
Coach: Peter Tsekenis
Key signings: Chris Hatfield, Stefan Nikolic
Player To Watch: Marko Jesic
Rising Star: Paolo Laxamana
2020 finish: 7th
What to expect in 2021
After another season of what-if, Marconi Stallions will be desperate to finally deliver on their incredible potential this campaign.
Coach Peter Tsekenis is back on deck as Stallions head coach and once again will be trying to unlock the secret to consistent performances from his ultra-talented squad boosted with some quality young guns coming through the system.
Marconi signed strikers Chris Hatfield and Charles Lokolingoy this offseason however only Hatfield will don the club jersey this campaign after Lokolingoy was snapped up by A-League outfit Wellington Phoenix.
The former Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar striker was set for a key role this season but now the Stallions must plan for life without their star recruit.
Coming in as a late signing, young Western Sydney Wanderers gun Stefan Nikolic will also hope he can make an impression at the “Palace”.
Martin Fernandez was a breakout player last season and returns in 2021 along with the majority of the 2020 squad including Nenad Vekic, Mitch Mallia and Marko Jesic.
The Speranza brothers Giorgio and Roberto will also figure as go to players for stability as the club hope to revisit their glory days once more.
Consistency is the key for Marconi and if they can finally find a way to deliver consistent results than they could be the team to watch in 2021.
Manly United FC
Coach: Adam Griffiths
Key signings: Benjamin Koop, Alen Aganovic, Seiya Kambayashi
Player To Watch: Benjamin Koop
Rising Star: Lucas Rainbird
2020 finish: 8th
What to expect in 2021
Manly United will field a young team with a strong local influence with coach Adam Griffiths hoping his squad of the best Northern Beaches talent can bring Championship success back across The Spit bridge.
Although the 2020 season didn’t feature the results on the pitch Manly fans expect, there were still plenty of upside with a number of young players rising up to the occasion.
Griffiths has stuck to his youth first approach this campaign bringing in a number of young players on the cusp of breaking through as regular contributors.
Former Sydney FC Youth striker Benjamin Koop joins to give Manly some firepower up front while Japanese import Seiya Kambayashi provides Griffiths with defensive cover
Griffiths will call upon a number of familiar faces that have called Cromer Park home for a while with Dylan Mitchell, Kieren Paull, Sam Gallagher, Dom Ferguson, Scott Balderson, Dejan Pandurevic, James Oates, Richie Cardozo, Luca Kmet and Joe Fox all resigning at the club
Manly’s young talent will be determined to prove their place among the best of the NPL NSW competition and if they manage to find success early could be a dark horse for a place in the finals.
Northbridge Bulls
Coach: Mile Sterjovski
Key signings: Rory Jordan, Bul Jauch, Lachlan Sepping, Emmanuel Peters
Player to Watch: Rory Jordan
Rising Star: Lachlan Sepping
2020 finish: 9th (as North Shore Mariners)
What to expect in 2021
It will be a season of fresh starts for Northbridge as they enter 2021 with a new name, a new coach and a new home ground.
Former Socceroo Mile Sterjovski takes the helm of the Bulls this season and will be hoping to guide his team of young rising stars to the finals in their maiden campaign.
Pacy frontman Bul Juach was a breakthrough player for Wollongong last year before he was ruled out with a serious injury. Back to full health he will want to carry on with the same goalscoring form for his new club.
The Bulls will be hoping Juach forms a strong combination with Rory Jordan and Emmanuel Peters with pressure on the trio to carry the majority of Northbridge’s offensive output.
Other players set to line-up for Northbridge this season include Luke Cukar, Stephen De Robillard, Niko Ujdur, Eddie Caspers, Brodie Clarkson, Jack McLoughlan, Keanu Ismic, Ryan Wood, Sean Eve, Diego Bonilla and Jake Jovanovski.
While player development will be the focus for Northbridge, like Sydney FC Youth, they will be determined to prove their place among the best of the NPL NSW.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Coach: Stewart Montgomery
Key signings: Tarek Elrich, Takumu Tsujimura, Fumoto Kamada, Marc Warren, George Tuson-Firth
Player To Watch: Tarek Elrich
Rising Star: Riley Ellem
2020 finish: 10th
What to expect in 2021
Mt Druitt Town Rangers are ready to shake up the NPL NSW status quo in 2021 although they will need to do it without coach Franco Cosentino who has since moved on during their preseason with Stewart Montgomery taking over the reins.
A big recruitment drive from the Popondetta Park based side has boosted the momentum as well as grabbing the major headlines with some decent acquisitions.
The Rangers made a big splash with the addition of veteran A-League defender Tarek Elrich and followed it up with the signing of Japanese attacking duo Takumu Tsujimura and Fumoto Kamada.
The club will also have former Sydney FC and Perth Glory defender Marc Warren to call on after he made the move from Sutherland Sharks this offseason.
George Tuson-Firth has also agreed to terms with the club, an exciting winger, he returns home after spending time with English lower league outfits Sutton United and Aldershot Town.
Key players Carlos Saliadarre, Travis Oughtred, Solomon-Johnn Monahan-Vaiika, John Roberts and Jack Stewart are among the returning faces in what will be an exciting Mt Druitt team.
Mt Druitt mean business this season and will be hoping their recruitment drive delivers immediate results.
APIA Leichhardt FC
Coach: John Calleja
Key Signings: Blake Powell, Hassan Jalloh, Harry Callahan
Player To Watch: Blake Powell
Rising Star: Gian Fiorese
2020 finish: 12th
What to expect in 2021
APIA Leichhardt will be determined to go from zero to hero this season as they look to bounce back from a horror 2020 campaign in a bid to recapture the glory days experienced in 2019 when they captured the Championship.
The rebooted season was one to forget for APIA as they finished last on the ladder but this year offers the chance for the Lambert Park based outfit to make amends.
Coach John Calleja returns for his third year in charge at APIA and has retooled his line-up for another run at the championship.
Former APIA fan favourite Blake Powell returns to Lambert Park six years after his incredible 21 goal season in 2015.
He is joined by Sierra Leone born front man and tricky attacker Hassan Jalloh and former Wollongong midfielder Harry Callahan who will be one to watch out for along with Powell.
The return of Sam McIllhatton from a season playing in the United States will also add extra quality to the middle of the park.
Club stalwarts Sean Symons, Ivan Necevski, Adrian Uccino, Josh Symons, Corey Biczo, Themba Muata-Marlow and Paul Galimi join club legend Franco Parisi in the returning class from last season’s squad.
Last season’s 12th place finish would cut deep at a proud club like APIA and will be a major motivator this time around. Don’t expect to see APIA outside the top five in 2021 especially with Club President Tony Raciti back firing, a lot is expected from the 2019 Champions.
Sutherland Sharks
Coach: Nick Dimovski
Key signings: James Andrew, Chris McStay, Anthony Bouzanis
Player To Watch: James Andrew
Rising Star: Luke Sauer
2020 finish: Did not play
What to expect in 2021
After a year out the Sutherland Sharks are back in action and have their eye on a top five finish.
Nick Dimovski returns as coach after his first season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A solid recruitment drive has brought a number of solid additions to the club including goalkeeper Anthony Bouzanis, speedster James Andrew, striker Jeremy Cox and midfielder Chris McStay.
Nick Petrillo, Brandon Hooper, and former Northbridge FC skipper Chris Lindsay have also been brought in to bolster the Sharks defensive stocks.
The club has also retained the services of Patrick O’Shea, Adam Massoud, Jarrad Wiley, Gabriel Contigiani, Oliver Green, Harry Sutherland, Lachlan Everett, Mason Versi, Jonathon Grozdanovski and Peter Simonoski
Sutherland have a point to prove after so long on the sidelines and will be determined to show why they belong in the NPL NSW. Finals football will be their goal this season but they must avoid a slow start if they are going to make it a reality.
NPL NSW Men’s 2021 Predictions
Mark Stavroulakis (FNSW Media Manager)
Top 5 Prediction: Sydney United 58, Rockdale Ilinden, Sydney Olympic, Wollongong Wolves, APIA Leichhardt
Wooden Spoon: Northbridge Bulls
Player of the Year: Tomoki Wada
Golden Boot winner: Patrick Antelmi
Club that’ll surprise: Blacktown City
Micky Brock (FNSW Journalist)
Top 5 Prediction: Rockdale Illinden, Blacktown City, Wollongong Wolves, Sydney United 58, APIA Leichhardt
Wooden Spoon: Northbridge Bulls
Player of the Year: Glen Trifiro
Golden Boot winner: Bai Antonio
Club that’ll surprise: Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Tony Salerno (FNSW Commentator)
Top 5 Prediction: Sydney United 58, Rockdale Ilinden, APIA Leichhardt, Wollongong Wolves, Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Wooden Spoon: Northbridge Bulls
Player of the Year: Glen Trifiro
Golden Boot winner: Chris Payne
Club that’ll surprise: Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Chris Curulli (FNSW Journalist and Commentator)
Top 5 Prediction: Marconi Stallions, Sydney Olympic, APIA Leichhardt, Wollongong Wolves, Rockdale Ilinden FC
Wooden Spoon: Sutherland Sharks
Player of the Year: Brendan Cholakian
Golden Boot winner: Blake Powell
Club that’ll surprise: APIA Leichhardt
Joe Russo (FNSW Journalist)
Top 5 Prediction: APIA Leichhardt, Marconi Stallions, Sydney United 58, Rockdale Ilinden, Blacktown City
Wooden Spoon: Northbridge Bulls
Player of Year: Glen Trifiro
Golden Boot: Sean Rooney
Club that will surprise: Sutherland Sharks
Nicholas Kutnjak (FNSW Commentator)
Top 5 Prediction: Wollongong Wolves, Sydney United 58, Rockdale Ilinden, Blacktown City, Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Wooden Spoon: Sutherland Sharks
Player of the Year: Matt Sim
Golden Boot: Thomas James
Club that’ll surprise: Sydney FC
Adam Santarossa (FNSW Commentator)
Top 5 Prediction: Sydney United 58, Sydney Olympic, Rockdale Ilinden, Blacktown City, APIA Leichhardt
Wooden Spoon: Sutherland Sharks
Player of the Year: Tomoki Wada
Golden Boot: Blake Powell
Club that will surprise: Manly United
Will Gotsis (FNSW Commentator)
Top 5 Prediction: Rockdale Ilinden, Wollongong Wolves, Sydney United 58, APIA Leichhardt, Blacktown City
Wooden Spoon: Northbridge Bulls
Player of the Year: Tomoki Wada
Golden Boot: Blake Powell
Club that will surprise: Sydney FC
Tony Tannous (FNSW Commentator)
Top 5 Prediction: Sydney United 58, APIA Leichhardt, Marconi, Rockdale Ilinden, Wollongong Wolves
Wooden Spoon: Northbridge Bulls
Player of the Year: Glen Trifiro
Golden Boot winner: Patrick Antelmi
Club that’ll surprise: Sydney FC