As our Football Queensland Premier League (FQPL) sides prepare for the opening round of the 2020 competition this weekend, our FQ commentators preview the season ahead.
Building on last year’s competition coverage, all all FQPL First Grade matches will be live streamed and available to watch live on FQ’s YouTube channel.
FQ commentators Simon Smale, James Caughlin, Darren Lutton and Jarrad Neck discuss some of their predictions for the 2020 FQPL season below.
TITLE CONTENDERS
SIMON:
Almost all the sides in the league have had such a huge turnover of players that it is almost impossible to guess who will be up at the top of the ladder. However, last year’s grand final winners Rochedale, having got a taste of silverware and recruited from far and wide, look set to continue their quest for promotion.
DARREN:
The contenders for the FQPL are Logan, Rochedale, Mitchelton, SWQ Thunder.
JAMES:
For me it’s a two horse race, Mitchelton and Holland Park are the two sides that should be seen as the most likely to challenge for the title but I could also see Western Pride and Logan in the mix as well.
JARRAD:
1st – Rochedale: Hard to go past the team that eventually went on to win last season’s FQPL Grand Final. I was there that night and you got a real sense that this side is going places. They went to another level towards the back end of last season in particular their finals campaign.
2nd – Western Pride: You would think at least one of the relegated teams from last season’s NPL would be up at the pointy end of the table and I think Western Pride will be the most likely of the three. I like the signing of Nathan Yoon from Capalaba as he showed glimpses last season of what he is capable of before being struck down by injury.
3rd – Mitchelton: Showed signs last season that they could match it with anyone on their day and I think they can climb up the ladder this season. The loss of Emryn Donnelly-Fagen and Carter Glockner both to Moreton Bay will definitely hurt however if the new signings can fill the void left by their two key players from last season than they could be anything this season.
4th – Ipswich Knights: Rounding out my top four will be the Knights who showed real potential last season in particular towards the back end of the season. Key players such as Lachlan Munn, Nick Edwards and Jack Cabassi will play a vital role for Knights this season and if they are on song the side from Ipswich will prove very hard to beat.
PROMOTION
SIMON:
Rochedale and Logan, as finalists last season, should expect to be up there challenging again, as would Mitchelton. Western Pride’s fall from the top flight was dramatic last season, and an immediate return to the NPL will be at the top of the list for both the team and its fans, but it will be tough in a hugely competitive league.
DARREN:
I’ll tip another year of heartbreak for Logan with Rochedale and Mitchie to go up.
JAMES:
I’m backing Mitchelton and Holland Park to go up to NPL this season.
DARK HORSE
SIMON:
Mitchelton. They have recruited extensively from NPL teams in the off-season, including a plethora of players from near-neighbours Brisbane City. There’s some real quality there as well, with Rhys Raymond and Jaiden Nightingale both solid performers who could help Mitchelton thrive this year.
DARREN:
I expect the Thunder to relish the drop in class and thrive in this competition. I’m also looking for a massive improvement from Wolves who will come close. Also, that Ipswich derby is going to be red hot!
JAMES:
If Holland Park’s recruitment goes even half right I really like their chances to stun a few teams this season. They’ve shown a good eye for players in the past and if this squad gels quickly we could be set for a good season for them.
JARRAD:
Souths United; this will be a completely different outfit to what we saw last season with the club being very busy in the transfer market during the offseason. I think they will climb the table and have a much better season this year.
GOLDEN BOOT
SIMON:
This could be a bit left-field, but Nathan Yoon is due a few. He’s an exciting player on his day, who looked lively every time I saw him play last season. If Pride are going ok, he could really cash in.
DARREN:
Jed Brown.
JAMES:
I’ll be honest, for this one I put a few leading options on a dart board & picked who my shot landed on. It could go plenty of different ways… for the record it landed on Dongyoo Kim.
JARRAD:
Graham Fyfe, Lachlan Munn, Jed Brown, Graham Fyfe and Todd Norris are contenders for me.
BEST NEW SIGNINGS
SIMON:
Both Sunshine Coast and SWQ Thunder have recruited a number of players from their respective local leagues, which offers a fantastic opportunity for those players to shine at a state-wide level. Aside from that, Conor Smith was a stand-out for Gold Coast United last season and he’s a good pick up for Logan.
DARREN:
I like that Greg Cheshire is back at Rochedale, but I’m keen to see what Alex Sartori can do for Mitchelton.
JAMES:
I’d say the overall recruitment at Mitchelton, Logan & Rochedale all look really interesting from a squad composition setup.
JARRAD:
Nathan Yoon (Western Pride), Carlton Westerdale (Wolves) and Remy Bwormoi (Souths United).
PLAYER OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS
SIMON:
If Conor Smith can replicate his NPL form, he has the potential to really drag Logan to the next level with him.
DARREN:
Carlton Westerdale, Jed Brown and Antoni Kolouras.
JAMES:
In the interests of my golden boot prediction coming through I’ll say Dongyoo Kim… I’m nothing if not consistent right?!
JARRAD:
Graham Fyfe.
View all transfers for the 2020 season in the Transfer Centre here.
