The National Premier Leagues (NPL) Queensland 2024 season is upon us and this year it is filled with even more young talent than ever before.
With the new season already underway in the women’s competition and the men’s set to get underway on 23 February, now is the perfect time to showcase the most promising young talent that you should be keeping an eye on during the 2024 season.
NPL Women
Ashlee Parravicini (Olympic FC): This pin-point perfect ball-playing centre back will be a huge asset for Olympic FC this season as she dictates play and dazes opponents with her deceptive pace and physicality. The Toowoomba native will push to seal her first team starting spot this season as Olympic challenge for top ranks.
Shubreet Sran (Olympic FC): With maturity and technical skills beyond her years, Sran announced herself as one of the most exciting central defenders in the league last year. At just 17, her calmness under pressure whilst on the ball will be a weapon for Olympic as she threads passes from the back and drives play forward.
Layne Chapman (FQ Academy QAS): A product of Brothers Townsville and Junior Matilda, Champman was identified through the FQ Academy Northern Program in North Queensland. In 2022 Chapman was named Junior Player of the Year in the Advanced Club award category at the Football in Queensland Awards Night and was also named the 2023 FQ Northern Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year. A keeper with immense potential, Chapman will be key to the FQ Academy QAS side in 2024.
Sienna Powell (Peninsula Power): Joining the club in 2021, Powell sharpened her skills and turned heads in 2023 showing off her strong technical abilities at left back and earning herself a senior team spot this season. She plans to be a key feature in Power’s tactics as she utilises her explosive pace and aggression down the left flank to help set up goal scoring opportunities.
Ashlee Hummels (Peninsula Power): Gifted with lighting fast pace and a sniper’s eye for goal, Hummels is set to shine in the NPL Women this season as she proves her worth as one of the top forwards in the league. Power will benefit from her calm composure and crossing abilities as they gear up to improve on last season’s semi-final defeat.
Sophia Cuba (Peninsula Power): Picked out to be one of the best youth centre-backs, Cuba possesses a super right boot that strikes the ball with strength, precision and class. This season the 17-year-old works to deepen her repertoire within the club’s senior team and continue to develop into one of the state’s most exciting prospects.
Chelsea Fairbairn (Lions FC): The speedy left back from FQ Academy QAS joins the Lions after a breakout season in 2023. Fairbairn, who will be part of the club’s 2024 squad rebuild, is earmarked to be a very exciting prospect that will help to uphold the Lions premiership dominance.
Kyla Hanson (Eastern Suburbs): Labelled as one of Queensland’s best attacking prospects, Hanson joins Eastern Suburbs from Capalaba after shining on their front line in the 2023 season. Having made her NPL Women debut at just 15, she is also a highly talented futsal player that looks to help her new side defend their Championship title and challenge for Premiership glory.
Kaitlin McCormack (Eastern Suburbs): As a standout performer for the FQ Academy QAS, McCormack was also a member of Queensland’s winning 2022 National Youth Championships team and the future Matildas program. Shortlisted for the QLD squad in the 2023 Battle of the States, the goalkeeper possesses high quality shot stopping and distribution skills that make her one to watch this season and into her senior career.
Chloe Murray (Sunshine Coast Wanderers): Featuring in the Wanderers Academy since 2022, Murray has developed into a strong central defender that commands the field and supports the team’s backline. After her senior debut last season, the 16-year-old is looking to turn more heads on-field this season using her superior aerial talent and defensive skillset to push the side closer to NPL Women silverware.
Marli Danger (Sunshine Coast Wanderers): Since joining in 2023 from FQ Academy QAS, Danger instantly became an asset to the Wanderers midfield after making her senior debut and playing in all 27 games last season. The midfield maestro, who is already turning Liberty A-League and Junior Matildas talent ID heads at just 17, is smart with her passing and movements, and extremely composed on the ball when under pressure.
Sienna Vardy (Souths United): This shot stopper lines up for her 12th season at the club, after making her NPL Women debut at 15. Vardy has been with Souths since joining the U8s, and with previous experience as a striker, the goalkeeper’s ball playing ability only bolsters their counter-attacking threat. Her confidence organising the backline and off-field leadership will be an additional key factor strengthening Souths this season.
Makenzie Brook (Souths United): Coming into her fifth season with the club, the U19 Australian School Girl representative has developed into a bright prospect in the Souths defensive line this season. Despite it only being her first in season in a senior side, Brook’s instinct and natural skills on and off the ball will be sure to impress.
Jonti Fisher (Brisbane City): As a FQ Academy QAS graduate, Fisher’s relentless work rate and commitment to herself and the team are second to none. This season, she is ready to take her game to the next level and be the perfect addition to reinforce Brisbane City’s frontline as they compete in their first NPL Women season since claiming the FQPL 1 championship-premiership double last season.
Tully Heatley (Brisbane City): In her breakout season last year for FQ Academy QAS, Heatley showed off her advanced creativity, work rate and ability to win a game in a moment of brilliance from the midfield. This year a continuation of her exceptional performances will be key in solidifying herself as a key attacking threat in Brisbane City’s lineup.
NPL Men
Kane Gibbs (Peninsula Power): As a former Australian U17s Joeys representative and Brisbane Roar Youth player, Gibbs’ development of his midfield mastery over the last 12 months has set him on course to make his second year at the club one to remember.
Rhys Messina (Peninsula Power): Coming up through the development squads at the club since he was 8 years old, Messina earned his spot in the first-team squad for the 2024 season and aims to establish himself quickly as an undeniable starter in Power’s midfield.
Josip Milicevic (Peninsula Power): In his second year at the club, Milicevic’s steely ability to make plays will be key for Power as they push to crack into the top four in 2024 and reach Premiership glory.
Zach Roulston (Sunshine Coast Wanderers): After claiming the NPL U18 Championship and debuting for the senior team last year, the fleet footed clinical striker will be vital for the Wanderers this season as they utilise his advanced technical abilities in tight areas and precision shooting.
Lachlan Harrison (Sunshine Coast Wanderers): Playing an integral role in the 2023 NPL Men U23’s team and making multiple senior appearances for the side in 2023, Harrison is a technically gifted player and will make his strong physical presence known as he dictates pace-of-play from the Wanderers backline.
Quinn MacNicol (Brisbane Roar Youth): This attacking midfielder’s playmaking abilities and eye for goal will be key for Brisbane Roar Youth this season as they set their sights on NPL Men silverware. Turning heads at the senior level in 2023 with his exceptional skills, MacNicol became the youngest player to score in Australia Cup history when he come off the bench against Sydney United at just 15 years old.
Rylan Brownlie (Brisbane Roar Youth): Brownlie is a tenacious attacker with electric pace and a poacher’s instinct in front of goal, who looks to continue his goal scoring magic for the club this season. He brings valuable experience back into the team from when he became the Roar’s youngest ever Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s goal scorer at 16, finding the back of the net against Melbourne City last year.
Joel Russell (Gold Coast Knights): The 2023 FQPL 1 Golden Boot winner and Young Player of the Year finalist joins Gold Coast Knights off the back of a breakthrough season with Surfers Paradise Apollo. Russell will be a threat for any opposition this season as the striker moves with lethal pace, and the ability to finish clinically with both feet.
Trent Millard (Gold Coast Knights): As versatile player capable of playing at both full back and in the midfield, Millard was one of the standout players for the Brisbane Roar Youth before making a big move to A-League side Central Coast Mariners last season. The 20-year-old returns to Queensland and the NPL with the Knights this season and is ready to restate his claim as one of the best in the league.
Sam Klein (Gold Coast Knights): Featuring in the Australian U20’s squad in 2022, Klein is a top-level experienced player that adds reliable depth to the Knights squad this season. The 19-year-old midfielder made his Isuzu UTE A-League debut for the senior Roar side in 2022 after having spent the last five years perfecting his technical skills at the Brisbane Roar Academy.
Luke Broderick (Lions FC): Earmarked as one of Queensland’s top talents last year. The 2023 FQPL 1 Young Player of the Year will be looking to impress as he steps up into the NPL Men this season, forming a fearsome forward partnership with NPL Men icon’s Andy Pengelley and Alex Fiechtner as they look to take Lions one step closer to league glory.
Nicholas Terry (Redlands United): Progressing as a child protégé through Redland’s age groups, Terry displayed his technical growth and advanced skills in the midfield when he broke into the first team, featuring in 11 senior fixtures last season. This year he is working to prove his worth of a place in the starting lineup.
Lee-Navu Faunt (Redlands United): After previously representing Papua New Guinea in their U17’s and U23’s national squads, Faunt impressed when he made his senior team debuts for both club and country last year. Playing 23 games last season with the club first team, Faunt will continue to be an asset for the Redlands forward line as they push to improve on last year’s 10th place result.
Christian Mladenis (Gold Coast United): Turning heads at just 17 years old by winning the golden boot in the NPL U23 Men last season with 18 goals over 22 games, Mladenis has swapped the reigning Champions and Premiers Gold Coast Knights for Gold Coast United to take his game to the next level and cement his place upfront in United’s first eleven.
