Football Queensland has forged stronger pathways to the Australian Under 17 national team (Joeys) and professional leagues in collaboration with Brisbane Roar FC in a major boost to player development in Queensland. 

Football Queensland will integrate a new full-time Under 16 Queensland state team program building on its existing part-time Under 14, Under 15 & Under 16 FQ Academy Boys Metro program from 2025. Positioned in place of Brisbane Roar’s Under 23 program and participating in the same league, it will further connect the technical pathway designed to prepare Under 16 players, still attending school, for the Joeys national team and ongoing transition through the program. 

A restructured Brisbane Roar NPL Men’s program from 2025 has been re-designed specifically to focus on Under 17 to Under 21 out of school footballers to prepare them for a transition to the professional game, built around technical alignment with the A-League Men’s program under the technical direction of Ruben Zadkovich, A League Men’s Head Coach. 

With the requirement that both squads always compete at the highest available level in the NPL, Football Queensland, working seamlessly with Brisbane Roar, will manage the integration, transition and graduation of players between the programs.  

Football Queensland and the Brisbane Roar collaboratively secured the highly experienced Karl Dodd as Head Coach of the NPL program alongside Matt Poole, who will commence a new role within the FQ Academy system and support the broader FQ Academy player pathway alongside FQ’s established Technical Directors Tom Laxton, Davide Bertamini and Gabor Ganczer (State Technical Director). 

“Football Queensland continues to integrate the player pathway to ensure Queensland players have access to the best technical system in Australia, and today’s announcement is another significant step forward which builds on the existing strengths of the FQ Academy and Brisbane Roar programs to deliver a clear pathway to national teams and graduation to the professional leagues,” FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci said. 

“By implementing a Queensland-based program that is by design and in alignment with Football Australia’s national approach to Under 16 player pathways, we’re confident that we can provide even more opportunities for our young players to represent the country and progress to the professional game. 

“The 2025 Under 17 Joeys age group players will be supported on their national team journey through a bespoke training and game day plan that gives them the best possible platform for national team selection and performance.” 

“This is a strategic decision and focused new direction to forge a truly integrated and aligned elite pathway in Queensland and move the Brisbane Roar away from competing against local football clubs; we must work together to improve the elite pathway, to continue developing our best Queensland talent,” Brisbane Roar CEO Kaz Patafta said.  

“We thank Football Queensland for their ongoing support to pioneer how we together provide the best talent identification network and coaching environment in the country.” 

The confirmation of the 2025 program structure follows Football Queensland’s recent announcement that the FQ Academy QAS girls program will continue to evolve to elevate high-potential player development by further aligning with Brisbane Roar’s A-League Women’s side. 

“The full-time boys Under 16 Queensland state team program is designed to support school-based outcomes and through explicit alignment with the Joeys national team, will deliver additional talent identification and development opportunities to support the existing FQ Academy pathway for players from every part of the state,” FQ General Manager – Football & State Technical Director Gabor Ganczer said. 

“These opportunities will include attendance at the National Youth Championships, where the Under 16 squad will represent Queensland on the national stage alongside other state teams featuring players from the part-time FQ Academy Metro program and FQ Academy regional centres. 

“The NPL Men’s program will focus on players aged 16 to 20, delivering a stronger link and readiness for the professional leagues with technical direction and collaborative support provided by Brisbane Roar’s A-League Men’s coaching team. 

“We’re thankful for the ongoing support of Brisbane Roar and are excited at the opportunity for continued collaboration to foster player development outcomes and unify our game here in Queensland.”