The Kappa Festival of Football is drawing closer and Football Queensland (FQ) has finalised the shortlisted midfielders for the Queensland and NPL All-Stars teams ahead of December’s blockbuster matches against New South Wales and Brisbane Roar.
Read on for more information about the contenders, or visit our explainer article for more details on how FQ is selecting the players and coaches who will represent the state.
And don’t forget to snap up discounted tickets for all seven Kappa Festival of Football clashes before the early bird sale ends on Wednesday, 11 November!
READ: Queensland Squad Contenders: Coaches
READ: Queensland Squad Contenders: Goalkeepers
READ: Queensland Squad Contenders: Defenders
Midfielders | Queensland Men’s Squad Contenders
Max Brown (Gold Coast Knights): The attacking midfielder is a tireless competitor and comfortable with both feet. Now into double figures for goals for the second successive season. Featured in the 2019 NPL Men’s Team of the Season.
Jackson Courtney-Perkins (Moreton Bay United): The Jets attacking weapon has had defences in a spin this season, his directness and pace causing all kinds of problems and earning him five Team of the Week appearances.
Daniel Cunha (Peninsula Power): No-nonsense defensive midfielder who has spent several seasons with Peninsula and continues to perform whenever called upon. An important piece in the club’s Premiership puzzle.
Roman Hofmann (Gold Coast Knights): Comfortable in defence or at the base of midfield, Hofmann is accomplished both technically and tactically and has maintained his form en route to five Team of the Week appearances.
Mitch Hore (Lions FC): Dynamic box-to-box midfielder with an eye for a goal, notching six this season. Such is his quality, Hore made the Team of the Season in 2019 despite missing the first eight games of the campaign.
Daniel Leck (Olympic FC): The 21-year-old has found the back of the net 16 times amid a standout season at Goodwin Park. Agile, lethal and links up well with the players around him.
Jake McLean (Brisbane Strikers): An integral part of Strikers’ famous run to the Semi Finals of the FFA Cup last season. McLean, an elite NPL performer since 2013, always offers plenty of trickery and guile.
Mitch Nichols (Gold Coast Knights): Vastly experienced former Socceroo now serving as Knights’ creative pulse. Highly intelligent player and a Team of the Week member five times so far in 2020.
Sam Roper (Peninsula Power): Roper ties his team’s midfield together through immense industry and efficiency. Power’s 2019 Players’ Player of the Year and acknowledged in the NPL Men’s Players of the Month for September and October.
Hyeongjoon Son (Eastern Suburbs): Top-notch deep-lying midfielder who likes to keep it simple and rarely wastes possession. Recently secured a fourth Team of the Week appearance for 2020.
Thomas Strickland (Peninsula Power): The classy Power player will always chip in with a fair share of goals from his thunderous left boot, including nine this term. Named in the Team of the Season in 2019.
Steve Whyte (Olympic FC): Central Coast Mariners product turned Olympic skipper. Highly influential with or without the ball, Whyte’s work-rate and intelligence make him a vital cog in Ben Cahn’s side.
Midfielders | Queensland Women’s Squad Contenders
Georgina Amos (Eastern Suburbs): Always a threat with her cultured left foot, Amos is into double figures for goals for the third successive season. Never far from Goal of the Week contention.
Leah Davidson (Lions FC): Though still just 19, Davidson’s experiences with the Young Matildas and in the Westfield W-League have helped her flourish with Lions. Good defensively and has chipped in with four goals this term.
Charlotte Farmer (Gold Coast United): Tireless and tough, the youngster’s rapid development has only accelerated on the Gold Coast. Named among the five NPL Women’s Players of the Month for October.
Laini Freier (Gap FC): Simply unstoppable this season. The second top scorer in the competition is on the cusp of completing a 20-goal campaign that has included four doubles and a hat-trick.
Kaitlyn Kissell (Souths United): Souths star Kissell has made a seamless transition since relocating to Brisbane from the United States earlier this year, recording five Team of the Week appearances in her debut campaign.
Rie Kitano (Gold Coast United): Signed for United alongside Momo Hayashi prior to last season and has looked right at home on the Gold Coast, where her class and composure keep the play ticking over.
Zoe Lambi (Eastern Suburbs): Tough to contain with her skill and speed, the reigning NPL Women’s Young Player of the Year has stepped up again to score eight goals for Easts in 2020.
Stephanie Latham (Capalaba FC): Capalaba’s free-scoring former Brisbane Roar player is lauded for her leadership. On field, Latham’s 16 goals have been invaluable for a team now cemented in the top four.
Madison Moy (Mitchelton FC): Mitchelton midfielder Moy started the season well with a Round 1 Team of the Week appearance and has gone from strength to strength since then, earning selection twice more and scoring eight goals in total.
Ayesha Norrie (Gold Coast United): United significantly strengthened their silverware chances when they signed Norrie from Perth Glory in July. The Westfield W-League regular has produced important moments in big games, netting key goals against Logan Lightning and Lions among others.
Natalie Tathem (Capalaba FC): A hard-working, determined midfielder who proved her versatility as Roar’s right-back, Tathem’s can win the ball, carry it forward and score stunners like her long-range strike against SWQ Thunder in September, a Goal of the Month nominee.
Meisha Westland (Lions FC): Talented teenager Westland has racked up four Team of the Week appearances in her second season at Lions, with whom she won the double in 2019.
Words: Adam Cattell & Matt Dorman
