Yantra Whitling, Jack Organ headline key players in Far North Coast Men’s Premiership football in 2022
As the world’s top football leagues comes to a close, the real main event begins with the Far North Coast football men’s comp officially underway. Here are 25 players you need to watch.
Lismore
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lismore. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It has been one of the toughest pre-seasons for some of the Far North Coast football clubs but they’re now in full flight with some of the best talent in NSW on show.
Lismore Richmond Rovers and South Lismore Celtics are training and playing away from home because of the floods but the core of their side will remain strong.
“We haven’t got a field to play or train on so we are a bit restricted and only had about four or five sessions since the flood,” South Lismore head coach Rick Austen said.
“We’ve lost the championship (second division) side but we are happy with our first grade”.
There is fierce competition at the top coming from Byron Bay, South Lismore and Alstonville who are tied on four points to start the season but some key players will be lifting their competitors up to challenge them.
Here are 25 of the most talented players set to rock Far North Coast Football in 2022.
BYRON BAY
Ben Ahern
Byron Bay’s midfield architect Ben Ahern is a threat to any and all opposition.
His head coach Greg Kelly has lauded his work on and off the pitch.
“He’s a long standing member of Byron and played NPL level outside the district,” Kelly said.
“He’s also our junior technical director, he’s got an absolute killer pass at times and he can see angles and cracks that other players can’t”.
Ahern will be one of Byron’s most important players beefing up the engine room for his side.
Zeb Branton
Zeb Branton is back in Byron after some time in Bangalow and the athletic and skilful defensive midfielder will anchor the side.
Branton is a versatile player capable of filling in at centre-back.
“He has skill and he has brains,” coach Kelly said.
“He and Ben (Ahern) are very competitive and they help inspire the team”.
Nick Koutsoubos
The Byron Bay junior is back after trying his luck with clubs in Newcastle.
A very skilful attacking midfielder, Koutsoubos is the type of player that wows the crowd and pulls off sensational attacks in style.
SOUTH LISMORE CELTICS
Paddy Kable
The versatile attacker can play almost anywhere.
Coach Rick Austen believes he can slot into any midfield position but can also play a role as a centre-forward.
An incredibly competitive player, Kable drives the players with his positive and determined attitude.
The man who won player of the year before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the grand final before Covid-19 is back to his best.
Connor Whitehall
Connor Whitehall comes with a great deal of pedigree and words of encouragement from his coach.
“He’s one of the best central defenders in the league,” Rick Austen said.
“He’s aggressive, makes good tackles, he’s good on the ball and at switching play”.
Having a centre-back like Whitehall who is comfortable with his passing and build up play is a coach’s dream.
Ezra Frost
Not only does he have one of the best names in the game, he is also one of the hardest working midfielders.
Frost is young with a tremendous work ethic who is fantastic at breaking the line and scoring goals from midfield.
ALSTONVILLE
Cooper Walls
Captain Fantastic is back in red and black.
One of the older heads in the squad, Cooper Walls will float between the back line and midfield depending on the opposition.
He is a versatile player who will work well alongside fellow defender Jack Scarlet and goalkeeper Ben Hudson.
MACLEAN BOBCATS
Nelson Burgess
Burgess will be tasked by his head coach Dennis Mavridis to gain confidence defensively.
As a natural midfielder, he is a dangerous proposition if he gets his legs moving and he spots the passes in behind the defence.
Jared Doyle
The captain of the Bobcats is key to reinventing the way the team plays.
He is an institution at Maclean after spending a few years playing on the Gold Coast. Doyle will be important for Maclean as the more experienced player shepherds a younger crop of footballers.
Patrick Delaney
This is the man who will “run the back six” according to head coach Mavridis.
“With Pat, I’ve played him in several different roles for the last four years but I want him in midfield in a defensive role helping out Nelson Burgess,” he said.
Mackenzie Allan
Maclean’s centre-back is strong, fit and well organised.
“He has a good touch and distribution and he is always improving which is a good sign,” Mavridis said.
“The younger guys respond to him very positively”.
Fraser Marsh
The key centre-forward who Maclean will rely on for goals is Fraser Marsh.
He can hold the ball up, turn, shoot and score goals and he brings with him a big X-factor.
“He has a real good ability to read moments in a game and turn them in our favour,” Mavridis said.
MULLUMBIMBY BRUNSWICK HEADS
Yantra Whitling
Yantra Whitling has been part of the football and sporting fabric of Byron Bay for over a decade.
He was part of an exhibition team that played against the new A-League side Gold Coast United in 2009.
He’s not a young jetsetter anymore but has since transitioned into the seasoned professional and the experienced head leading his side.
Ethan Zikhron
When Mullumbimby returned to the Premiership Ethan Zikhron was there to score their first goal in the competition in over 30 years.
“He is a super composed player and this season when we are in the opposition third we want to play combinations,” head coach Albert Moses said.
“Ethan is capable of hitting the corners of the goal when inside the box”.
Kare Isaac
Kare Isaac might look like a mean customer but he is a classy player.
Having played at Byron Bay recently the left midfielder can also slot into central midfield.
He is one of the more experienced players for Mullumbimby Brunswick Heads and is more than happy using his voice.
Riyad Addis
Riyad Addis can be used along the back line having slotted into centre-back but he will also get a run in wider positions.
His coach Albert Moses has been impressed with his preparation for the premiership season but has only just returned with a short pre-season.
He has had experience in the championship side.
LISMORE RICHMOND ROVERS
Shane Smith
If you watch the Rovers play on a weekend and you are wondering who is charging up and down the right wing for 90 minutes, it’s Shane Smith.
The right-winger and right-full back has one of the biggest engines in the competition.
His fitness is key to Rovers using width when building attacks.
Oliver O’Reilly
Oliver O’Reilly came through the youth system at Lismore Richmond Rovers and is now a solid first-team player.
“He’s been here a couple of years and played prems the last two,” head coach Joel Hardwick said.
“He is a workhorse with great technical skill and can play number eight or attacking midfield”.
Brady Toniello
The Rovers have snatched a top player from Goonellabah with Brady Toniello joining for the 2022 season.
A top centre-back, Toniello is already familiar with the Rovers squad and will be providing cover for his centre-back partner and sweeping up attacks.
Jonathan See
Jonathan See has been a reliable player for Lismore Richmond rovers for more than ten years.
His coach has described as a wide-striker and a “poacher” who has great game awareness and a competent reading of the game.
His best attribute is simply putting the ball in the back of the net.
BANGALOW
Alex Kempnich
Bangalow have scored a top player this off-season with Alex Kempnich joining the already stacked side.
A box-to-box midfielder by trade, he can break up play and the nick the ball off opposing players with ease.
He won’t always be pressing high but he has a smart defensive side to his game when called upon.
Jack Organ
Arguably one of the most exciting young players in the competition, at just 16 years of age Jack Organ’s game awareness is second to none.
“He’s an overlapping fullback and he’s a smart young kid with a bright future ahead of him,” Bangalow head coach Joel Rudgley said.
“In terms of game awareness, I would say by the time he’s 18 or 19 he’ll be up or down the coast finding a better level”.
GOONELLABAH HORNETS
Brad Robinson
A goalkeeper can win you points with his shot stopping just as much as a striker can with his goals.
Brad Robinson has been a premiership player for a number years and 2022 will be his last hurrah.
In his final year he will be captaining the squad.
Kane Blanksby
The youngster debuted in the premierships recently and played 90 minutes at championship level as well.
“He’s looking red hot at the moment it’s really good to see,” head coach Michael Primiano said.
“I’ve got a good starting XI and Kane very good on the ball technically”.
Blanksby has history with Primiano, having been coached by him at the Liverpool Academy, which is now the Northern Rivers Football Academy.
Harry Hampson
Harry Hampson can score a cracking goal if you give him too much space.
A very versatile player, his head coach says he has connected well with the rest of the squad despite his minimal experience at the Premiership level.
Hampson will slot in as an attacking livewire for Goonellabah.
Maclean, Lennox Head and Mullumbimby are the three clubs rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points after two rounds.
Cowardly ‘repeat DV offender’ jailed for punching woman
A Kyogle forklift driver has been jailed for punching a woman in the face after drinks at the Nimbin Hotel, breaching an apprehended violence order. Here’s what we know.
First look: Plans for new $4.9m hotel in Tweed
A thriving Tweed town may soon have a new $4.9 million hotel in the mix, if council gives plans the tick. See what’s in store for Murwillumbah.