The Bulletin runs the rule over the 10 teams vying for the crown in the Gold Coast Premier League
WITH the new Gold Coast Premier League season kicking off at Carrara on Friday night, the Bulletin has run the rule over the 10 teams vying for this year’s crown.
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WITH the new Gold Coast Premier League season kicking off at Carrara on Friday night, the Bulletin has run the rule over the 10 teams vying for this year’s crown.
GOLD COAST PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE ASPIRANTS
Broadbeach United
2017 Position: 2nd (14W 3D 4L) and grand final winners
Coach: Lee Vernon
Captain: Leon Bell
Key gains: Scott Semple (Merrimac), Lewis Scally (UK), Harry McMaster (Olympic)
Key losses: Kane Swift (Retired), Josh Riis (GC United), Daniel Viccars (Retired)
Player to Watch: Shaun Robinson
Facts:
-Won grand final in last two minutes last season
-In semi-finals of Club Health and Wellness Cup
-Runner up in FFA Cup Regional Games
-Similar team to last few seasons
Burleigh Heads
2017 Position: 4th (8W 3D 10L)
Coach: Colin Phelan
Captain: Matt Hilton
Key gains: Matt Hilton (Palm Beach), Matt Noble (Tweed), Marcus Allison (Magic)
Key losses: Hayden Sumner (Surfers), Luke Muir (Retired)
Player to Watch: Griffin Bambach
Facts:
-Colin Phelan returns after four years, replacing close friend Keith Garland at the club he had a lot of success with in the 2000s
-Matt Hilton, a top Premier League striker, returns to the club after eight years
-Looking to build on last year’s fourth-place finish and push for more silverware
-In semi-finals of Club Health and Wellness Cup
Coomera
2017 Position: 8th (3-2-16)
Coach: Steve McDonald
Captain: Mark Ingerson
Key gains: Tom Moore (England), Ferdinand Amor (England), Akitoshi Kyo (Capalaba)
Key losses: Joshua Frith (England), Luke Constantine (Slacks Creek), Slayde Scriggins (Slacks Creek)
Player to Watch: Ferdinand Amor
Facts:
-New coach Steve McDonald joins the Colts from Pacific Pines, who he almost steered to promotion in 2016
-Looking to improve on last year’s bottom-placed finish
Gold Coast Knights
2017 Position: 1st (16W 2D 3L) and grand final runners up
Coach: Grae Piddick
Captain: Andrew Barisic
Key gains: Justyn McKay (GC City), Josh Langdon (GC City), Morgan Saunders (Mudgeeraba)
Key losses: Yuji Hirayama (Surfers), Ryosuke Kawakami (Surfers), Dean Wernerson (Gold Coast United)
Player to Watch: Max Brown
Facts:
-Major reshuffle in squad, with only four remaining players from last year’s championship-winning team
-New coach Grae Piddick has been joined by several of his Gold Coast City players
-Will step up to the NPL in 2019, will play Gold Coast United for spot on FFA Cup main draw, in the semi finals of the Club Health and Wellness Cup
Mudgeeraba
2017 Position: 2nd in Coast League One (19W 3D 5L) and GF Runners Up
Coach: Fraser Cuba
Captain: leadership team
Key gains: Masaki (Japan), Jordan Dorbeaux (Runaway Bay), Mathias Vritto (Uruguay)
Key losses: Morgan Saunders (Knights), Cian Cuba (Spain), Chance Kinsidja (Brisbane)
Player to Watch: Mathias Vritto
Facts:
-Newly-promoted side from Coast League One
-Fraser Cuba took over the side after a mass departure and has rebuilt with a young squad
-Club plays with great flare and always attract a great crowd at home
Murwillumbah
2017 Position: 5th (7W 4D 10L)
Coach: Levi Hilton
Captain: Ben Waldon
Key gains: Seb Vergara (Chile), Diego Huidobro (Chile), Ben Guzman (Chile)
Key losses: Toby Barton (Lennox Head), Brad Robinson (Far North Coast), Joel Saye (Lennox Head)
Player to Watch: Nick Hulme
Facts:
-Levi Hilton moves from playing to coaching, taking over from Dean Milosevic
-Have lost a few players to northern NSW and other teams but recruited well
-Hard to beat at home
Nerang
2017 Position: 3rd in Coast League One (16W 2D 9L)
Coach: Sam Saif
Captain: Paul Makula
Key gains: Paul Makula (Brisbane), Matt Jones (Olympic), Eric Leonard (Butler University)
Key losses: Riley Thompson-King (Sydney), Richard Roomussaar (Mudgeeraba), Joe Parsons (Slacks Creek)
Player to Watch: Sam King
Facts:
-Promoted as third-placed Coast League One team as Magic United declined Premier League invitation
-Experienced coach Sam Saif has joined the club from Brisbane
-Young squad with key experienced heads throughout
-Will look to play attacking brand of football
Palm Beach
2017 Position: 6th (7W 3D 11L)
Coach: Brett Budwee
Captain: Jason Campbell
Ins: Tom Miller (Gold Coast City), Jason Campbell (Gold Coast City), Josh Mussell (Gold Coast United)
Outs: Matt Hilton (Burleigh), Kris Dodd (Retired), Levi Hilton (Murwillumbah)
Player to Watch: Tom Miller
Facts:
-Experienced mentor Brett Budwee returns to Premier League coaching after a small hiatus working with Gold Coast City
-Young team built around the recruitment of several Gold Coast City youth players
Surfers Paradise Apollo
2017 Position: 3rd (14W 2D 5L)
Coach: Alex Morrison
Captain: Bruno Rodriguez
Key gains: Yuji Hirayama (Knights), Hayden Sumner (Burleigh), Tim Warren (Knights)
Key losses: Acim Tomic (Gold Coast United), Jean-Phillipe Lasm (Olympic FC), Faider Royer (Retired)
Player to Watch: Ryosuke Kawakami
Facts:
-Alex Morrison among a host of recruits from the Knights
-Coach Dave Benigno has departed after plenty of success at the club, including grand final wins and reaching the FFA Cup Round of 32
Tweed United
2017 Position: 1st in Coast League (19W 4D 4L) and GF Winners
Coach: Jason Buchanan
Captain: Michael Kolovos
Key gains: Oskar Tycho (Knights), Trad Thelwall (Gold Coast City), Christian Deans (Gold Coast City)
Key losses: Matt Noble (Burleigh), Michael Gardner (Overseas), Kieren Duncan (Overseas)
Player to Watch: Michael Kolovos
Facts:
-Formerly Gold Coast City’s technical director, Jason Buchanan takes over from Dennis Dodd
-Won the double in the Coast League last season, with some key players still in the squad
-Matt Noble and Drew Finnigan among the big names to depart
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