Players to watch from Australia, New Zealand revealed on eve of Premier Invitational

Australia’s largest football tournament is just two sleeps away, with 500 teams and over 7500 players and coaches gearing up for the nine-day-long Premier Invitational. Meet the players you must see in action, the X-factors and born leaders:

Mitch Bourke and Grace Hamilton

3 min read

September 19, 2024 - 2:39PM

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Australia’s largest football tournament is just two sleeps away, with 500 teams and over 7500 players and coaches gearing up for the nine-day-long Premier Invitational 2024.

Hosted across three venues on the Gold Coast, the tournament is set to shine a light on the best talent in Australia and across the ditch, with seven teams from New Zealand entered this year.

The numbers show tremendous growth from 2023, where 337 team competed and drew an estimated attendance of 76,400. That number no doubt will be broken.

Among every team however, are players that stand out. The best. The leaders. The epitome what makes an athlete.

See the growing list and nominate your team’s today:

The Premier Invitational football tournament on the Gold Coast. Brisbane Roar Orange v TFC Brisbane White under-13s in action. Picture: Mike Batterham.

Players to watch

Hudson Robinson

Team: Magic United U8 gold, Queensland

Hudson assists and scores goals with finesse.

Kahvie Samountry

Team: Magic United U8 gold, Queensland

Kahvie drives with the ball with skill and finishes with aplomb.

Lleyton Crump

Team: Mitchelton U9, Queensland

Lleyton is an aggressive and dominant midfielder who is a strong defensive tackler. He can pick killer passes, and beat players one-on-one with his powerful shot.

Jimmy Scalongne

Team: Mitchelton U9, Queensland

Jimmy is a quick and nimble striker who can beat players one-on-one and has a lethal left foot.

Pascalle Elliot

Team: Shippo’s United U9, Queensland

Elliot has a tough tackling with great technical abilities.

Dylan Barretta

Team: Shippo’s United U9, Queensland

Barretta is a great wide player with a solid eye for a goal.

Rylee Page

Team: Petone FC, New Zealand

Rylee is travelling to the Premier Invitational from New Zealand and as is one of Wellington’s top young talents. A dynamic player who can change a game.

Jack Gellatly

Team: Petone FC, New Zealand

Like Rylee, Jack os a dynamic player who can tear teams apart and is one of Wellington’s best.

Nestor Coltton

Team: Bayswater City U11, Western Australia

Nestor is playing above his age bracket but has great pace and finishing ability despite his small stature.

Xander Novatsis

Team: Bayswater City U11, Western Australia

Xander is also playing above his age bracket his vision and pace makes them ones to watch.

Christian Koulendianos and Julian Micalizzi

Team: Concord FC, Concord NSW, Under 11s Boys

Koulendianos’s smaller stature enables him to whizz past his defenders with ease, allowing freedom to move forward to assist in attack. While Micalizzi’s hustle and great movement off the ball helps with holding the midfield stable. play to his attackers. Both form part of our senior leadership group and both are exceptional leaders that set the bar high. Their discipline and tenacity assist their teammates to perform better to achieve the common goal.

Malietau Davis and Adrian Comerford

Team: Concord FC, Concord NSW, Under 11s Boys

Both have a great understand of team play and sportsmanship. Davis is quick in defence and is able to move quickly to anticipate the play, while Comerford is a natural “hunter” in the midfield and will help his teammates in any play.

Brodie Fitzsimmons & Casey Gallagher

Team: Burleigh Bulldogs U10 Boys, Queensland

The Premier Invitational football tournament on the Gold Coast. Gold Coast Knights Red v Springfield United under-13s in action. Picture: Mike Batterham.

X-factors

Magic United QLD U8 Gold - Bentley Simmonds

Mitchelton QLD U9 - Lleyton Crump

Shippo’s United QLD Under 9’s - Hudson Callaghan

Petone FC, Wellington, New Zealand. - Rylee Page

Bayswater City Soccer club WA Under 11 - Jackson Fatouros

Concord FC, Concord NSW, Under 11s Boys - Christian Koulendianos

Concord FC, Concord NSW, Under 11s Boys - Malietau Davis

Burleigh Bulldogs QLD U10 - Lucas Rackemann

FC23 Darwin NT U13 - John Halikos

Caroline Springs George Cross VIC U8 Joey - Axel Nason

Ormeau FC QLD U13s Boys - Amazigh Ahmed Zaid

Speed demons

Magic United QLD U8 Gold - Spencer Mango

Mitchelton QLD U9 - Caolan Carter

Shippo’s United QLD U9 - Issac Grigg

Petone FC, Wellington, New Zealand. - Raidyn Kulesa

Bayswater City Soccer club WA Under 11 - Xander Novatsis

Concord FC, Concord NSW, Under 11s Boys - Christian Koulendianos

Concord FC, Concord NSW, Under 11s Boys - Malietau Davis

Burleigh Bulldogs QLD U10 - Walter Inglis

FC23 Darwin NT U13 - Ethan Harker

Caroline Springs George Cross VIC U8 Joey - Johnathan Vella

Ormeau FC QLD U13s Boys - Ava Saville

The Premier Invitational football tournament on the Gold Coast. Brisbane Roar Orange v TFC Brisbane White under-13s in action. Picture: Mike Batterham.