Standout Sunshine Coast players in men’s and women’s 2022 football season

With the halfway point of the FQPL3 season quickly approaching, senior men’s and women’s coaches have named their standout performers and fresh faced stars.

Fresh faces of the men’s and women’s Sunshine Coast Football senior competitions have made their mark following the opening nine rounds of the season.

Despite the recent run of poor weather, the region’s coaches, players and fans have quickly established which new players will be key to their chances in the Football Queensland Premier League 3 for 2022.

See who the coaches named as their top performers and standout debutants.

All coaches were approached for comment before the time of publishing.

Noosa FC

Head coach Ben Amson said he was happy with his team’s start to the season.

“The boys have kicked into gear really well,” Amson said.

“We’re in the spot we want to be on the ladder but there’s still too many games in hand for everyone else.

“The bye this weekend will be good to let a few bodies recover and let the under 23s run riot.”

Sunny Law

Noosa Lions senior player Sunny Law has been a standout performer for his FQPL3 side in 2022. Picture: Contributed

“I can’t go past Sunny Law at the moment to be honest,” he said.

“He’s in and out of prems and under 23s and I even had Kev from Woombye who does the commentary hit me up and tell me how much of a fan he is as well after Sunny came off the bench and provided us with a goal and an assist last week.

“As good of a player as he is he’s an even better human as well and a great member of our team.”

Nambour Yandina United

Men's head coach Kyle Nix said he was looking forward to more improvement in the back half of the season.

“On the whole we didn’t think we would’ve lost as many players as we did, as I think we lost about 20 players from the senior men's squad that we had in both grades from last year,” he said.

“It’s a lot of players and a lot of experience gone.

“We’ve attracted a new core group of players who are younger lads that fit in that 16 to 19-year-old age bracket.

“We’ve started the first half of the season with some decent wins under our belt, but also some losses which we probably expected to win, it’s a good foundation to build on for the second part of the season.”

Nambour-Yandina United, which sits in third place will play Coolum FC in round 10.

“Ben, the coach of Coolum, is a good friend of ours and he’s in his first season of putting a squad together and trying to be competitive with a good win over Kawana last weekend,” Nix said.

“There’s no easy game, especially this year … we have to turn up and perform well to get a good result.”

Charlie Bradshaw

Charlie Bradshaw has been in top form for the Nambour-Yandina Utd FQPL3 team in 2022. Picture: Nikki Grigg Photography

“There’s a couple of young lads that have come in and caught the eye but one of the two main ones has been Charlie,” he said.

“He only recently turned 17 but has come into the group and played some good first team games.”

Harrison Whitelaw

Harrison Whitelaw has been in top form Picture: Nikki Grigg Photography

“Harrison would be the other I’d say who is another young lad that has come from Caboolture,” he said.

“He’s either started or come on off the bench to have an impact in our first team so both of them being only 17-years-old and to be playing well in their first season of senior mens football we’re confident they can kick on for the second part of the season.”

Gympie United

Men’s head coach Jason Bradbury said he hoped his side could get back to consecutive winning results.

“Coming off a loss against Maroochydore after we went three wins in a row and then we came back and put in a pretty strong showing against Beegees but other than that I think the boys are dealing with everything that’s been thrown at them as best as they can,” he said.

“It seems to be across the entire league everyone dealing with the situation of rescheduled games as best we all can.”

Bradbury said the round 10 match at home against Woombye would be another good test.

“They beat us 1-0 in the first game of the season so we really want to get a result from them but other than that it’s really about taking each week at a time and making sure we stick to our game plan,” he said.

Brodie Ellems

“Brodie has come in as a young face from the Gold Coast and has shown his quality throughout the season,” he said.

“He’s improved more and more at left wing as we’ve gone along this season.

“He’s a very versatile player that has stood out so far.”

Maroochydore FC

Men’s head coach Warren Crickmore said he was proud of his team’s efforts so far this season and was eager for the next few weeks.

“We’re going okay and there’s still a long way to go but it’s been very stop and start this season with all of the rain,” he said.

“Our schedule now is very busy as I think we play 15 games in nine weeks so plenty of football coming up.”

The undefeated Swans would play the 2021 premiers, Kawana in round 10.

“They’re always tough as they’ve got some good players and I don’t think it will be any different this weekend,” Crickmore said.

James Vonhoff and Jake Towle

Jake Towle in action for Maroochydore.

“The whole squad is doing okay and everyone is playing their part in it and I don’t like to single anyone out but James and Jake have been performing well,” he said.

“At that stage of the season I would say those two guys have been going well.”

Beerwah Glasshouse United

Women’s head coach Jason Sparrow said the team endured an unplanned start to the season.

“We’ve had such a tough season as we lost six of our original premier grade starters to injury which wasn’t ideal,” he said.

“With everything that has happened it has been a real tough season so this year is really about us building character through resilience and looking for those players that will fit into the premier system next year.

“We’re happy and our aim now is to make the playoffs because if we can do that it’s a really good kick off point for next season.”

He said he hoped to build once again in round 10 against Sunshine Coast Fire.

“It will be a tough game as it always is generally a draw or one goal in it so I think we’re going into it with no expectations as I just want the girls to work hard and put in the effort that is required,” Sparrow said.

“If we do everything that we have trained to do then whatever the outcome I’ll be happy.”

Catherine Anderson

Beerwah-Glasshouse United player Catherine ‘Spud’ Anderson has been in top form for her FQPL3 side in 2022.

“It’s my first year at Beegees so I’m not totally across who has been here a while and who hasn’t but one player that’s gone well is ‘Spud’ and she plays upfront for us,” he said.

“She’s just a natural learner and is getting better each week too.

“Now that we’ve got Samara Christmas playing alongside her upfront it’s really brought out the best in Catherine.”

Kirra-Leigh Crouch

Beerwah-Glasshouse senior women's player Kirra-Leigh Crouch has been in top form in the 2022 season. Picture: Facebook.

“She’s one of our younger players and is a phenomenal player and great utility for us,” he said.

“She’s really impressed me so far this season but it goes without saying that all 15 or all 20 or how ever many we’ve had filter through, they’ve all come in and worked hard and done what I’ve asked so there’s no complaints.”

Caloundra FC

Men’s head coach Louis Chaperon said there was a lot more improvement to come from his side after starting the season with three wins and three losses.

“It’s good to be back on the pitch especially from a training perspective as well as playing,” he said.

“The rain obviously hindered that progression and we also lost a few key players like we did last season to NPL and FQPL2 respectively.

“Every season seems to be a bit of a rebuilding one and just trying to blend our experienced players with the younger players.”

He said he hoped to bounce back with a good result over Beerwah-Glasshouse United in round 10.

“We’re still just not getting that consistency yet but we are heading in the right direction and the players are understanding that philosophy but technically we’re just not at the level that I would like at the moment,” he said.

“Overall I would give ourselves a six out of ten at the moment but we take each game on its merits and we know to never take any team lightly.”

Brad Derry

“Brad is a new player that has come in, sort of a left sided player and an older head that has played at a high level in Victoria,” Chaperon said.

“He obviously helps the younger players along and has a hell of a left foot that if he can create the tiniest bit of space he puts it on a platter for those upfront.

“He’s really stepped and impressed so far this season.”

Women’s head coach Nic Basile said there was room for improvement for his side.

“It’s been a bit of a difficult start as we have played a couple of teams a few times and then haven’t played some of the other teams at all this season due to the rain and wash out games,” he said.

“It’s very early days for us and we’re not happy with where we are sitting as we’ve had a couple of draws in which we should’ve won and even some very tight losses where we sort of slipped towards the end of the game and came away with nothing.

“The stopping and starting each week is no excuse but we’re disappointed that we’re not higher up the table at the moment.”

Basile said he was looking for his side to start fresh for the second half of the season.

“We are hoping to bounce back this weekend against Nambour-Yandina this round and go well for the back half of the season,” he said.

“They’re in a bit of a rebuilding phase with all of the players they have lost so we’re slightly confident without being disrespectful that we can perform well.”

Mackenzie Brown

“Mackenzie has been unbelievable so far this season,” he said.

“She has been the best player in the competition for her position at right back.

“She’s unplayable at the moment and definitely one to watch.”

Woombye FC

Women’s head coach Jordan Nisbet was happy with how his team had performed after round nine.

“The girls are all pretty happy at the moment and we know it’s only still early in the season so we’ve got to keep pushing and keep up the form that we are in,” Nisbet said.

Woombye would play the top of the table Swans outfit in round 10.

“We know that if we can get a win we will go top so at this stage we’re thinking what we can do as a team and focus on what’s needed on game day,” he said.

Abigail Stanton

New Woombye FC premier women's goalkeeper Abigail Stanton has been in top form in the opening rounds of the 2022 season. Picture: Social Media

“Abbie is our goalkeeper and is a new face to the club,” he said.

“She’s been outstanding in one-on-ones, long balls and from set pieces so far she rarely gets beaten.”

Raelle Avery

Raelle Avery (left) in action for the Sunshine Coast Wanderers in the NPLW. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“Raelle is not a new face to the club but has come up from the juniors and has been great in front of goal with her finishing skills,” he said.

Originally published as Standout Sunshine Coast players in men’s and women’s 2022 football season