The stories behind NPL stars as as top 100 male and female footballers named
Austin Ludwik couldn’t be happier winning trophies with the Gold Coast Knights, but you can’t help but wonder what could’ve been. More here, plus the top 100 NPL male and female players.
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The Gold Coast Knights have been NPL Queensland’s most formidable force for the best part of three seasons, and captain Austin Ludwik has been at the fore of that dominance.
“It’s been good,” Ludwik said of his time with the Knights.
“It’s one of the best, if not the best, clubs in Queensland and probably competing with all of the stronger NPL clubs nationally, it’s a good place to be for sure.”
SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL MALE AND FEMALE TOP 100’S
The Knights are sitting pretty with just one loss and are three points clear on top of table with a game in hand as they gun for a second-straight premiership and third successive championship.
With Ludwik adjudged the best men’s player across the league in the mid-season player rankings, it would be remiss to say he’s been any less than a key pillar for the Knights.
For all the success he’s tasted at NPL level however, his opportunities at the top level have been forsaken thus far.
The Burleigh Heads junior’s representative career began at age 11, and followed the stock-standard projection until he was cut from the Brisbane Roar’s youth program at age 17.
“I decided I wanted to change it up and try something different,” Ludwik said.
He landed in the US on a full-ride scholarship with Gannon University while he studied a business degree and played four seasons, with the highlight being his selection in the 2019 D2 All-America team.
Ludwik was on the cusp of a professional opportunity to play in America’s second tier competition, the USL Championship, before Covid struck.
“I sort of got stuck being graduated and not being a student anymore, not being able to stay there unless I was working or playing,” he recalled.
“I was happy to come home and get playing again and get out of the US which was pretty hectic during Covid times.
“Everyone faced challenges at that time, it was just unfortunate timing ... I would’ve liked to stay there for a couple of years and see what happened.”
The 27-year-old works in freight logistics for Hismile and remains hopeful of an A-League opportunity arising in the near future.
“I think anyone playing at this level if the opportunity came up they’d be willing to take it, whether that was in the A-League, here or interstate, I would still do that,” Ludwik said.
“I’m still fit, I’m still in my prime. I call it a ripe age, not old age … I’d regret not doing so.
“If you’re still competitive and physically on top of things anything can happen there.”
He added that there’s “always conversations behind the scenes” with A-League clubs.
There’s been plenty of talk with the Roar, and he was also afforded the opportunity to train and play a practice game with Sydney FC, but nothing has eventuated as of yet.
That being said, he couldn’t be any happier winning trophies under former Socceroo Scott McDonald on the Gold Coast.
“Scotty really brought in a professional attitude and made it a competitive environment,” Ludwik said of the key to his club’s success.
“He’s quite a competitive man himself and wants to win, he was a professional not too long ago so he was able to bring that into the club and the club supported him all the way with that.
“Those two things going hand-in-hand attracted a lot of good young players and everyone we have at the club wants to kick on and continue their careers or to do well.
“With the club supporting and with Scotty pushing everyone I think that just leads to a winning group.”
On a personal level, a humble Ludwik attributed his success to those around him.
“Being the captain and having good young players around me makes my job somewhat easier as a defender,” he said.
“It’s more so just application and keeping everyone focussed and on task and putting in the work at training and you reap the rewards on game day.
“I don’t think I do anything too glamorous being a defender.”
- Mitch Bourke
The hurdles Steph Latham overcame to be crowned number one
At the ripe age of 37, veteran Brisbane City midfieler Steph Latham has overcome a handful of injuries to remain one of the state’s most influential female footballers.
With an impressive sporting resume and a podiatry business of her own, Latham has overcome no shortage of obstacles, including a serious ankle injury which shortened her professional career, to propell both Capalaba and City into the NPL.
All this after being told by the Brisbane Roar, who she won the premiership with in its inaugural A-League Womens season, that she should probably quit football after sustaining a serious ankle injury in her second and final season with the club.
“Football was everything. It still is my No.1 passion. I was devastated but I kind of knew I was going to play,” Latham said.
The incredible journey of the inspiring Brisbane Roar premiership winner (2008-2009) is recognised here by her crowning as the best NPL Women’s player in the state and it is not her outstanding performances on the paddock that makes her so impressive but rather her unwavering dedication and passion which has seen her become a renowned trailblazer in the sport in Queensland.
It is a career which started as a 10-year-old at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School and reached several flashpoints, including getting Capalaba promoted and more recently Brisbane City elevated into the NPL competition.
With fire burning within, much like the fire that burns within emerging NPL young guns like Amy Gunstan and Laini Fryer, Latham was indeed not done.
In fact, she could not have been further from finished.
Now, almost 15 years on from that injury, Latham was leading a new era for Brisbane City under coach David Da Silva, who has the squad sitting pretty in first place after just last year gaining promotion into the top league.
But it all started as a bright eyed 10-year-old who gave football a crack at school - before joining the Souths Under-11s boys side, then the QAS program and then the Mt Gravatt women’s team.
However, as a Year 10 student, Latham could not see a path to a profitable sporting career in the code.
“You had to pick study or football,” she said about juggling QAS commitments and schoolwork at All Hallows’ School.
“Football wasn’t a real good career for women at the time. I picked my studies and went back to club football,” Latham said of her decision to quit the QAS program.
For years Latham juggled full-time work running her Wellington Point based Podiatry practise ‘Everything Podiatry’ and getting to club training, which she reflects was one of the biggest struggles transitioning from the A-League.
“When I first started in the women’s league no one was getting paid, you were still paying to play.
“It’s good to see now clubs are really promoting the women’s game,” Latham said about the progression of the women’s game which now sees players covered for petrol and expenses, which was not the case for her coming through.
“They are trying to support those decisions (choosing stable employment or football) for female footballers to study, work and have families.
“It’s definitely heading in the right direction.
“It feels nice to have been part of that. I was always pushing for more for women.
“I am just excited to see where it is going to be in 10-15 years.
“it is so big now, everything the football Queensland do with promoting the league and players.
“Who knows where it will be in 10 years.
“It could be people’s full time job.”
Latham’s Redlands NPL coach Rae Dower, now the head coach of the Australian U-17s and Australian technical director of women’s football, had a huge impact on her as a coach and mentor.
“She was very personable, very approachable. Always willing to give you one on one feedback.
“Always pushing for the women’s game.
“That was inspiring for all of us.”
Find out who cracked the list, alongside Latham, from your club here.
- Nick Tucker
Rankings and names are provided by the Football Queensland Media Team.
MEN
100. Rylan Brownlie (Brisbane Roar – striker)
99. Michael McGowan (Peninsula Power – centre back)
98. Noah Maieroni (Brisbane City – left-mid)
97. Shaun Carlos (Lions FC – centre-mid)
96. Max Ellenger (Redlands United centre back)
95. Dyce Robertson (Sunshine Coast Wanderers – right wing)
94. Kirito Higuchi (Sunshine Coast Wanderers right-mid)
93. Joshua Brindell-South (Lions FC right back)
92. Ethan Docherty (Rochedale Rovers – centre back)
91. Jean Jabo (Wynnum Wolves centre back)
90. Matt Mundy (Olympic FC left back)
89. Oliver Dearn (Rochedale Rovers – defensive mid)
88. Jean-Phillipe Lasm (Gold Coast Knights defensive mid)
87. Sam Langley (Redlands United defensive mid)
86. Ivan Ozzi (Brisbane Roar – striker)
85. James Keogh (Wynnum Wolves – right back)
84. Andrew McLeod (Brisbane Roar – centre back)
83. Karl Pechter (Brisbane City – goalkeeper)
82. Tom Larkham (Olympic FC – centre back)
81. Dredon Kelly Rochedale Rovers – right back)
80. Zander Guy (Gold Coast Knights - striker)
79. Josh Langdon (Gold Coast Knights - goalkeeper)
78. Jheison Macuace (Peninsuala Power - right back)
77. Ryo Emoto (Redlands United - attacking mid)
76. Lachlan Remmers (Gold Coast United - right back)
75. Osman Fofanah (Peninsuala Power - left back)
74. Jackson Hart-Phillips (Lions FC - left back)
73. George Earwicker (Wynnum Wolves - centre mid)
72. Jed Zanos (Sunshine Coast Wanderers - centre mid)
71. Chris Lucas (Gold Coast United - right wing)
70. Chris Maher (Moreton City Excelsior - centre mid)
69. James Meredith (Brisbane City - left back)
68. Cardiff Pond (Lions FC - goal keeper)
67. Nicholas Panetta (Gold Coast United - left mid)
66. James Nikolovski (Brisbane Roar - centre back)
65. Nathan Beagley (Olympic FC - left back)
64. Jack McInally ((Moreton City Excelsior - centre back)
63. Jake Minett (Lions FC - centre back)
62. Kane Gibbs (Peninsula Power - left mid)
61. Lucas Herrington (Brisbane Roar - centre back)
60. Daniel Driver (Olympic FC - centre back)
59. Josh Woolley (Peninsula Power - attacking mid)
58. Zahi Addis (Gold Coast United - left back)
57. Josh Phelps (Peninsula Power - centre back)
56. Seita Murai (Moreton City Excelsior - attacking mid)
55. Kenny Akamatsu (Peninsula Power - striker)
54. Matt Ridenton (Lions FC - right mid)
53. Zach Kierpal (Moreton City Excelsior - striker)
52. Bradden Inman (Gold Coast Knights - striker)
51. Peter Klaassen (Redlands United - striker)
50. Lachlan Sayers (Moreton City Excelsior - centre mid)
49. Nathan Foster (Moreton City Excelsior - goalkeeper)
48. Cyrus Dehmie (Olympic FC - striker)
47. Jordan Thurtell (Peninsula Power - goalkeeper)
46. Masashi Yokoyama (Brisbane City - right mid)
45. Josah Hitchcock (Peninsula Power - defensive mid)
44. Seb Scaroni (Olympic FC - midfield)
43. Matt Richardson (Brisbane City - centre back)
42. Eligh Williams (Sunshine Coast Wanderers - goalkeeper)
41. Louis Zabala (Brisbane Roar - right back)
40. Fraser Hills (Gold Coast United) attacking mid
39. Tommy Jarrard (Lions FC) centre back
38. Taisei Kaneko (Gold Coast Knights) right mid
37. Matt Lugo (Olympic FC - goalkeeper)
36. Marcus Worthington (Sunshine Coast Wanderers - centre back)
35. Darryl Bright (Gold Coast United - centre back)
34. Daniel Dias (Gold Coast United - defensive mid)
33. Ben Holliday (Moreton City Excelsior - right mid)
32. Fumiya Sono (Olympic FC - defensive mid)
31. Rhys Gwynn-Jones (Moreton City Excelsior - centre back)
30. Kye Bolton (Brisbane City - left mid)
29. Joel Russell (Gold Coast Knights - striker)
28. Jacob Krayem (Wynnum Wolves - centre back)
27. Daniel Leck (Olympic FC - striker)
26. Jakob Mudnic (Wynnum Wolves - centre mid)
25. Matt Jones (Brisbane City - centre back)
24. Jaiden Walker (Gold Coast Knights - right back)
23. Kody Maude (Olympic FC - right back)
22. Ryan Lethlean (Brisbane Roar - left back)
21. Rhys Gray (Peninsula Power - right back)
20. Andy Pengelly (Lions FC - striker)
19. Damin Anderson (Moreton City Excelsior - right mid)
18. Godfrey Debele (Gold Coast Knights - striker)
17. Blake Thompson (Gold Coast United - centre back)
16. Sam Klein (Gold Coast Knights - centre mid)
15. Aaron Reardon (Gold Coast Knights - centre mid)
14. Declan Smith (Moreton City Excelsior - centre back)
13. Jack Skinner (Lions FC - left mid)
12. Tyson Martin (Gold Coast Knights - centre mid)
11. James Enticknap (Lions FC- centre mid)
10. Luke Francis (Wynnum Wolves - striker)
9. Naoki Maeda (Wynnum Wolves - defensive mid)
8. Hassan Ramazani (Lions FC - centre back)
7. Alex Fiechtner (Lions FC - right wing)
6. Marquez Walters Moreton (City Excelsior - striker)
5. Oskar Dillon (Gold Coast Knights - centre back)
4. Carlos Saliadarre (Gold Coast United - goalkeeper)
3. Max Brown (Sunshine Coast Wanderers - centre mid)
2. Joe Duckworth (Lions FC - centre mid)
1. Austin Ludwik (Gold Coast Knights - centre back)
WOMEN
100. Elise Franco (Souths United – centre mid)
99. Kiara Rychvalsky (Peninsula Power – striker)
98. Georgia Muir (Mitchelton – centre mid)
97. Jess Joyce (Mitchelton FC – goalkeeper)
96. Kathryn Sherar (Sunshine Coast Wanderers attacking mid)
95. Darcy Heffernan (FQ Academy QAS centre mid)
94. Piper Vidulich (Sunshine Coast Wanderers – left back)
93. Lucy Major (Mitchelton FC centre back)
92. Georgia Dean (FQ Academy QAS centre mid)
91. Emileigh Bowman (Lions FC – defensive mid)
90. Christina Woloszczuk (Olympic FC – left back)
89. Rylee Caspanello (Peninsula Power – right back)
88. Astia Neckebroeck (Gold Coast United striker)
87. Shubreet Sran (Olympic FC – centre back)
85. Halle Carn (Brisbane City – centre back)
84. Margot Ridgeway (Sunshine Coast Wanderers – centre back)
83. Jessie Rasschaert (Lions FC – centre back)
82. Sienna Powell (Peninsula Power – left back)
81. Heidi Palmer (Mitchelton FC – left back)
80. Jorja Thompson (Brisbane City - right mid)
79. Ashlee Parravicini (Olympic FC - centre back
78. Anneka Lewerenz (Sunshine Coast Wanderers - goalkeeper)
77. Chloe Dale (Lion FC - midfield)
76. Charlie Gibson (Brisbane City - left back)
75. Kylie Vecchio (Souths United - right wing)
74. Charlie Farmer (Gold Coast united - centre mid)
73. Chloe Murray (Sunshine Coast Wanderers - centre back)
72. Amy Forrest (Mitchelton FC - centre mid)
71. Liz Harrington (Olympic FC - goalkeeper)
70. Lily Punch (FQ Academy QAS - striker)
69. Marli Danger (Sunshine Coast Wanderers - centre mid)
68. Kirrily Phillips (Olympic FC - centre back)
67. Eliza Evans (Souths United - goalkeeper)
66. Charlie Shanahan (Sunshine Coast Wanderers - left mid)
65. Maya Brueckner (Eastern Suburbs - centre mid)
64. Chelsea Scarff (Sunshine Coast Wanderers - striker)
63. Libby Cybulski (Lions FC - centre back)
62. Emily Clark (Lions FC - goalkeeper)
61. Jonte Fisher (Brisbane City - right mid)
60. Isabella (Shuttleworth Lions) FC GK
59. Mariel Hecher (Lions FC) defensive mid
58. Teani Karalouka (Olympic FC) centre mid
57. Vedrana Popovic (Olympic FC) centre back
56. Genevieve McDonald (Mitchelton FC) striker
55. Kalli Cowles (Mitchelton FC) centre back
54. Zoe Corbett (Gold Coast United) right mid
53. Rachel Dudley (Mitchelton FC) striker
52. Mia Green (Brisbane City) centre back
51. Jacqueline Cashman (Brisbane City) left back
50. Aimee Cooke (Brisbane City) centre mid
49. Ana Tormena (Olympic FC) left mid
48. Ellen Gett (Lions FC) right back
47. Eva Heron (Olympic FC) defensive mid
46. Samantha De Bien (Lions FC) centre mid
45. Kiri Dale (Gold Coast United) centre back
44. Jayde Lowe (Gold Coast United) striker
43. Lauren Askin (Eastern Suburbs) right wing
42. Elly Caspanello (Peninsula Power) centre mid
41. Bree Wallace (Mitchelton FC) centre back
40. Shianna Singh (Souths United - centre mid)
39: Sophie Rood (Souths United - centre back)
38. Layla Adams (Gold Coast United - goalkeeper)
37. Kyla Hanson (Eastern Suburbs - striker)
36. Tupleo Dugan (Lions FC - centre mid)
35. Tiarna Karambasis (Lions FC - centre mid)
34. Tonia-Marie Rantucci (Lions FC - left wing)
33. Estella Mazzoni (Eastern Suburbs - left back)
32. Samantha Roff (Souths United - defensive mid)
31. Emma Starr (Eastern Suburbs - central mid)
30. Georgina Worth (Brisbane City - goalkeeper)
29. Kijah Stephenson (Olympic FC - striker)
28. Tish Woods (Peninsula Power - defensive mid)
27. Sharn Freier (Brisbane City - left wing)
26. Bronte Rose (Gold Coast United - striker)
25. Tara O’Keeffe (Lions FC - defensive mid)
24. Rebekah Horsey (Sunshine Coast Wanderers - centre back)
23. Emma Gibbon (Eastern Suburbs - goalkeeper)
22. Lauren Bonavita (Mitchelton FC - striker)
21. Tamar Levin (Eastern Suburbs - centre mid)
20. Sunny Franco (Souths United - left wing)
19. Tegan Riding (Eastern Suburbs - striker)
18. Sofie Persson (Eastern Suburbs - striker)
17. Meaghan McElligott (Lions FC - striker)
16. Talitha Kramer (Brisbane City - right back)
15. Lila Utatao (Souths United - left back)
14. Anna Hirakawa (Peninsula Power - striker)
13. Mackenzie Nielsen (Lions FC - centre back)
12. Billie Murphy (Brisbane City - centre back)
11. Kate Muscat (Eastern Suburbs - right back)
10. Momo Hayashi (Gold Coast United - centre back)
9. Holly Clarke (Eastern Suburbs - centre back)
8. Tully Heatley (Brisbane City - left mid)
7. Chantelle Maugeri (Eastern Suburbs - defensive mid)
6. Abbey Lloyd (Souths United - striker)
5. Laini Freier (Brisbane City - attacking mid)
4. Amy Gunston (Lions FC - striker)
3. Kallie Peurifoy (Mitchelton - left mid)
2. Harkana Tkatchenko (Eastern Suburbs - centre back)
1. Steph Latham (Brisbane City - striker)
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