SEASON PREVIEW
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 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
COOMERA COLTS
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 from Pacific Pines, who he almost steered to promotion in 2016
■ Looking to improve on 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, with only four players from last year’s championship-winning team
■ New coach Grae Piddick has been joined by several of his Gold Coast City players
■ Team go to NPL in 2019. Will play Gold Coast United for spot on FFA Cup main draw, in the semis of the Club Health and Wellness Cup
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
■ Have reached semi-finals of Club Health and Wellness Cup
■ Runner-up in FFA Cup Regional Games
■ Similar team to last few seasons
MUDGEERABA
2017 position: 2nd in Coast League One (19W 3D 5L) and grand final 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 flair and always attract a great crowd at home
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
■ Have reached semi-finals of Club Health and Wellness Cup
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
SURFERS PARADISE
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 Round of 32 of the national FFA Cup
TWEED UNITED
2017 position: 1st in Coast League (19W 4D 4L) and won grand final
Coach: Jason Buchanan
Captain: Michael Kolovos
Key gains: Oskar Tycho (Knights), Trad Thelwall (Gold Coast City), Christian Deans (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
PALM BEACH
2017 position: 6th (7W 3D 11L)
Coach: Brett Budwee
Captain: Jason Campbell
Key gains: Tom Miller (Gold
Coast City), Jason Campbell (Gold
Coast City), Josh Mussell (GC United) Key losses: 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 brief hiatus working with Gold Coast City ■ Young team built around the recruitment of several Gold Coast City youth players
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON TOMORROW’S BULLETIN