EVERY RESULT MATTERS
Shorter season means there’s more to play for from round 1, writes Matthew McInerney
THE competition might have a new name but the target remains fixed on the back of the yellow and black shirts of Edge Hill United.
The former FNQ Premier League has been rebranded FQPL Far North and Gulf, and with the region’s highest level competition reduced to two full rounds, it will be more of a sprint than a war of attrition.
Every result is more important as seven clubs vie to be the one to end Edge Hill United’s dominance in Far North Queensland. The Tigers have won three straight trebles, and winger Ben McDonnell said the hunger remained to chase a fourth.
“We always have the same hunger every year,” McDonnell said.
“We have a bit of a target on our back at the start of the year but we take it week by week, and if we play well, we’ll get the job done.”
The treble is the main goal, though McDonnell said the club wanted to emulate, or better, their run to the Round of 32 in this year’s newly renamed Australia Cup.
“The three – league, grand final, and Crad Evans – but a good Australia Cup run would be the bonus,” McDonnell said. “That’s one of our main goals this year. The target is that point, or the next round. It’s unlikely, but anything can happen.”
Leichhardt, the team the Tigers beat in the 2021 grand final, has reset as it looks to go one better.
Lions captain Josh Mulla said he and his teammates were keen for the long pre-season to end, and outlined their premiership dream.
“Everyone’s raring to go,” Mulla said. “It’s a little bit of a different squad, it’s a bit more solid and some more depth this season. We’ll be able to utilise that moving into the back end of the season.
“We want to go toe-to-toe with Edge Hill United for the premiership. It’s a short season so we need to win pretty much every game, then beat them. Obviously winning a trophy this year is the goal.
“We have to go in and get maximum points every week to be a chance. It makes it all the more tougher. It makes each game more important, you have to win them.”
Mareeba United captain Adrian Madrid said expectations were high, and with Kane Alderton stepping in as coach, he might just give them the edge the Bulls need.
“We set our expectations high but we know nothing is going to come easy,” Madrid said. “We put the hard work in at training, and at games. We don’t stop.
“The three trophies are the goals we have, but it comes down to the hard work we put in. Our fitness has been really up there this year. The goals are to really show what we can do in the league.”
Stratford has retained Rob Wales as coach for a third year, and captain Matthew Harwood said that familiarity would only help their quest to reach the final.
“A lot of the players are still there,” Harwood said. “A lot of us are used to playing together, we know how the coach wants to play. It makes it easier. “The goal is to win the whole thing. “(The shorter season) makes it a bit harder, but it’s the same with every season, you have to keep going, keep pushing, and get the results.”
Paul Piccolo has taken the reins as coach at Innisfail United, and he will have a brand new outfit to lead after wholesale changes at the club.
Goalkeeper Elliott Ferguson said the new-look Cutters simply had to work harder, together, to fulfil the goal of making the finals.
“100 per cent, the goal is to make the semi finals,” Ferguson said. “We
need to play more as a team, play harder, play more with the ball instead of running around all the time. It’s mainly a new squad, four have stayed and the rest have gone so it’s a brand new team.”
Southside endured a tough season but the Comets are ready to fight for their place in the top four.
Captain Dylan Soares said the return of Dion Readman as coach would help the Edmonton club’s hunt for more silverware.
“It hasn’t changed much, maybe a little more depth than what we had last year,” he said of the squad.
“Having Dion in, the playing style is still the same but he has a few different things he likes to coach and push forward compared to what we had previously with Chris. It’s good to have Dion back.
“It’s been a bit up and down (in pre-season). Had a couple of friendlies, some went well, some not so well. It’s all good for the learning process for the team. Everything else we’re working on is coming together.”
Marlin Coast is set to be the big improver. Alistair Pavey and Jeffrey Lassche form the nucleus of the club’s new coaching team, and with an influx of talent and the graduation of
strong youth squad players, this could be the season they move off the bottom of the ladder.
Captain Jacob Edwards said the pre-season had shown promise, and he was confident change was on the way.
“It was slow starting off but we’re going really well now,” Edwards said “Ali and Dutchie are working really well together, Dutchie is more of the tactical guy and Ali’s organising. It’s worked out well so far.
“We had a game a game against Edge Hill, and 4-0 isn’t a good margin but we got a lot out of it.”
Redlynch Strikers United are the new club on the scene, the result of a merger between Redlynch Cyclones and JCU Strikers, and captain Robin Kapun said the adjustment to Premier League had been tough.
JCU had previously played only in the lower divisions, but after being granted premier status, is now into the top league.
“It’s pleasing we’re able to make that transition and that merger happen,” Kapun said. “But moving forward from that merger, it’s been a completely different experience for a lot of us senior blokes. It’s a step up from what we’re used to.”
The competition begins Saturday.