Round one of the Football West Premier League is done and dusted for season 2011, and we’ve already had some surprising results. Last season saw the Premier League title head the way of the Western Knights, but they were inevitably outdone in the Grand Final by Perth SC, who were thus crowned Finals Series Champions. Stirling Lions made it three major titles for three different teams when they took out the State League Cup; while earlier the 2010 pre-season Night Series had gone to perennial nocturnal champions Perth SC - allowing them to claim a nice book-end to either side of the 2010 season. This year the Night Series has seen a new champion, the ever-dangerous Floreat Athena, who this season find themselves with an ex-Glory man, Ante Kovacevic, at the helm as player-manager. They beat a surprisingly resurgent ECU Joondalup 1-0 in the final two weeks ago, a team that had earlier pulled of the shock of the tournament by dumping Perth SC out rather unceremoniously in the semis. 

One might ask why A-League fans should bother looking at a local competition with “ethnic” clubs and attendances which by comparison consist of two men and a dog. Well, the answer is pretty simple; we’re in for a long off-season, we love our football, and the local competition quite often provides better value-for-money than the national league. What’s more, the food and (full-strength) drink is perfectly priced, all the clubs are very welcoming, and you don’t need to worry about aggressive security guards or needless council/stadium bureaucracy. Perhaps it’s just a WA thing, but Football West clubs can hardly be pushed into the negative stereotype of “ethnic sokkah” clubs, either. There’s no violence, there’s no racism, we don’t riot - there’s nothing that represents the Channel 7 newsreel image of NSL football. It’s simply football people being able to enjoy their sport with their local community. That said, I do hear that on occasion the local Italian derbies can be quite tasty - but have you seen that half-time lasagne?

As usual, this year local football scribes footballwa.net carried out their annual season preview, and the results are fairly unsurprising. Most pundits tip Perth SC, Western Knights, and Stirling Lions to be right up there at season’s end, with clubs like Floreat Athena, Sorrento, and ECU Joondalup fighting for the remaining finals positions. At the other end of the table, many tip Mandurah City - who had a rather troubled pre-season losing their coach on the eve of the competition - along with newly-promoted Bayswater City and traditional slow-starters Armadale to be just three of the teams unlucky enough to be in contention for the two relegation spots present this season. Of course, in round one Mandurah beat Perth SC 1-0 and ‘Baysie’ also chalked up a win - so what do they know? 

Well, to find out, I contacted Brett Klucznik of footballwa.net and asked him a few questions. Because, good football aside, the single biggest drawcard for someone like me to the State League is this - these are WA players playing in the state’s best competition; and if Perth Glory are going to start bringing in local talent rather than looking at Dave Mitchell’s contacts in NSW, this is a pretty damn good place to start. In fact, it’s nigh on the only place to start. Every year we see kids from ECU, Stirling, Floreat and the like heading off overseas before any Australian clubs catch on that they exist - and if the club are serious about being home-grown, they’ve got to find a way to stem that tide.

Being an ECU man myself, I’ve already got my eye on 23 year old Joondalup striker John Thornley, who has scored something like ten goals in his last six matches. A cooly-dispatched penalty on Saturday saw him guarantee ECU’s win over Inglewood United. The young striker spent some time in the VPL as well, and he seems to have enough about him to trouble defences with his strength and accurate shooting. However, the Football WA crew have been around the local game a lot longer than me, so I thought I’d ask them who they thought could make the step up. To add a few more eyes to the mix, I also asked the three lads behind the That Was A Goal! podcast (hereafter TWAG) over in Perth to provide some insight; after all, one of them is a state league player himself; indeed, by all accounts he’s a Ronaldo-in-waiting. (Now where’s the money, Dave?)

John Thornley, ECU Joondalup

Age: 23, Striker

Brett says: Strongly-built striker who scored a bagful in pre-season for ECU Joondalup. Added a few more strings to his bow last year with a season in Victoria. Understood to be on Glory's radar for 2011/12. 

TWAG says: A big strong striker with a great eye for goal. Would be worthwhile given that Glory seem to be obsessed with getting it wide and crossing into the box.

Dave says: Ha, told you - it's not just my northern-suburbs bias after all. Glory need a strong forward to hold up the ball and intimidate opponents - and John’s young to boot.

Bobby Wilson, Stirling Lions

Age: 22, Central Defender

Brett says: Imposing centre back now in his second season with Stirling. Played youth team football at Southend United and Notts County in the UK. State team 2010.

TWAG says: Has a great left foot, and can play anywhere. A left-footer would be great [for the squad] with Naum Sekulovski being let go.

Dave says: Like Danny Cain, he's too old for the youth team but such is our dire situation in terms of depth in central defence (Jamie Coyne is not and never will be a CB - not that we need to worry about that any more) that we really should be looking locally for backup to Chris Coyne and Josh Mitchell. Citizenship / nationality status may be an issue.

Greg Sharland, Perth SC

Age: 28, Attacking Midfielder / Winger

TWAG says: A great athlete, and physically imposing too at around 6’4”. He’s fast, skillful, can breeze past defenders and has a great shot. Glory needs these kind of players, especially with Sterjovski failing to deliver.

Dave says: Fast? Skillful? Wrong club lads. I think there’s a sign Fergie and Mitch have hung up on the change room wall: “You can leave that skillful and creative crap at home or else I’ll get Jacob Burns to kick the living shite out of ye!”

John Migas, Balcatta

Age: 25, Left Midfielder / Left Back

Brett says: Versatile player who operates out of defence or midfield for Balcatta. Long recognised as one of the local game's best players. State team representative 2008 and 2010.

Dave says: Why have we signed Evan Berger? No, really - WHY?

Jimmy Isiah, Floreat Athena

Age: 25, Winger

TWAG says: Quick and skillful, he also possesses a great range of passing. He has a great shot, and uses the ball well.

Dave says: Sounds like everything we need on the wings; and everything we don’t have. (Todd Howarth somewhat excepted, bar one foot).

Danny Cain, Sorrento

Age: 25, Central Defender

Brett says: Powerful defender who goes about his business with a minimum of fuss at Sorrento. State team player 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Dave says: Three years representing your state and no years representing Glory. Which is fine. It's not like we need a young-but-experienced central defender with good strength and positioning, is it?

Antonio Naglieri, Perth SC

Age: 28, Central Midfielder

TWAG says: Was at the Glory a while back, but never given a proper chance with only the one appearance. Has great technique, with exceptional passing and vision. A much better player than both McGarry and Pellegrino.

Dave says: Big wraps, but I certainly see their point - McGarry, Burns, and Pelle have the vision and creativity of a small breeze-block, and Naglieri has long been an architect of goals at a local level. But is he considered too long in the tooth for the club? Well, no - he’s under the age of 50, after all...

Simon Versacio, Western Knights

Age: 23, Right Midfielder

Brett says: Speedy right-sided winger who scores as well as creates goals for the Western Knights.

Dave says: Might be too similar to young Tommy Amphlett, already in the Glory side, to be able to push for an A-League contract.

Andy Brown, Mandurah City

Age: 29, Central Midfielder

TWAG says: A threat going forward, he distributes the ball intelligently, possessing good speed and good passing.

Dave says: Had a trial with the Glory once before, but nothing became of it. Has represented the state and is often recognised by his peers for his workrate and vision. At 29 though he might be facing younger challengers for a Glory jersey.

Ryan Pearson, Armadale / Glory Youth

Age: 21, Right Back

Brett says: Former Armadale player who has been part of the Glory Youth setup for the past three years. Only a matter of time before he steps up to the next level, be it with Glory or elsewhere.

Dave says: Ominous warning, that. We need to keep hold of young blokes like this, and in the absence of Jamie Coyne this guy and young Josh Risdon should be rotated through that right back role to give them the experience they need.

Phil O’Callaghan, Stirling Lions

Age: 24, Striker / Attacking Midfielder

TWAG says: Shows clinical finishing in front of goal, and has a great engine.

Dave says: Could be a good foil for Sterj/Fowler/Jelic, who often appear out of puff and unable to strike the ball cleanly. Also has a swag of Golden Boots for his local clubs.

Miki Vujacic, Floreat Athena

Age: 27, Central Midfielder / Defensive Midfielder

TWAG says: A deep lying playmaker. Has a very good range of passing and good vision, and is an extremely technical player.

Dave says: Oh, a playmaker! Wait... Refer to sign under ‘Greg Sharland’.

In addition to these so far overlooked talents, Brett from footballWA has also looked around for some of the promising youngsters that could be a prime candidate to join the ranks of Gareth Naven's Glory Youth, or in some cases could be in line for the odd call-up to the senior side.

Dean Evans, Glory Youth

Age: 20, Central Defender / Central Midfielder

Brett says: A former Stirling Lions player who has been with the Glory Youth for the past three seasons, winning their player of the year twice and  representing his state in 2008.

Dave says: What more needs to be said? A two-time youth MGP, as far as I'm aware he has never started a game for the senior side and has made a solitary substitute appearance. Just staggering.

Rory Feely, Cockburn City

Age: 20, Striker

Brett says: An attacker with plenty of promise currently making his name with Cockburn. Broke into their senior lineup last year, will have a big bearing on his club's this year.

Dave says: Stole the points at the death for Cockburn in their shock 2-1 win over Floreat on Saturday. Impressive composure and concentration levels for a youngster considering the game was being played in stifling heat and humidity usually not seen in this comp.

Liam Boland, Floreat Athena 

Age: 19, Striker

Brett Says: A player who would come on in leaps and bounds in a full-time football environment. Currently with Floreat Athena, Boland represented Australia at Schoolboys level in 2009.

Dave Says: Impressed in the Night Series, and certainly wouldn’t be out of place playing for Glory Youth with a view to the future.

Dejan Aleksic, Cockburn City

Age: 19, Goalkeeper

Brett Says: The State League's best young goalkeeper and first choice at Cockburn City for the last couple of seasons. Gained Australian U20 international honours while with Glory Youth in 2008/09.

Dave Says: Has an ice cube’s chance in hell of making the Glory. Not because he isn’t talented - but because we’ve just signed Neil Young from Newcastle (a former state league lad himself) and youth keeper Alex Pearson remained unused by Ferguson last year.

Cameron Edwards, Glory Youth

Age: 18, Central Midfielder

Brett Says: An attacking player who figured prominently for Glory Youth this season when he shared the player of the year with Dean Evans. The son of former Australia and Glory striker Alistair Edwards.

Dave Says: A link to the past thanks to his father, and an impressive apprenticeship with the youth team so far. So when will he get his turn in the senior side?

Josh Risdon, Glory Youth

Age: 18, Right Back

Brett Says: Bunbury-born, former ECU Joondalup player who gave a good account of himself towards the end of last season in the senior Glory line-up. Served a three-year apprenticeship with Glory Youth.

Dave Says: ECU have a penchant for producing good young players and Gareth Naven has a knack for giving the Glory talented young right backs - Neville, Pearson, Risdon to name but a few. Should see more senior time this year together with Ryan Pearson.

It’s been put forward by Glory coaches in the past that the west simply doesn’t stack up when compared to the leagues over east. Perhaps it’s true that the VPL and NSWPL have been established longer and are richer competitions, but it’s not like there’s no talent over in Perth either. Mark Birighitti, Eli Babalj, and Trent Sainsbury show that eastern states clubs have no qualms about pillaging Perth youngsters- and Glory have simply watched these players go. Who will be next?

Well, here’s a chance to make amends. Since David Mitchell’s “extensive scouting network” doesn’t seem to include his own backyard, Perth Glory should consider this their starting hit-list. It will now be interesting to see just how much attention they pay to it.

 

In the meantime, get your off-season football fix through:

footballWA - Simply the best resource for WA football

That Was A Goal! - For all your state league, A-League, and world football needs.

FootballWest - Official site of the WA governing body and the state competition.