Futsal Premier League 2 Open Men’s Season Preview 2019
It is getting warmer so it’s time to switch the grass for the court as the Futsal Premier League 2 kicks into gear over the next few months! We’re going to start off seeing how each team shapes for the upcoming season.
The 2018/19 was a tight contest which ended up with SD Raiders Futsal crowned champions in a tense 3-2 result against fellow promoted side West City Crusaders. 2019 looks to be another tight contest with the entrance of relegated Dural Warriors and plenty of sides chomping at the bit to start.
Starting with the Champions. SD Raiders Futsal made an instant impression in their first season in Futsal Premier League 2. They battled neck-and-neck with Sydney City Eagles and finished second on 27 points and have retained much of the squad headlined by the Antelmi brothers and bringing in James Letta from Raiders Futsal Club so will be contenders again this season.
Next is the Premiers – Sydney City Eagles. The Eagles soared to an eleven-game unbeaten run which propelled them to the trophy and will make them the hunted again this season. The talent through their ranks should help them in what will be a competitive season at the summit. Derbies against SD Raiders Futsal and Raiders Futsal Club will be must-watch fixtures again.
Phoenix Futsal Club finished seven points behind the leaders but claimed the scalp of the Premiers and look to avenge their semi-final exit last season. Coach Elliot Jurd returns to lead his troops to consolidate their spot in the top four and ward off the competition.
Rounding off our finalists in 2018-19 was West City Crusaders. Crusaders rode a late-season wave to make it all the way to the Grand Final, eventually losing 3-2 to SD Raiders Futsal. The Western Sydney will be out to show last season wasn’t a fluke and make their sophomore season in Futsal Premier League 2 a success.
Missing out by goal difference was a sickener for South Coast Taipans, so that will be driving the southern-most outfit for 2019! Bobby Mazevski has retained the core of his side, the only loss sharpshooter Matthew Mazevski who has moved to Premier League 1 but Klime Sekutoski hopes to bring some sting to their attack alongside Ricky Goodchild which may propel them into the finals series and possibly back to Futsal Premier League 1.
The most consistent thing for Raiders Futsal Club was their inconsistency in 2018-19! A proud club somehow managed to turn victories into draws and draws into defeats although were still in the mix on the final day. 2019 will be their chance to put behind them a pair of lean years and prove their championship pedigree.
Welcome Dural Warriors to the competition. The former mainstays of Futsal Premier League 1 said their goodbyes to the premier competition with a Grand Final defeat so will be right in the thick of the action quickly in their new digs. Can they springboard back into the top division on first try? It will be a tough ask with the quality around the competition.
Wooden spooners Sydney Futsal Club started off slowly which cost them any chance to make a dent in the season. 2019 will be about improvement for the Redfern-based club. A faster start will allow them not have to do so much heavy lifting in the back half of the season in what will be the toughest Futsal Premier League 2 season yet!
Round 1 kicks off with a bumper four-game extravaganza on September 22nd which includes Sydney City Eagles taking on SD Raiders Futsal, West City Crusaders hosting Raiders Futsal Club, Dural travel to Wollongong for their first voyage and Sydney Futsal Club against Phoenix Futsal Club.
The eight sides will battle through 14 rounds of action to make it to the Futsal Premier League 2 Grand Final day on December 22nd 2019.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
