2024 League Two Men’s Season Preview
The 2024 season of the Football New South Wales League Two Men’s competition promises to be one of the most unpredictable yet, with fifteen teams all vying for the all-important top two spots, as well as a Premiership being at stake.
The two newcomers in Mounties Wanderers FC and Central Coast United FC will be ones to watch to see how the respond from their relegation from League One Men’s last season, while there has been plenty of change across all clubs.
Who will rise to the challenge in what promises to be one of the most competitive seasons yet?
Here is how each team is looking ahead of the new season:
Bankstown United FC
Previous Season: 9th place
Bankstown United will hope to have a good season in 2024 after a negative end to the previous season, amid some bright sparks for the side.
With the likes of attacker Yohan Blageovic arriving from Blacktown Spartans FC, midfielder Jamie Dib from Dulwich Hill FC, and young defender Harry Stavris from APIA Leichardt, along with no major departures, Bankstown have a settled squad ready to tackle the new season.
A solid pre-season has seen Bankstown able to tweak a system which brought them success throughout the 2023 season and head coach Luke McGuire will hope to see more improvement in his side this season.
Bankstown United will hope to utilise the skills of last season’s Golden Boot runner-up Mitchell Cross, along with the host of other talent either at or arriving at the club to build a side capable of taking on every other team in the league.
The goal for Bankstown will be to keep as many players fit as possible and set specific goals regarding league position come the halfway point of the season as they look to build further in 2024.
Camden Tigers FC
Previous Season: 7th place
Camden Tigers will hope to build on a positive end to last season and will continue to rely on their youth development to drive the club forward in 2024.
They have brought in young players from MacArthur Rams and invested in their under-18s and 20s programs to build a side where young players can step up at any time, while other under-20s players have left.
With a streamlined program from the under-20s to first grade, the Tigers will hope to start the season strongly with a deeper squad which has more defined playing roles, a more refined playing style and a wish to play at a high level.
Dean Bradley’s side have a bye in Round One but will hope to play strongly when they return and will look to work hard to aim for success when their season starts with a good start to the season.
The Tigers will be confident of fighting near the upper end of the ladder and will aim for a top three or four finish in 2024.
Central Coast United FC
Previous Season: 16th place (Relegated, League One Men’s)
Central Coast United will hope to bounce straight back from their last-placed finish and relegation from the League One Men’s competition last year as they look to build a team filled with enthusiasm in 2024.
Former A-League player with Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers, Shannon Cole took over as head coach following the end of last season and will look to bring his experience to a side hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 2023 campaign.
The Pirates have recruited locally, with defenders Jye McNamara and Mark Partridge coming from Terrigal, along with Ben Flackers, while they also have younger players stepping up in attacking midfielder Brett Sibanda, and Michael Sing; they arrive alongside the returning core group of players including Cade Mapu, captain Daniel McFarlane, Jack Reagan and Geordie Howe.
The team will want to control matches by keeping the ball in the opposition half and play fun football to build their identity while also representing the region; their expectations will be to pick up wins while also constantly improving and putting in solid performances.
The performance is just as important as the result and the Pirates will hope both work in synergy to bring them success in 2024.
Fraser Park FC
Previous Season: 5th place
Fraser Park will hope to be fighting at the upper end of the ladder come season’s end after a 5th-placed finish in 2023.
They have brought in some firepower and quality with former Rockdale City Suns winger Matthew Lecce, as well as former Gladesville Ryde Magic striker David Ustimenko, who they will hope will lead the line well this season after the departure of top scorer Sam Sheppard to Hakoah Sydney City East FC.
The team competed well in pre-season and the learnings from those matches will help inform their playing style of high press, which they hope will lead them to success.
The aim for Alex Araujo’s team will be to fight for promotion, but they will take the season one match at a time to do better than the previous year.
Fraser Park’s first match of the season is against Parramatta FC and the side will be prepared to face off against a side which has made a lot of changes in the off-season; they will hope to start the season on the front foot.
Gladesville Ryde Magic
Previous Season: 4th place
Gladesville Ryde Magic will be hoping to impress even more in 2024 after a strong 2023 season, where they finished 4th, and will hope to be battling in the upper ends of the ladder once again.
Despite losing James Tsokos and Kyriakos Tohouroglou to retirement, as well as losing David Ustimenko to Fraser Park, and Kohki Hiyaoka who has returned to Japan, the formerly retired Chris Gaitatsis has come back to aid his old club, while they have also signed Genki Kohyama from SD Raiders.
The Magic have a young core group, including 18-year-old striker Luca Fontes, 17-year-old centre-half Maverick Anderson, young midfielders Christopher Guyot and Stefan Baker, 19-year-old Tyler Frost on the right, as well as new 21-year-old goalkeeper, Vas Kartambi; their youth served them well to a strong campaign last season and the Magic will hope to use that formula again in 2024.
They will hope to play attacking football and have younger players establish themselves in first grade to use that as the foundation for their success, where they will hope the tireless nature of the team will also help them share the goalscoring and bring results.
Football manager George Ganiatsas and Tony Caruso take the reins alongside the now-retired Magic player, Sergio Tarazona; they will hope to fight towards a top-four finish once again, with a possibility of promotion.
Granville Rage
Previous Season: 12th place
Granville Rage had a positive end to the 2023 season and will hope to continue that momentum with plenty of optimism and experience in the side.
They have held on to most of their side from last year and have added the experience of 31-year-old attacker Ante Tomic, as well as 28-year-old attacker Nikola Tomorovski, both from Bankstown City Lions, who will both add leadership on and off the field.
George Issa will captain the club, being their most experienced player, while the group itself is very connected and have bonded very strongly; they will hope that connection translates to results on the field.
Daniel Bortolazzo retired following last season and takes the reigns as assistant coach under Carlo Ianni; their side will hope to build off the positive play from the second half of last season and aim for a top eight to top ten finish in 2024.
With a team gelling well, experienced players coming in and a belief they can keep moving in the right direction, Granville Rage will be a side no one will take lightly in 2024 as they chase another season of good progression.
Hawkesbury City FC
Previous Season: 8th place
Hawkesbury City FC will be optimistic about having a strong 2024 after a mid-table finish last season; they will hope a stable setup at Hawkesbury and a few new quality additions will aid in their bid for promotion.
Eighteen players were kept at the club following the end of last season, while they have brought in 21-year-olds Ethan and Jye Payne from Sydney United, who can cover both defence and midfield, ex-Hills United player Nathan Nitski, who can cover the same job, Central Coast United striker Duncan Stewart and 18-year-old midfielder Caleb Nicholas from Quakers Hill Tigers.
With a younger team and no major outgoings, Hawkesbury will hope to utilise a fast style of play and their positive pre-season results following a strong end to 2023 has been a marker of that intent.
Dean Bertenshaw’s side will hope a better first half of the season in 2024 will help set up a promotion push after their inconsistent start to the 2023 season ended those hopes.
With a positive feel around the side, a better playing surface and high hopes of a promotion push, Hawkesbury have set down the marker for what they expect of themselves this season.
Hurstville FC
Previous Season: 10th place
Hurstville FC will hope to take a solid step forward in their league position in 2024 after a 10th place finish last season.
They have recruited well with former St George FC players left-back/left-winger Alexander Morabito, centre-half Gian Satto and defender Declan Sheldon all coming in, as well as former Sydney FC youth player goalkeeper Luke Bazic, the experienced former Hakoah midfielder Conor Earley, as well as former Hurstville attacker Jacob Ritchie returning to the club.
Those signings have replaced the likes of centre-half Allie Jayee and goalkeeper Matthew Mazarotto, who have departed the club, and Hurstville will hope to start their season well after a slow start in 2023.
They have refined their playstyle with more quality and depth across the park; they will hope to be more competitive and play well in their possession-based playstyle, which will also be aided by the return of attacker Andre Guzman following his injury last season.
Hurstville will hope to be competing near the top of the table this season and know a strong start is what they will need if they are to follow that goal; look for them to stick to their game plan and attack the season from the first round.
Inner West Hawks FC
Previous Season: 15th place
Inner West Hawks FC will hope for a much-improved 2024 after they finished bottom of the league in 2023 and have made many changes at the club to accomplish that idea.
New head coach, former Socceroo Jim Patikas, has bolstered the squad with Japanese striker Takuma Hiramo, right-back Matthew Cuda from UNSW FC, midfielder Peter Kountis from Sydney Olympic, midfielder Jacob Palappnis from Dulwich Hill FC and midfielder Stavros Palapanis from St George City FC, while Tony Lo, Marcus Naoum and Hesan Soufi have all left the club.
New captain Sid Malhotra will lead the side this season, alongside vice-captains Chris Phillips and Peter Yannopoulos, and there is a positive feel around the side, who will be fitter than previous years.
Patikas will encourage his side to not be afraid in matches and will focus on attacking first; the Hawks will hope that positive approach will guide them to good results this season.
A top six finish will be the aim for the Hawks in 2024 after their last-placed finish in 2023 and they will hope to start the season strongly to attain that goal.
Mounties Wanderers FC
Previous Season: 15th place (Relegated, League One Men’s)
Mounties Wanderers will hope to put their relegation/promotion playoff heartbreak behind them as they prepare for a new challenge in a different league in 2024.
New head coach Milan Blagojevic has had limited time to get to know his squad but with key attackers in Brima Kamara and Yuki Kanai joining the club, the latter from Rydalmere Lions FC, Mounties will hope their strengths across the pitch will lead them to a successful season.
The key players for Mounties will be their core group of experienced players, including Andre Schroeder, Alistair McKie, Ray Coletta and Eijin Kishimoto, who will take on the responsibility of leading the side through the new season.
Look for Mounties to want to keep the ball, minimise the threat of being hurt on the counterattack and break opponents down; they want to enter the season with a positive mindset where the target is to win the league to earn promotion straight back up to League One Men’s.
Mounties will hope to start on the right foot as their journey in a new league with different challenges will be one which they will be prepared to face.
Newcastle Jets
Previous Season: 3rd place
The Newcastle Jets come into 2024 with a rejuvenated squad full of youngsters ready to prove themselves in what will be a tight competition.
After being in and around the top two positions for the majority of last season, a late surge from Nepean FC saw the Jets pipped for the promotion play-off, but they take no mind in that and will focus on helping more youngsters further develop at the A-League’s academy side.
Defender Yiannis Frerck has joined the Jets from Western Sydney Wanderers’ youth setup, along with 19-year-old defensive midfielder Garang Arou from Green Gully SC; outgoings include Adam Zervas to Sydney United, Lachlan West to Newcastle Olympic, Adrian Delmoni to Mt Druitt Town Rangers, Peter Grozos to St George City FC, Ezra Palombini to Manly United, Noah James to Sydney Olympic and finally, Zach Lisolajski, who signed with Western United in the A-League Men.
Damian Zane’s Jets will look to play with synergy this season, building depth with a younger side following a good pre-season.
Look for the Jets to produce more A-League-level players through their depth; they will hope to further help young players advance in their careers as their main goal.
Parramatta FC
Previous Season: 14th place
The historic Parramatta FC will hope for a much more fruitful 2024 season after a 2023 season which culminated in a fight to avoid last place, which they achieved on the final day of the season.
Their intent has been shown in their incomings, with former Newcastle Jets, Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers player Tarik Elrich rejoining one of his first youth clubs as the Head of Football; alongside him, striker Marco Sama returns from injury, Gabriel Contigiani returns at centre-half, while the Eagles have also brought in ex-Bonnyrigg White Eagles midfielder, Kenny Chong.
Parramatta will hope with an increase in quality players and a positive pre-season completed, their playstyle will be better executed as they chase better results this season.
Luis Contigiani’s side will hope to fight and will aim for a top-four finish, with depth across positions and plenty of youth stepping up, including the promotion of five youth players, as well as a team which is gelling nicely.
The Eagles will be confident heading into the season and will hope to get off to a strong start as they look for some stability.
Prospect United SC
Previous Season: 6th place
Prospect United will be prepared for another strong season after an impressive 6th-placed finish last year.
Goalkeeper Brendan Allen returns after his season-ending injury last season, while new #2 goalkeeper, young Connor Gilbert, will hope to push for his spot; other new additions include former under-17 Joeys Dylan Craus and Corey Smith, as well as under-20s players Rahim Kamara and Anthony Idehen.
The average age of the squad this season is 21, but Prospect will stick to their style and will play a brand of football which will suit the energy levels in their squad, with plenty of legs to use.
Darren Camilleri’s side picked up big wins last season, such as victories over UNSW FC, Nepean FC, and the Newcastle Jets; they will not be afraid of any challenges from any team in 2024 as they look to build more following a promising 2023.
Expect Prospect to continue to follow their philosophy of trusting youth as they look to have another positive season in the League Two Men’s competition.
South Coast Flame FC
Previous Season: 11th place
South Coast Flame FC will hope for a more consistent season after a promising start to the previous campaign ended with a finish outside the top ten.
They have recruited well, with midfielder Yianni Perkatis and defender Yianni Fragogiannis coming in from Sydney United, as well as former Canterbury-Bankstown striker Michael Trajkovski, who they will hope will fill the gap left by their top scorer from last season, Adam Voloder.
With new head coach Andrew Payne at the helm, the goal for the Flame will be fighting for promotion among the top three or four sides in the competition, which they will hope to achieve with open, possession-based football, with players who have the technical ability to sustain pressure in matches.
After a good pre-season, the Flame will look to break their season down and set targets throughout to ensure the standards they hope to set from the beginning do not slip.
Their success will depend on fitness and how well they can adapt to a new playing style under a new coach; expect the Flame to look to start strong and carry that through the season.
Sydney University SFC
Previous Season: 13th place
Sydney University will look to put a rough 2023 season behind them ahead of their 2024 campaign, where they will hope a new squad will bring improved results.
They have brought in thirteen new players, many from the under-20s programs of League One clubs, such as Dan Lister and Sam Yorke from Inter Lions FC, Jesse Hershovic from Hakoah Sydney City East, and overseas acquisition Harry Pilkington from the United Kingdom, who Uni will hope will bring experience to the squad.
They have also retained Dan Barrett at right full-back, Jethro Thornton returns from injury and Isaac Folkes will hope to be the main goal scorer for his side; Uni are looking to reset the culture and hope to build a good team spirit with these players.
Uni will look to keep the ball and be solid out of possession while not trying to be exploited in transition; they will look to control the tempo of matches by utilising different gears when necessary.
Robert Fleming’s expectations for his side will be to see improvement on the year prior, develop their young players and re-assess their league positions following the opening rounds to try and finish where they feel they deserve to in 2024; expect Uni to be a side which shows plenty of improvement throughout the season.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
