Football NSW League One Men’s 2025 Season Preview

After a long off season, we are once again ready for the Football NSW League One Men’s competition to kick off in 2025.
Having seen the quality improve throughout 2024, the league is looking more competitive than ever as the action kicks off this Saturday night.
Let’s take a look at what our 16 clubs have been up to during the break.
Bankstown City
Coach: Sasha Tirovski
Last Season: 3rd
We start with Bankstown City who finished last season in form and were so close to taking a playoff position in 2024. As such, the first few weekends of the season seem important for Sasha Tirovski’s side with fixtures against some good sides on paper in SD Raiders, Macarthur Rams and Bulls FC Academy.
Since last season, Chris Payne and Devante Clut have both retired while James Mackenzie and Daniel Bakrdaniskoski have left the club.
Tirovski is back for another season plotting their charge from the dugout. His squad includes a balance of new and returning faces. Most of those new faces set to feature in a new look defence with Mario Aleksic (SD Raiders), William Mutch (Sydney Olympic), Henry Davies (Mt Druitt) and Mitch Heapy (St George) all coming in. While Charles Eriku (Darwin Hearts), Lucca Cervo (Macarthur Bulls) and Junyong Jin have come in to add to their attacking threat.
Having gone so close to the playoff position last season, Bankstown City will be hoping to go better this season and with a strong squad, they will be one of the favourites in 2025.
Blacktown Spartans
Coach: Ben Rollison
Last Season: 6th
Heading into the third season under coach Ben Rollison, Blacktown Spartans are setting their sights on a campaign built on depth. Pre-season has seen the squad work tirelessly to ensure that they have the personnel to stay competitive and adaptable throughout the season.
In terms of recruitment, its in the attacking third where the most focus has been with the return of Emmanuel Dolo and Franco Scarcella who bring experience and firepower. Those Signings complimented by the pick up of Darcey Ellem. Elsewhere on the pitch, Yousef Sawahla and Jack Butterin will inject energy and flair. While Matthew Martingnago (Marconi), Samuel O’Connor (Prospect) and first choice keeper Justin Biega (Nepean) bring a youthful element to the side.
Those players joining plenty of existing players who established themselves in the 2024 season. Rollison mentioning his side as the most balanced squad his had at his disposal and it looks like they have what it takes to stay competitive throughout the season.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Contact: Phil Pyliotis
Last Season: 12th
It’s once again a new dawn at Bonnyrigg White Eagles after plenty of personnel change in the off season. After a disappointing 12th placed finish in 2024, they have turned to Phil Plliyotis who has impressed amongst the youth ranks at the club in recent seasons leading their 20’s side to a top four finish.
Preseason has been gruelling yet productive with a trip up to the Central Coast in December laying the foundation for a solid team culture. Speaking of which, their additions include Aden Gardner who has extensive NPL experience in Victoria. While plenty of familiar faces to the league have also joined in Charles Mendy (Mt Druitt), Joshua Lazzaro (Rydalmere), Ahmed Sweedan (Northern Tigers), Kristofer NIcolau and Samuel Tzanakes (Dunbar). Those joined by Phillip Gigliottti (WSW), Sebastian Cerecedo (St George) and Griffin Barry (Marconi) who all join from NPL NSW clubs. While eleven players have left the club including Radovan Pavicevic and Maksim Jez.
Acknowledging they have a point to prove this season, the building blocks are in place for a better showing this season with promotion the goal as always. Is 2025 the year they achieve it?
Bulls FC Academy
Coach: Nicolai Muller
Last Season: 2nd
Despite the top two finish in 2024, there has been plenty of change at Bull FC Academy in the off-season. Which makes this job of previewing a tad more difficult, anyway we’ll give it a go. We’ll start with the coach who is now Nicolai Muller, Muller bringing a wealth of experience from his time as a player.
In the break, we have seen many players who featured last season either get A-league minutes with the Bulls or secure moves elsewhere. Oliver Jones the most recent of which. To replace them, twelve players have come into their academy system. Andre Parkes (CCM), Harry Menham (CCM) and Henrique Oliveira (Adelaide) move across from A-league academies. While there are several players stepping into a set up from existing npl clubs, these include Julian Rodriquez (Blacktown City), Ali Sabeh (Sydney United), Leandro Carle (Sydney Olympic) and the trio of Levi Sciruiaga, Matthew Jackson and Lachlan Sattout (Sutherland).
There’s a lot of new faces to this set up but with a full preseason behind them, they could well be challenging for the top two once again.
Canterbury Bankstown
Coach: Wally Savor
Last Season: 11th
Compared to this time last year, Canterbury Bankstown look a lot more settled as a club heading into round one. A taxing campaign last season saw them struggle to field a competitive side in the second half of last year as such minimising their losses and increasing depth was important.
We’ll start with the players departing the club in Taiga Kawano who has joined Manly. Along with Stefano Di Marino (Macarthur Rams), Marco Turpeinen (Dulwich Hill) and goalkeeper Robert Fanella. Coming the other way, Stevan Savicic joins from Bankstown City to replace Fanella. While Jordan Metcalfe and Christian Torrelli both have made the move from Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Those three joined by Daniel Gino from the South Australian NPL and Demitrius Kigeya who most recently was at Blacktown Spartans.
With the competition looking a strong one this season, the Berries will be looking to be competitive in every game this season and on paper, they could well surprise some teams in the competition this season.
Dulwich Hill
Coach: Tony Valavanis
Last Season: 13th
A common consensus across the competition in the off season is that it’s getting stronger and Dulwich Hill are an example of exactly that. Although finishing just clear of the relegation places last season, there was a need to improve in the off season.
Firstly we’ll touch on the off-field stuff at the club with Phil Fourlas (Chubba) coming in as assistant from Hills United. Tony Valavanis also brining in a couple of strength and conditioning coaches.
Over fourteen players have departed the club in the off-season and they have focused on bringing in a younger demographic of player to replace them. Harry Jones and Andrew Di Blasio have joined from St George FC. While Jamal Belkadi, Samuel O’Connor and Isaac Hovar have also made the move across from Hills United. Rockdale Under 20s Grand Final Winner Lomeo Nicollielo & Exciting winger Dominic Sameenang have been singled out as players to watch this season.
Aiming for the top six in the competition, there’s a quiet confidence as they approach their third season in the competition.
Hakoah FC
Coach: Craig Sharpley
Last Season: 4th
For a large part of 2024, Hakoah FC were the side pushing the top two of Mt Druitt and Bulls FC Academy. However, they eventually ran out of gas winning just one of their last six games. As such, there has been stability once again across the club with Craig Sharpley once again returning for his third season coaching first grade.
Pre-season has been a mixed bag though with more players carrying injuries so that will test the squad. The big news here being the captaincy change with Connor Shaddock taking the place of Yianni Spyrakis who has retired. Incoming, Ben Fuchs makes a return to the club after a year away from football. His joined by visa player Valentin Cunny, the versitile Luke Kraljevic and striker Hristopher Nestovski as new arrivals.
If they can survive that early season period, you’d back them at least for a top half finish. As always though with Hakoah, developing their young players is an important part of what they do.
Hills United
Coach:
Last Season: 16th (NPL NSW Men’s)
One of two clubs returning to the second tier this season, Hills United will be looking to pick up where they left things in 2023. Yes, unfortunately for the side in Sydney’s North-West, their stay in the top division was a brief one. So it makes sense that there was a period of rediscovery during the off season with the club eager to recapture what saw them get promoted.
Having had a full preseason under the tutelage of Luke Casserly, their preparations hit some turbulence with his departure announced a week before the season. Their recruits for the season are top heavy. Marcus and Lachlan Lal are joined by Yuki Kanai (Mounties Wanderers), Walid Moutaouakkil (French) and Oscar Rava (Gladesville Ryde Magic). While other noteworthy signings include Daniel Bakrdanikoski (Bankstown City), James Georgaklis (Mt Druitt) and Zen Gigliotti (Macarthur Bulls).
Mt Druitt Town Rangers set a precedent for newly relegated sides, can Hills United follow their lead in 2025?
Inter Lions
Coach: Shane Cevanini
Last Season: 10th
Perhaps the club who has undergone the most change in the off season has been Inter Lions. After a mid-table finish last season, coach John Theodoropoulos decided to leave the club after six years in the role. The club opting for Shane Cevanini to replace him. Cevanini most recently working with Prospect United in League Two.
As you would expect then, the playing group has also seen significant change with the likes of Alex Becerra, Daniel Georgievski, Lachlan Everett, Oliver Green and Ahmed Taleb leaving the club. While Evan Davis (Apia), Nikola Kuleski (Blacktown Spartans), Malcolm Ward (Mt Druitt) and both Brian Jamba and Mitch Smith (Hills United coming the other way. The club also looking to promote some exciting youngsters into the team as the season goes on.
Expecting a tougher campaign, they are optimistic of keeping the clubs upward trajectory going in 2025. To do so, they will be looking to turn moments of the past couple of seasons into a consistency week to week.
Macarthur Rams
Coach: Tom Bazdaric
Last Season: 14th
Another side who have undergone significant change in the off season is the Macarthur Rams. Last season was a tough one for the Rams who managed just six wins across the season. As such there has been a coaching change with Tom Bazdaric coming into the role while former Bulls Academy assistant Tim Aitken also made the move across.
On the park, they come into the season with a more balanced look. Recruiting experience in the likes of striker John Roberts (Mt Druitt), Anthony Vastag (Mounties) and Stefano Di Marino (Canterbury Bankstown) to compliment some other notable signings. Those being Jerome Narayan (Dulwich Hill), George Grillakis (Marconi), Jayden Tran (Spirit) and a visa signing in Carlos Ruiz (Union Bogota, Colombia).
Also with plenty of talent waiting for a breakthrough, it’s hard to see them not improving in 2025 with the squad ready from round one.
Mounties Wanderers
Coach: Jure Bilokapic
Last Season: 2nd (League Two Men’s)
After a short absence from the division, Mounties Wanderers are set to make their return in 2025. Relegated two seasons ago, they faced a promotion/relegation playoff against Nepean FC and emerged victorious over two legs. Jure Bilokapic came back to the club to lead them to that victory late last season and he’ll look to take that momentum into the new season.
Preseason has been good for the South-West Sydney based side with no significant injuries approaching round one. Ten players have departed the side replaced by nine fresh faces highlighted by the quad signing of Matthew Nikolovski (Sydney United), Josh Okan (Sydney Olympic), Michael Manyuon (Rockdale) and Mitchell Van Der Saag (Marconi) all from NPL clubs. While Yianni Perkatis and Michael Trajkovski have both come across from South Coast Flame for the new season.
With a score to settle after their relegation a couple of seasons ago, expect Mounties Wanderers to compete from day one of the new campaign.
Newcastle Jets
Coach: Damian Zane
Last Season: 1st (League Two Men’s)
Making a long awaited debut in the competition are the Newcastle Jets. Promoted from the League Two Men’s competition in 2024 after being there or thereabouts for a couple years prior, the big difference in last years campaign was their ability to pick up points away from home as they went unbeaten throughout the campaign.
In terms of personnel, there’s not much change to the squad. Ethan Debono the noteworthy acquisition, Debono performing well in the preseason. While several young players are starting to emerge in the set up. Zac Bowling the only player to leave the club, the young goalkeeper moving to Blacktown City.
Demonstrating week to week consistency last season, they are looking forward to the step up in quality, can they soar to back-to-back promotions?
Northern Tigers
Coach: Adam Hett
Last Season: 5th
Last season was a tale of two halves for Northern Tigers. The first half was a tricky one with injuries hampering their efforts before they finished the season strong with nine wins in fifteen games at the turnaround of the campaign. As such, they have taken lessons from that experience in regards to load management and squad depth.
Adam Hett is once again the man tasked with leading the Tigers as head coach. He has opted to both bring in some talent as well as promote from within. In regards to those coming in, the likes of Jesse Spang (St George FC), Ryan Attard (Bonnyrigg), Daisuke Yamaguchi (Dunbar) and Connor Rose (Manly) are all familiar names to the division. While visa player Koya Nakano, Kyle Bennett (Spirit), Nic Petrillo (Bonnyrigg) and Jonathan Green (Dulwich Hill) complete the signings.
The preseason has been a good one at North Turramurra with a few promising results and not too many injuries. Focusing on one week at a time, we could see a strong showing from Northern Tigers in 2025.
Rydalmere Lions
Coach: Abbas Saad
Last Season: 9th
Last season was a tale of two seasons for Rydalmere Lions. A midseason coaching change resulted in an impressive turnaround which saw them win six of their last seven games of the season including a win over Bulls FC Academy. As such, coach Abbas Saad and his assistant Joe Bacha will be hoping to take that momentum into the new season.
The big departure from last season is that of their leading goalscorer Isaac Cunningham who signed for a European club. Those goals hopefully replaced by the acquisition of Ahmed Taleb who returns to the club after a spell at Inter Lions.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Riccardo Rizzo has made the move west from Rockdale, while visa player Conor Kerr and Angok Majok come in to strengthen their defence. There’s also a good set of academy, under 20’s talent who will feature across the season.
A youthful outfit with no fear, the goal this season is to better what they did a season ago and it’s hard to bet against them given what they achieved in the second half of 2024.
SD Raiders
Coach: Goran Ljuboja
Last Season: 7th
Perhaps the most frustrating side to watch as a neutral last season, SD Raiders are looking to improve on their 2024 showing. Alright, I’ll explain that first statement, Goran Ljuboja’s side weren’t the best side at converting their chances last season often relying on their defensive solidarity to get results. So that’s where they will be looking to improve this season.
To do so, the club have brought in three players from different clubs in the NSW system. Goalkeeper Andrew Parkin from Macarthur Rams, James Adrianakos from Marconi under 20’s and Jett Mccu-shore from Wollongong Wolves. But as we’ve come to expect from the club, they will also be promoting from within.
While five players have departed the club including keeper Mario Aleksik, Angok Majok, Nicholas Kambrouis.
A young squad with plenty of depth, the goals for this season are to better last years finish and go on a cup run whilst playing attacking football with an added ruthlessness in front of goal.
UNSW FC
Coach: Gabe Knowles
Last Season: 8th
The 2024 season was a weird one for UNSW FC who made their debut in the competition. An eighth place finish was good but come the end of the season, they felt they should’ve done better. However that wasn’t helped by having a disrupted defensive line in the first half of the campaign.
Looking ahead to this season, they will be without Luke Burke, Matias Da Silva Santos and Peter Prandalos who all retired at the conclusion of last season, Jack McLoughlin unfortunately joining them as well after suffering a career ending injury.
While In a big statement of their intentions, the students have added Conor Quilligan to their playing ranks, Quilligan a previous player of the year award winner in this division. While Jordan Morfitis (Inter Lions), Liam Wood (Miramar, New Zealand) and Angus Martins (Newcastle Jets). Head coach Gabe Knowles also mentioning Tom Quilligan and Richard Blanco who are returning from long term injuries.
A season in the division under the belt, they could be a potential dark horse in the 2025 League One Men’s campaign.
You can catch a Match of the Round weekly via the Football NSW YouTube page.
By Justin Smith