The eight National Premier League teams are set for the new 2025 season and as usual, there has been plenty of movement amongst the elite level clubs in the off-season. Here we take a look at what to expect in the 2025 NPL.
CANBERRA CROATIA
Home Ground: Deakin Stadium
Last Season (NPL): 2nd, Grand Final Winners, Charity Shield Runners-Up
Last Season (Cup): Qualifying Quarter Finals
Head Coach: Dean UGRINIC
Little movement amongst the Grand Final winners, but some big shoes to fill as the departure of two key forwards in Daniel Barac and Atiya Waraga removes a substantial 27 goals from their attacking line-up. With most of the new additions coming further back, the onus will be on the talismanic Thomas James, and young-gun Nick Pratezina (scorer of eight league goals in 2024) to provide the firepower, however the late capture of the prolific Maxx Green is a huge bonus. The return of midfielders Marko and Nikola Jadric is a plus, the creative skillset he brings will add more mobility to an already well-stocked engine room, whilst Nicholas Subasic makes the switch from Canberra Olympic and will add pace, and power out wide in what looks to be a fearsome defensive unit. As ever, Croatia have a strong squad, their roster containing seven players who have played 100 games or more at this level, and James on 97, plus the addition of the legendary Matt Grbesa, back after the culmination of his lengthy suspension, and the continued form of goalkeeper Sam Brown, means they will be amongst the favourites once again.
In: Matt GRBESA (Suspension), Maxx GREEN (Sutherland Sharks), Marko JADRIC (Overseas), Nikola JADRIC (Overseas), Nicholas SUBASIC (Canberra Olympic)
Out: Parris BANGWENI (Macarthur Rams), Daniel BARAC (Monaro Panthers), Marco GAYER (Monaro Panthers), Michael PICCOLO (Monaro Panthers), Joshua SMITH (Tigers FC), Atiya WARAGA (Macarthur Rams)
GUNGAHLIN UNITED
Home Ground: AIS
Last Season (NPL): 1st, lost in Preliminary Final
Last Season (Cup): Qualifying Semi-Finals
Head Coach: Javier ROCA
The league Champions head into the defence of their crown seeking to reinvent their front line following the departure of several big names in that area, including Golden Boot winner Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu. The American left for Indonesia in mid-season, and was joined overseas by English winer Daniel Olaoye, while Romeo Jambrek and Mikey Katsoulis have departed for pastures new. The arrival of Luca Florez may go some way to easing that, but there appears to be a position vacant for whoever can step up into the goalscoring role the club requires, a role they will hope the promotion of youth will fulfil. At the back long-term Gunner Badreldin Abbas has moved on, Olympic central defender Lasse Olrik recruited in his place. Replacing the under-rated Nick Dahl and Shandon Whitehead might be the hardest task for Javier Roca ahead of the commencement of the 2025 season.
In: Izac ALVES (Canberra Olympic), Elie DARWICH (Monaro Panthers), Bailey DICKINSON (Tigers FC), Luca FLOREZ (Canberra Olympic), Tyler LOCHNER (Overseas), Michael NOBBS (Seaford United), Lasse OLRIK (Canberra Olympic)
Out: Badreldin ABBAS (O’Connor Knights), Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (Overseas), Nick DAHL (O’Connor Knights), Jeremy HABTEMARIAM (Interstate), Heath ILLITCH (Monaro Panthers), Romeo JAMBREK (Tuggeranong United), Christian JUNNA (O’Connor Knights), Mikey KATSOULIS (Northcote City), Thomas STRAUB (Monaro Panthers), Antoni TIMOTHEOU (Canberra Olympic), Daniel OLAOYE (Auckland United), Shandon WHITEHEAD (Tigers FC), Sebastian WOODS (Sabbatical)
MONARO PANTHERS
Home Ground: Riverside Stadium
Last Season (NPL): 5th
Last Season (Cup): Qualifying Final Runners-Up
Head Coach: Paul MACOR
Missing out on Finals football two years in succession was a disappointment for Monaro Panthers whose support base has been accustomed to success in the year’s preceding these finals-absent years. There’s been a sea-change in the squad with many of the players who were knocking on the door of first-team football moving on, but the vast majority of the squad have been retained for 2025. Excitingly for the Panthers faithful a couple of big-hitters have arrived at the Riverside Stadium in the form of Stephen Domenici and Daniel Barac, the duo bringing with them a staggering 271 NPL goals between them. Whilst the team appear well stocked up front, the talk has been around who takes over in goal. The capture of Heath Ilitch from Gungahlin United, suggests he might be first in line, but talented as he is, the young stopper is inexperienced at the top level. Overall, nothing less than Finals would do, and the will-he, won’t-he saga of whether Roko Strika decides to continue playing might decide that fate.
In: Daniel BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Stephen DOMENICI (Canberra Olympic), Marco GAYER (Canberra Croatia), Heath ILLITCH (Gungahlin United), Michael PICCOLO (Canberra Croatia), Callum SMITH (Canberra Olympic), Thomas STRAUB (Gungahlin United), Robert TKATCHENKO (Overseas)
Out: Jenno CERUTI (O’Connor Knights), Elie DARWICH (Gungahlin United), Rocco DI PLACIDO (O’Connor Knights), William DWIGHT (Released), Finn JURAK (Overseas), Beau HARVEY (Injured), James LA VELLA (O’Connor Knights), Tyson LIVERMORE (Interstate), Ben OBST (Retired), Daniel OBST (Queanbeyan City), Jacob QUINN (Canberra Olympic), Luke SAKAMOTO (Tuggeranong United), Timothy SANTOS (Tuggeranong United)
O’CONNOR KNIGHTS
Home Ground: O’Connor Enclosed
Last Season (NPL): 3rd, lost in Elimination Final, Charity Shield Winners
Last Season (Cup): Qualifying Final Winners, Round of 32
Head Coach: Miro TRNINIC
The cup holders, and former league champions, return to the stage in 2025 eager to make up for an Elimination Final exit last season, the club finally running out of steam with injuries taking their toll at the end of a gruelling campaign. There’s been an evolution of the playing squad for Miro Trninic starting at the back where regular incumbent Seb Arranz has moved on, replaced by young prospect Kristian Nel. The Knights may have lost their leader in Lachlan Fields, the superb centre-back heading interstate, however they have strengthened in that area with the addition of Gungahlin United duo Badreldin Abbas and Christian Junna, the pair swapping the Champions for O’Connor Enclosed. James La Vella, signed from Panthers, adds to an impressive backline roster. Further forward, the impressive Nick Dahl brings more steel to the midfield, with the capture of Jenno Ceruti and Michael John offering different options to what has always been a fluid attack, led by the strength and skill of Aisosa Ihegie. As ever, midfield magician Michael Adams will be key with the addition of Golde Boot winner Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu after a stint overseas pushing Knights towards favouritism.
In: Lukman AHMED-SHAINU (Overseas), Badreldin ABBAS (Gungahlin United), Jenno CERUTI (Monaro Panthers), Nick DAHL (Gungahlin United), Rocco DI PLACIDO (Monaro Panthers), Michael JOHN (Canberra Olympic), Christian JUNNA (Gungahlin United), James LA VELLA (Monaro Panthers), Jack MARJORIBANKS (Brindabella Blues), Kristian NEL (Tigers FC)
Out: Seb ARRANZ (Sutherland Sharks), Nikola BARISIC (Canberra Olympic), Cale BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Lachlan CAMPBELL (Northcote City), Luke DARK (Interstate), Lachlan FIELDS (Sutherland Sharks), Nick HARDIMAN (Overseas), Alen JAMES (TBC), Jak MATIC (Canberra Olympic), Patrick O’ROURKE (Belconnen United), Jackson PAESLER (Interstate), Daniel ROBERTS (Queanbeyan City), Kristian TOKIC (Queanbeyan City), Regan WALSH (Belconnen United), Jake WILSENER (Belconnen United)
QUEANBEYAN CITY
Home Ground: High Street
Last Season (CPL): 1st, CPL Grand Final Winners
Last Season (Cup):
Head Coach: Goran JOSIFOVSKI
Newly promoted and ready to unleash their brand of football on the NPL, Queanbeyan City’s High Street venue should be on every local fans list of must-do grounds in 2025. A raucous and enthusiastic following push the locals onto famous deeds, and they will need every ounce of that backing as they seek to cement a place amongst the NPL elite. Head Coach Goran Josifovski has stayed faithful to the majority of the group that earned promotion into the top tier, adding a trio of defenders in Bernard Rene, back from a sabbatical, Jack Leverett from Tuggeranong United, and Kristian Tokic, an imposing presence snapped up from O’Connor Knights. Elsewhere, Daniel Roberts formerly of Tigers FC and the Knights will add experience into the middle of the park, with the exciting Noah Vanderpol, and the jet-heeled duo of Thomas Blazevski and Ibrahim Obeid adding to the front line. That area will, once more, be led by Argentinean Nico Abot, the ace goal-getter having racked up 42 first grade NPL goals in just 49 appearances.
In: Thomas BLAZEVSKI (Tigers FC), Jack LEVERETT (Tuggeranong United), Ibrahim OBEID (Tigers FC), Daniel OBST (Monaro Panthers), Bernard RENE (Sabbatical), Daniel ROBERTS (O’Connor Knights), Kristian TOKIC (O’Connor Knights), Noah VANDERPOL (Canberra Olympic)
Out: Dylan COLBERTALDO, Gianni CORRIGAN (Canberra Olympic), Abderrahim DELLAHI (White Eagles), Liam GILMORE, Daniel MUKEVSKI, Nik NOVESKI (West Canberra Wanderers), Mark SHIELDS (Canberra Olympic), Steven SRBINOSKI, Mohammed YANSANEH
TIGERS FC
Home Ground: AIS
Last Season (NPL): 4th, Grand Final Runners-Up
Last Season (Cup): Qualifying Round 4
Head Coach: Ali EFE
Having been defeated in the Grand Final last season by a late Canberra Croatia surge, the Tigers will be back for more in 2025 and look well-equipped to go one better and take home some silverware amidst a congested field aiming for the same outcome. Tigers were excellent in many respects last season and have not seen too much of a turnover in playing staff for the new year, the return of the experienced Nathen Megic from Canberra Olympic the standout signing, along with dead-ball expert Shandon Whitehead, voted as one of the best defenders in the league in the 2024 campaign, and goalkeeper Willem Lejeune. The return from injury of the superb midfielder Josh Milicevic, coupled with the high-class of playmaker Tomohiro Ogawa, will make the Tigers central area one of the best in the competition and, if that pair can create chances a fully-fit, and fired-up, Nik Popovich, plus South Sudan international striker William Akio, will surely take advantage. With a settled team, and another year under Ali Efe’s distinct playing style, this might be the year for the Tigers to take that ultimate step.
In: William AKIO (Calvary FC), Cristian BARRESI (Sydney United), Marcus CRISPE (Canberra Olympic), Willem LEJEUNE (Box Hill United), Nathen MEGIC (Canberra Olympic), Nicholas PULCIANI (Canberra Olympic), Joshua SMITH (Canberra Croatia), Gabriel TAURASI (Canberra Olympic), Shandon WHITEHEAD (Gungahlin United)
Out: Thomas BLAZEVSKI (Queanbeyan City), Samson CARR (Western Sydney Wanderers), Jakob COLE (Released), Bailey DICKINSON (Gungahlin United), Amilio KISTA (Overseas), Kristian NEL (O’Connor Knights), Ibrahim OBEID (Queanbeyan City), Alessandro PENA (Tuggeranong United), Hristjan TANOSKI (Interstate)
TUGGERANONG UNITED
Home Ground: Kambah 2
Last Season (NPL): 6th
Last Season (Cup): Qualifying Semi-Finals
Head Coach: Mitch STEVENS
Where too now for Tuggeranong United? The simple answer is a push for the top four. 2024 saw the team consolidate on their 2023 survival and the aim now for Mitch Stevens’ and his team is a sustained hunt for finals football. With this in mind, Stevens has gone into the transfer market with a renewed vigour, signing players who will complement the system he has developed at Kambah. Two left-sided defensive options in Luke Sakamoto and Timothy Santos have switched from the Riverside, whilst the addition of the impressive midfielder Xabier Davies from Canberra Olympic is a shrewd move. Up front Sam Walker, integral to the squad, and the young tyro Steve Nealon who continued his form in the recent Australian schoolboys’ tour of the UK, are joined by Romeo Jambrek, the talented striker adding balance to the front-line. Watch out for Cole Falco as well, the new American recruit has a not-so-secret weapon that will cause problems for most teams in the league. If there are questions marks, it might be the strength in depth, but with the U23 team producing an array of products, perhaps one or two will stand tall in 2025.
In: Anish ATMAKUR (Canberra Olympic), Xabier DAVIES (Canberra Olympic), Cole FALCO (Overseas), Romeo JAMBREK (Gungahlin United), Alessandro PENA (Tigers FC), Luke SAKAMOTO (Monaro Panthers), Timothy SANTOS (Monaro Panthers)
Out: Patrick HISLOP (Interstate), Jack LEVERETT (Queanbeyan City), Edward MCCARTHY (Released), Angus MCLAUGHLIN (Released), Davaadelger OKTYABRI (Canberra Juventus), Jonathan WILSON (Released)
YOOGALI SC
Home Ground: Solar Mad Stadium
Last Season (NPL): 7th
Last Season (Cup): Qualifying Quarter Finals
Head Coach: Luke SANTOLIN
It took Yoogali SC two-thirds of the 2024 NPL season to settle into life at the top level, but once they found their feat they did so in style, doing enough to reverse what appeared to be a terminal decline and relegation back into the CPL, into survival at the expense of Canberra Olympic. And they did it against all the odds. Restricted in their squad numbers, relying on a core band each week, and travelling four and a half hours every second weekend, was a tough ask and yet they did it with pride and passion and achieved the great escape. As ever, the team is hamstrung by its location in recruiting talent but have their usual pair of overseas additions to the mainstays who have been at the club for the promotion year and beyond. Jayce Dotson, Joey Seo, and Danny Reid are the latest to join an illustrious line of previous overseas talents and are keen to make their mark at the Solar Mad Stadium. The driving force, and ambition, of Darren Bailey will, as ever, be key for Yoogali, whereas getting off to a good start is necessary.
In: Jayce DOTSON (Overseas), Chase DONETTO (Leeton United), Danny REID (Overseas), Joey SEO (Overseas)
Out: Lucas FABRIS, Bryce FALEPAU (Wagga City Wanderers), Axel GARBIN (Overseas), Christopher JOHN (Brindabella Blues), Jonathan JOHN (Brindabella Blues), Luciano MONSERRAT (Overseas), Luke PANDOLFO (Retired), Ben TOWNSLEY (Canberra Juventus)
