Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Keith Eigeland/Football Queensland

Western Pride have signed four Queensland Academy of Sport products for their 2015 PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Senior Men’s squad.

Pride coach Karl Dodd confirmed goalkeeper Bon Scott, centre half Ajdin Fetahagic, and midifielders Jesse Rigby and Gabriel Haywash will wear the club’s green and white hoops next year.

Dodd said he expected the players’ professional approach developed in the high performance programme will serve them and the club well in the forthcoming campaign.

“These boys all come highly recommended by Josh McCloughan at the QAS. I’ve known Josh for a while now and I respect his opinion,” Dodd explained.

“When these boys came in they definitely stood out. They all very much have the potential to go on to the next level.”

“Their attitudes were first class and both technically and in terms of football intelligence they also impressed.”

Dodd explained each of the players will also be extra motivated after falling short of securing a place within Brisbane Roar’s latest crop of youth players.

“A lot of them have a bee in their bonnet because they didn’t make the Roar team, so they have something to prove,” Dodd said.

“They have missed the youth cut-off and so now they need to knuckle down for the next couple of years, become complete players and take the next step that way,” he added.

Dodd said in addition to the benefits on the field for the senior team, the whole club will benefit from the experience the quartet have gained in elite programmes.

“We are still a young club and the biggest thing is that we need to show what is professional so that the kids coming through know what is required.”

“Having these guys on board helps a lot. They have been through the professional systems and their training mentality both on and off the field will rub off on other players already at the club,” he concluded.

Scott was a fringe player for Roar’s NYL team in the 2014 PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland season, in addition to appearing at Brisbane City.

Rigby, Fetahagic and Haywash all figured prominently in Academy teams competing in the Under 18 Boys and Youth Men’s divisions.

The signings brings the number of confirmed players at Pride for next season to 11, with further announcements expected later this week.