Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Getty Images

Brisbane Strikers coach Kevin A’herne-Evans says last year’s controversial end to the season will have no influence on his squad’s preparation for another testing PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues season.

Strikers this week announced their squad for the 2016 campaign and A’herne-Evans believes he has the talent on hand to secure Strikers a maiden PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues title after three consecutive top four finishes.

However, with a significant amount of player turnover from last year, he is adamant the much-debated finish to the Premiership race that saw Strikers finish as runners-up on goal difference to Moreton Bay United is not a motivating factor.

“In terms as a group we’ve never mentioned it. It was what it was and bottom line is that Moreton Bay were the best team in the competition last year.”

“Regardless of what people say they earned the right to be in a position to win the league and earned the right to win the Grand Final.”

“You can look at hard luck stories all you want, but we have to move on and make sure we are in the position to win the league this year.”

To that end, Strikers have sought to replace a raft of departing players – including Jheison Macuace, Greg King, Scot Coulson, Cameron Draper, Fraser Chalmers, and Josh Ahern - with a blend of proven performers and up-and-coming talents.

Amongst the fan favourites still on deck are midfield maestro Michael Angus, veteran defender Greig Henslee, defensive utility Chris Maher, and attacking midfielders Trent Clulow, Jonti Richter and Fraser Hills.

Most notable amongst the club’s new recruits is an emphasis on adding further attacking impetus – welcoming back Shelford Dais from Brisbane Roar Youth, and also signing Olympic striker Rhys Meredith, as well as Brisbane Premier League stand-outs Alistair Davis and Shaun Carlos from Wolves FC and Lions FC, respectively.

“There’s an exciting blend to this group of players in terms of what we can achieve,” A’herne-Evans explained of his attacking options.

“There will be times when it won’t click at one time or another, but that individual ability in the opposition’s final third is something that really excites us.”

Also linking up with the club are nimble midfielder Jake McLean from Oakleigh Cannons and former Hyundai A-League goalkeeper Seb Usai.

However, in keeping with the ethos of the club and the competition, A’herne-Evans said he is eagerly anticipating the development of ten teenaged Strikers Youth products into the senior squad this year.

“We are really starting to see the benefit of a solid junior development process where we have put in a lot of work at the club,” he explained.

“The younger ones coming up through the system - we’re just starting to reap the rewards of that and hopefully they will continue to filter through into the first team over the next twelve months.”

Strikers status as perennial title contenders becomes more impressive when taken into account with a horrendous run of season-ending injuries to key players since 2013 – including Matt Thurtell, Josh McVey, Richter, Draper and Macauce.

However, A’herne-Evans said the club’s High Performance Unit is continually refining its holistic approach to player management – such as diet, sleep management and training regimes - to minimise the chance of injury derailing another title push.

“How we monitor the workload of our players during training and game time is probably the most elite in the NPL nationwide,” he explained.

“It’s a credit to the club in terms of finding solutions to it rather than saying we’re just unlucky. It’s not something we accept at the club and we pride ourselves on finding an answer to everything, be it performance on the pitch or injuries.”

Asked his aim for the season ahead, A’herne-Evans also had no hesitation in setting the bar high.

“The club always goes into every competition to win silverware and it’s no different this year,” he concluded.

Brisbane Strikers FC 2016 Squad – PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues

Seb USAI, Michael WEIER, Chris MAHER, Jake MARSHALL, Greig HENSLEE, Sam KNIGHT, Sam JOHNSON, Ryan PALMER, Jesse WIEMERS, Fraser HILLS, Michael ANGUS, Shaun CARLOS, Jake MCLEAN, Zayd DENNIS, Finton LANE, Sam BALL, Jayden HEWITT, Rhys MEREDITH, Alistair DAVIS, Jonti RICHTER, Tomas ROSS, Shelford DAIS, Trent CLULOW, Luke MARSH, Oliver SMITH, Feli SHERIFF