Words: Staff Writer

Brisbane Roar today formally announced the squad that will compete in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Under 18’s Boys division in 2015.

As confirmed last year by Roar and Football Queensland, the defending Hyundai A-League Champions will deliver the pathway team in association with Queensland Academy of Sport as part of Queensland’s National Training Centre programme.

Talented players from the squad have the opportunity to progress to the Roar’s youth side, which plays in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Senior Men division in winter and the Foxtel National Youth League in summer, and eventually could advance to the Roar’s Hyundai A-League squad.

The Roar-QAS squad will be one of the youngest in the competition with some players not turning 15 until later this year.

Players have been drawn from areas as far north as Townsville and south to Lismore in northern New South Wales.

The squad’s coach – former Brisbane Roar defender and previous QAS coach Josh McCloughan - said the selection process had been extensive and he was delighted to bring together one of the most talented groups of young footballers ever assembled in the state.

“I am excited about the next step in the development of these players,’’ McCloughan said.

“Brisbane Roar has now put in place a clear pathway for that development to continue through to the highest levels of football. It’s a great incentive for all young players who aspire to be professional footballers.”

The new squad continues Roar's ongoing engagement with Football Queensland as part of the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland competition.

Last year, Roar fielded their youth team for the first time in PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Senior Men's division, as well as their W-League side in the Under 15 Boys division.

McCloughan's Under 18's squad will be based initially at Dunmore Park – the home of Football Brisbane community club Toowong FC. They will begin training later this month.

The Brisbane Roar-QAS NPL under-18 training squad is: Wilfred Armand (Western Pride); Oskar Dillon (Palm Beach SC); Oliver Duncan (Sunshine Coast FC); Jesse Gibbs (Sunshine Coast FC); Callum Harris (Olympic FC); Henry Hore (QAS); Dane Ingham (Olympic FC); Aleksandar Krsic (QAS); Daniel Leck (Palm Beach SC); Finn Matheson (QAS); Thomas Miller (QAS); Liam O’Bryan (Olympic FC); Alex Parsons (Olympic FC); Rhys Raymond (QAS); Aaron Reardon (Brisbane Strikers FC); Adam Sawyer (Brisbane City FC); Lachlan Sayers (Brisbane City FC); Thomas Schulz (QAS); Lachlan Strogusz (QAS); Lachlan Weier (Brisbane Strikers FC); Victor Wisloff; Nicholas Milner (Brisbane City FC).