Words: Steve Pitman
Image: Brisbane Strikers FC

(L-R: Ethan Docherty, Darren Gray, Fraser Eller)

Brisbane Strikers have moved to bolster their premiership defence by signing three new players to their senior squad for the remainder of the 2017 season.

Former Brisbane Olympic defender-midfielder Darren Gray, ex-FNQ FC Heat and Partick Thistle utility Ethan Docherty and Gold Coast City youth forward Fraser Eller have all reinforced Sean Lane’s thinning squad.

Star striker Rhys Meredith and young prospect Zayd Dennis have both suffered long-term injuries in recent weeks while defender Chris Maher has joined Flight Centre Premier League outfit Souths United.

Gray, 30, and Docherty, 19, are returning to football after injury layoffs of their own and have been training with Strikers for several weeks.

“Almost every club Darren Gray has been at, he’s won something,” head coach Lane said.

“He’s aggressive, he’s a winner and it doesn’t matter what it is – if it’s a five-a-side or a game - he’s just got that steely glint in his eye and you know that he wants to win everything that he can.

“[Ethan] wanted to come to an NPL club outside of his home base and he had offers in Melbourne, in Sydney and from us.

“He’s a young man who’s played plenty of NPL games already and he can also play in a multitude of positions across the back four or in midfield.

“He’s a good, young, quick player who’s had a lot of experience at a young age .... he’s an important signing.”

Eller, who already has a senior PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland goal to his credit, top scored in last year’s Youth Men’s competition with 22 goals.

“He’s quick, strong, powerful and has an eye for goal,” the Strikers boss said.

“He’ll be pushing for a first team spot this year but he’s very much part of what the Strikers are building for the future and I’m delighted to have him here,”

Brisbane Strikers host Sunshine Coast FC in a rescheduled Round 6 clash at 7.45pm on Tuesday night.