Young Roar kick off the 2025 NPL Queensland season with a clash against Peninsula Power at AJ Kelly Park on Saturday evening.
Roar come into their NPL opener following a strong showing in the Kappa Pro Series with Karl Dodd’s side sitting level at the top of Group D on seven points after four rounds of action.
Roar have taken two wins, a draw and a defeat from their opening four matches including a 4-0 triumph over Broadbeach United in their most recent outing thanks to a Sebatian Bors brace along with goals from Forbes Porter and James Durrington.
Saturday’s match will be new Young Roar boss Karl Dodd’s first league game in charge.
Dodd, who is a former Roar player with extensive playing and coaching experience in the A-League, Europe and Asia will be assisted by Gabriel Hawash, who joins the coaching staff after leading Holland Park to the FQPL 2 Premiership and promotion which earned him 2024 FQPL 2 Men’s Coach of the Season honours.
Several new faces have been added to compliment a strong core of retained talent ahead of the new campaign with Noah Maieroni, Adam Shaker, Christian Naveen, Jack Child, Sam Flannery and Archie Mitchell all having played their first minutes for the club in the Pro Series.
Additionally Luke Nieuwenhof, younger brother of Hearts midfielder Calem and Joeys forward, David Bolongi have joined the program in recent weeks for the 2025 season.
Roar will be without Quinn MacNicol, Charlie Parkin and Rhys Williams for Saturday’s season opener after the trio were called up for the Joeys squad for the Hattrick U17 International Tournament, to be held in the United Arab Emirates.
The Joeys will face Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia and Oman in a tournament that forms an important part of the sides preparation for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025.
Power, who are coached by Aaron Philp and finished third in the NPL in 2024 are home to former Roar defender, Matt Mundy along with several ex Young Roar players including Rhys Gray and Kane Gibbs.
Saturday’s match at AJ Kelly Park kicks off at 6pm and along with all NPL Queensland Men’s matches will be live streamed on the Football Queensland YouTube channel and FQTV.
2025 Brisbane Roar NPL Queensland squad:
Goalkeepers: George Plusnin, Sam Flannery, Kuach Kuach
Defenders: Lennard Atterwell, Asim Sehovic, Archie Mitchell, Charlie Parkin, Adam Shaker, Jack Child, Nelson Deng, Zane North
Midfielders: Noah Maieroni, Eddie Ince, Luke Nieuwenhof, Jack Benham, James Durrington, Caleb Butler
Attackers: Forbes Porter, David Bolongi, Ivan Ozzi, Rhys Williams, David Russell, Christian Naveen, Rafael Alvis
MATCH DETAILS
NPL Queensland Men 2024 – Round 1: Peninsula Power v Brisbane Roar
AJ Kelly Park, Redcliffe
Saturday, 22 February (6:00pm KO)
