It’s the start of a new season with high hopes from all clubs. We expect the usual suspects to be there or thereabouts; however, it will be just as interesting to see which teams are able to tough it out. There are lots of players wearing different colours this season. Let us take you through the squads and highlight their chances.
ALBION PARK WHITE EAGLES
The Eagles are craving success, and after falling away in the latter part of last season, having finished mid-table, they have added quality, experience and depth to their squad to achieve their goals.
The club has invested heavily this season, and anything outside a top-three finish may well be considered a failure.
They have brought in former A-Leaguer Gabriel Cleur (Western Sydney Wanderers) and Nathan Millgate (Marconi Stallions) to bolster their defence. The Alston twins (Flame) will also bring a lot of energy to both offence and defence.
In midfield, they have brought in the hard-working Damon Gray (Wollongong Wolves) and Emmanuel Gonzalez (Bonnyrigg WE), who will look to control games and create chances.
They have firepower up top as well with the likes of Marko Filipovic and Jayden Makowski leading the charge.
If they can maintain positive team harmony and strong discipline, they will be there or thereabouts.
BERKELEY SPORTS
New kids on the block, Berkeley will be out to show they belong in this league after a stellar 2025 campaign that was nearly perfect.
The club have kept great faith in the squad that earned them promotion, keeping the majority of players on. The experience from the likes of Luke Boersma and Mitchell Cooper will be important; however, several young players have really started to establish themselves in this league, like Christopher Hollingshead and Preston Ridley.
With Glenn Dorrian stepping down due to work-related reasons, Darren Jones has another crack at the Premier League with a new club.
They have also brought in Daniel Merola and William Provino (both from Flame), as well as Justin Dulevski & Keiji Niskikawa.
As good as Berkeley was last season, this is a whole new level, and if they can secure safety in their first season in PL1, that is going to be some achievement.
BULLI
Some wholesale changes at Balls Paddock as well this year, although to be fair, their new signings have probably offset their departures.
Zac McLaren returns to the IPL after spending the best part of the last decade in Canberra. His creativity in midfield will be an asset, and it offsets the departure of Denim Nou (Flame).
The experienced Ben McGinness and returns to the club, whilst they have added some bright young players in Joel Starr and Jack Deale to their squad.
It will be interesting to see what Argentine Cristian Buhagiar will bring to the team, but all reports suggest he is one to watch.
With the likes of Logan Mathie marshalling the backline and Lewis Grimshaw tearing down the flanks, it’s no wonder Ben McDonald continues to be one of their leading marksmen in this league.
After having great success in the lower grades at the club, Rob Bemi takes the wheel this season. He will be looking to maintain that structured, consistent and effective style of football which should see Bulli firmly in the top half of the ladder.
CONISTON FC
Jorge Matos takes over from Franc Pierro at JJ Kelly Park.
He has assembled a handy squad that will be looking to play fast, free-flowing football.
New signings include: Cameron Morgan, Joshua Correia, Jack Harris, Mitchell Di Pietro, Jonah Kalmanidis, Kieran Kuzmanovski, Jake Leighton, Harrison Taranto and Sebastian Tomasiello.
With the likes of Johnny Martinoski, Tyler Fuller and Toby Norval pulling the strings, Coniston will be hopeful of replicating their season and perhaps going a step further.
Morgan scored 19 times last season, and if he can manage similar numbers, they may well find themselves in league contention.
The quality and depth are there. Their season may well hinge on results from games against the other leading teams.
CRINGILA LIONS
There has been a bit of a shake-up out at Crehan Park this year, and despite some key losses, the club appear to have recruited well.
James Ralston returns to the IPL which will no doubt add some experience to their backline alongside Taylor McDonald. The key changes though, come in midfield with Keegan Matias, Harrison and James Anagnostopoulos, Takumi Kyutoku and Shotaro Iwamoto giving their core some genuine stability and quality.
The club now has a fully functioning gym, which has added a new level of professionalism and injury management.
The club has also invested in their change rooms, adding a new, refurbished look to enhance player comfort.
The Lions have goals in them, yet their biggest challenge is going to be holding out the opposition. With a strong emphasis on playing attacking football, we’re not sure we will see too many scoreless draws with Cringila this season.
HELENSBURGH THISTLE
In their fourth season in the top flight, Helensburgh have shown they have the fighting qualities to match it with most clubs. Their focus this season was retaining the core of the young squad they had built last year.
Thistle have historically had a strong Youth system, and we are likely to see several of those get the opportunity to play in the First team.
Daniel Loe comes over from Coniston FC, as does former Sutherland Shark, Jonty Busch. These players will add some much-needed stability and experience to the squad.
Players to watch will be the elusive Cody Cuthbertson, young talent Cody Ashburner and the consistent Charlie Jones.
Former first grade captain, Rob Watson, joins the coaching team.
Teams will need to play well to beat Helensburgh. We expect them to pick up a steady amount of points throughout the year and they look to further solidify their position in PL1.
PORT KEMBLA
The Club is celebrating 60 years this year, and they have managed to lure two former players back to the club.
Sandy Lowcock returns to the club that perhaps launched his football career, sharing in the great success at the time with the club. Joe Lavalle also spent time previously with the Zebras and he is back once again, looking to go into the midfield battle.
Port Kembla have also landed the electric full back Elvir Catovic, who will add some dynamic energy and quality in both offence and defence.
Joining Lowcock will be Jordan Prentoski, who will be looking to make his mark in First Grade, having had a great deal of success scoring goals in the lower grades (Cringila).
At the helm this year is Chad Bishop.
Throw in Valentino Merxhushi and the Zebra’s will be looking to return to their former glory in their anniversary season, and anything in the top half of the table should be considered a successful season.
SHELLHARBOUR FC
The club have undergone an internal restructure, which by all reports has helped stabilise the club. Goalkeeper of the Year – Nikodin Matic will be using his experience both on and off the field to help reshape the First team.
With the majority of players staying on, we expect to see the team be competitive. The likes of Cody Wehmeyer is really starting to lead by example.
It looks like a very mobile and athletic squad that will run all game. They’ve already shown strong resilience in defence (as you would expect) in preseason, however, the question is where are they going to get their goals regularly from?
Whilst we expect them to be comfortably mid-table, key runs during the season could push the club in either direction.
SOUTH COAST UNITED
Warren Lewiston is in his rookie year as Head Coach of the first team.
United have undergone a bit of a transformation and appear to have a youth focus this season. They have brought in several players with Youth NPL experience, and the club will be hoping they can make their mark.
With several departures, key to their success will be just how Jacob Gjorsevski, Adam and Antonio Farkas can combine some of the new players.
Abdul Aljabery scored regularly in Second Grade last season, and he is set to be given a chance to lead the line for United in the first team. He will be joined by Joshua Keremelevski, who returns from a long-term injury.
There have been some promising signs across the preseason for the club. Unlike seasons gone by, they will need to start strong to avoid playing catch-up over the season.
South Coast United won’t roll over for anybody, and they will be looking to make the synthetic pitch a fortress with many clubs not used to this playing surface.
If United can finish in the top half of the ladder, they will have done extremely well. Survival will no doubt be the priority.
TARRAWANNA BLUEYS
After finishing a highly respectable fourth last year, the Blueys will almost be unrecognisable. Whilst they may be a skeleton of the side they were, underestimate them at your own peril. They have been slowly gelling and piecing together a side that has already shown some promising signs in pre-season.
Rookie First Grade Coach Harvey Rodriguez has brought structure and organisation to the squad, and there is no doubt he has the respect of players.
Former goalkeeper of the Year Adam Rodriguez returns to his former club, whilst Robbie Delbanco is one of just a few players to hang about.
Joining him are the experienced Brendan Griffin and Kade Kinsella whilst dynamo Advin Trebincevic (South Coast United) changes colours.
With the Blueys also looking to boost their junior base, they are banking on some of the young talent at the club who are all looking to get their opportunity and launch their careers.
You would expect it to be a consolidation season for the Blueys, given the departures; however, with nothing to lose each week, they will be looking to grind out results.
WOLLONGONG OLYMPIC
The club sets itself high standards, and fresh off a thrilling Grand Final victory, Olympic will be looking to add the League Title to its list of achievements this season.
Having sent legends Chris Price and Tynan Diaz into a happy football retirement, the club has been quick to find new legends.
Hayden Durose returns to his former club, whilst Josh McDonald also joins him from Albion Park White Eagles. Ben Zucco (Cringila) comes into the midfield with another new signing Aaron Baker (Bulli).
With the likes of Harry Callahan, Rick Goodchild, Guy Knight and Lukas Stergiou still at PCYC, it will be no surprise to see Olympic spending much of the season inside the top three.
WOLLONGONG UNITED
The Lions were runaway League Champions and Club Champions last season. They have regularly been leaders on and off the pitch, investing heavily in their facility. This year, the club has undertaken some drainage works to help keep the field open during wet weather.
You don’t often need to change a winning formula, and the club has managed to maintain a large portion of its championship-winning squad. They have, however, lost the reliable Mitsuo Yamada, who, after six seasons at the club, has decided he is going to get into coaching in Europe whilst Klime Sekutkoski has hung up the boots.
Mason Versi rejoins United after a few seasons away. On his day, he has the capacity to change games, and with Nav Darjani having a breakout season, expect Wollongong United to be in the mix for a back-to-back tilt.
