Bayswater, Sorrento ready to kick off 2025 NPLM season
The 2025 NPLWA – Men’s season kicks off under the Frank Drago Reserve lights tonight as Bayswater City host Sorrento FC.
Baysie have probably been the busiest of all 12 clubs over the summer following the appointment of Matt Sparrow as head coach.
They have brought in striker Oli La Galia and wide man Paddy Loughrey from Sparrow’s former club Fremantle City, Perth RedStar’s Declan Hughes, Sean McManus from Floreat Athena, Jon Corness from Balcatta Etna and Stirling Macedonia’s Gyles Davies.
And with the likes of Cam Teece, Chris Jackson, Luke Palmateer and Gordon Smith already in situ, it is easy to see why many believe Bayswater are the team to beat this year.
Sorrento are largely backing the players who returned the club to the top flight at the first time of asking.
The Gulls won the 2024 Division One title without losing a game and completed back-to-back Night Series triumphs as they claimed the NPL pre-season competition last Saturday. In all competitions, they have lost just once since 2023.
Gulls defender Tim Hill said at this week’s NPL Season Launch that the club was not putting any limits on what they can achieve.
“The top four would be a good start but we’ll just see how we go,” he said. “On Saturday night (in the Night Series final) we showed that with the hard work we put in that anything’s possible at this stage.”
ALL THE PICTURES FROM THE SEASON LAUNCH
Meanwhile, champions Olympic Kingsway kick off with a Saturday tea-time clash against rivals Stirling Macedonia.
“It’s always a big game against Stirling, a good spectacle always competitive, even feisty. It’s great to play in,” Olympic midfielder Josh Samson said.
“The crowd’s brilliant when we play. The rivalry between the clubs makes it even better, one of the better derbies in the league.”
The challenge for Olympic this year is how they can back up after their outstanding 2024 when they won the NPL, State Cup and Top Four Cup.
“There’s a bit of a target on our back I suppose which is a good position to be in,” Samson said. “Every game is going to be competitive, which is what we like.”
Olympic will be without the influential Joe Knowles this year following his return to Oakleigh Canons in Melbourne. However, head coach David Tough has introduced Perth Glory duo Jayden Gorman and Laat Mathiang, plus Harley Orr from Perth SC and Reece Kral from Gwelup Croatia.
“The squad looks good. The two lads from Glory have come in and look super sharp, and you add Harley and Reece and it’s really strong,” Samson said.
“Our basic principles have always stayed the same, which is to try to play to people’s strengths. Joe was obviously a big part of last year’s team but the guys coming in now bring great characteristics to the team and we’ll look to play to those.”
The remaining four Round One fixtures take place on Saturday afternoon, including Perth SC’s meeting with Balcatta Etna. This was originally scheduled for Friday night but was switched to avoid clashing with the NPLWA – Women’s Night Series final which features the same two clubs.
Elsewhere, Perth Glory, who needed to go through the play-offs to avoid relegation last year, begin the new season against Fremantle City at the Sam Kerr Football Centre. Armadale, with NPL Gold Medal and Golden Boot winner Pieter Jacobsz again leading the line, are at home against Floreat Athena, while 2024 runners-up Perth RedStar travel to Western Knights.
FIXTURES
NPLM Round One
Friday 14 March
Bayswater City v Sorrento FC (7.15pm)
streamer.com.au/match/4495
Saturday 15 March
Armadale v Floreat Athena (3pm)
streamer.com.au/match/4497
Perth Glory v Fremantle City (3pm)
streamer.com.au/match/4496
Perth SC v Balcatta Etna (3pm)
streamer.com.au/match/4494
Western Knights v Perth RedStar (3pm)
streamer.com.au/match/4498
Olympic Kingsway v Stirling Macedonia (6pm)
https://streamer.com.au/match/4499
2025 TEAM SQUADS
