The 2026 New Balance NPL WA Men’s season is set for its biggest game yet as Olympic Kingsway and Bayswater City look to grab the initiative in an enthralling title race.
Madman Arena is the setting for Saturday’s Round 20 fixture between first and third in the league. Olympic are currently top on 39 points with three matches to play, while Bayswater are two points behind but with a game in hand and the best goal difference of the three.
Saddled between the pair in second spot are Perth RedStar, who this weekend are away to Sorrento FC and no doubt hoping their rivals’ game finishes in a draw.
It could not be better scripted as the three teams that have been champions in the past three years scrap it out, a point made by Olympic defender Jack Clisby
“It’s been tight between the three of us all season,” Clisby said. “We’ve taken the lead, then dropped points. Then RedStar have had a good run, and Bayswater are always up there as well.
“It’s crucial for us to win on Saturday and then everything’s in our hands for the remainder of the season. I’m not saying it’s a title decider but it’s going to feel like that. Whichever team wins will feel like they’re going to go on and win the league.”
The Olympic-Bayswater clash comes three weeks after Kingsway hosted RedStar in another blockbuster fixture. On that occasion, the Green Machine ran out of gas as the visitors snatched three valuable points.
To Kingsway’s credit, they have recovered from that body blow and recorded away wins at Dianella and Knights.
Clisby said: “I actually think we played pretty well against RedStar. We didn’t feel too threatened throughout, but then the game’s 90 minutes. We played well for about 80 minutes and then they got two goals back-to-back. That’s football, and you don’t always get what you deserve.
“That defeat was a lapse but since then we’ve applied ourselves well. Our defence has been good and we have been creating lots of chances and scoring. At the weekend at Knights we knew it was going to be a tough game. The pitch is quite small; it was like a cage fight in there at times. They had a couple of good opportunities, but I think we managed the game well and coming away there with three points was crucial.”
This is Clisby’s first season with Olympic and comes after an outstanding 10-year career in the A-League with Melbourne City, Western Sydney, Central Coast and Perth Glory. He is keen to extend his stay.
“I’ve loved it. I came back from Western Sydney and wondering what my next step was going to be,” he said. “I spoke to the club, people like (president) Steve Nelkovski, players at the club like Aryn Williams and Mitch Oxborrow, and they just welcomed me with open arms.
“I could see the direction the club was going and it was something I really wanted to be part of. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my season so far and here’s to many more – hopefully!
“For now, it is about Saturday’s game. Both teams know what is at stake and I think it could be quite tight. I think the fans can expect a pretty fiery game. It’s going to be a cracker.”
Elsewhere on Saturday, the bottom two sides meet at Home Group Stadium as Balcatta Etna take on Armadale. In another six-pointer, fourth faces fifth as Fremantle City and Perth Azzurri lock horns at Hilton Park.
