MENS NRFL SEASON PREVIEW
2024 Men's Championship and Reserves Season Preview
After a strong start in the 2023 season where both the First Team and Reserves were up towards the top end of the table, we unfortunately saw a drop in performance and results and both teams settled in for mid table spots. The focus for both teams has been to improve those finishing spots.
Men's Reserves
A change in coaching staff midway through 2023 saw a improvement in the performance and culture of the team as Dylan Riminton took over with support from Ben and the First Team group - this season we have appointed Henry Fa'arodo who has a massive amount of experience in both the Northern League and in International and Professional Football - something we feel is importanrt for our group as we look to create a younger and more ambitious Reserves group who can fill our First Team in years to come.
In's and Out's
In's: Jonathan Santos da Silva (midseason 2023 from OMU), Will Litchfield (Eastern Suburbs), Mac Smith (Beachlands Maraetai), Oskar Rimmer (FC Twenty 11), Hudson Smith (promoted from Youth), Ben Whiting (UOC), Ben Netherclift (FC Twnety 11), Ege Ozturk (Eastern Suburbs), Jack Brown (promoted from Youth), Theo Wicks (promoted from Youth), Hamza Alfyad (promoted from Youth), Liam McLachlan (Eastern Suburbs)
Out's: Farhan Azim, Brock Gunson, Reece Breebaart, Tom Lewis, Zach Cabiling, Caylem Nelson, Flynn Woodfield, Zen Baatjes, Chris Brett (injured might be back later in the season)
First Five Games
Round 1 - vs Northern Rovers (away) - A tough game normally but Ellerslie took the honours last year with a win and a draw
Round 2 - vs North Shore (home) - A big win away but a mid season loss balanced out this 2023 matchup
Round 3 - vs Franklin (away) - A new team to the league, will be an interesting test for the team
Round 4 - vs Takapuna (home) - A massive test against relegated Takapuna whose Reserves performed well in Premier Reserves
Round 5 - vs Onehunga Mangere (away) - Another match up where we won one and lost one - looking for improvement here.
2024 Men's Reserves Squad + Training Players
1. Jackson Gilbert
4. Jonathan Santos da Silva
5. Johnleo Caselli
6. Karam Pilkington
7. Sami Mustafa
9. Will Litchfield
11. Charlie Davidson
12. Mac Smith
13. Hudson Smith
15. Oskar Rimmer
17. Ben Whiting
21. Ben Netherclift
22. Ege Ozturk
23. Jack Brown
24. Peter Hargrove
25. Dylan Riminton
26. Monju Shohei (c)
28. Ryan Robinson
Training Players
Jonathan Davidson
Kyryl Bolharyn
Hamza Alfayad
Liam McLachlan
Theo Wicks
Sayed Jalal Hashimi
Men's First Team
A solid start to the season as mentioned gave the group some belief and while things didn't pan out quite as we had hoped we saw some big strides forward in 2023 and we look to continue that in 2024. Key to that will be the players we have added to the squad as well as the impressive amount of players who have signed up for another season. In the coaching ranks we have seen Masillan move to Australia and he will be missed - in his shoes is Alexei Davies-Campbell who takes his first steps in senior men's coaching.
In's and Out's
In's: Finn Rathbone (Dunedin City Royals), Thomas Holmes (promoted from Reserves), Nick Shaw (promoted from Reserves), Kairo Jacobs (promoted from Reserves), Jonathan Ansley (back from not playing), Leon van der Heijden (Onehunga Mangere), Stephen White (Auckland United), Levi Johnson (promoted from Reserves), Huw Emery (FCV Grace Dieu)
Out's: Shotaro Fukami (Australia), Jordan Bresler (US), Alex Clark (UK), Muhammed Mohebbie (Onehunga Mangere), Pat Grey (US), Chris Kessell (Work), Luke Robb (Bay Olympic).
First Five Games
Round 1 - vs Northern Rovers (away) - A tnew gaffer and perhaps a new look team - hard to know how this will play out.
Round 2 - vs North Shore (home) - A big win away but a mid season loss balanced out this 2023 matchup
Round 3 - vs Franklin (away) - A new team to the league, will be an interesting test for the team
Round 4 - vs Takapuna (home) - A massive test against relegated Takapuna who will be looking to bounce straight back up.
Round 5 - vs Onehunga Mangere (away) - drew both games last year - looking for an improvement here.
2024 Men's First Team Squad
1. Keegan Hansen
3. Oliver Kelly
4. Finn Rathbone
5. Thomas Holmes
6. Nick Shaw
7. Tawanda Marowa
8. Kairo Jacobs
9. Ermal Fusha
10. Tom Durkin (vc)
11. Eli Smith
12. Jono Ansley
13. Jack Rathbone
14. Leon van der Heijden
15. Seb Poelman (c)
16. Rowan Corbett
17. Devon Andrews
18. Stephen White
19. Levi Johnson
21. Shukrullah Rezaie
23. Huw Emery
24. Axel Andersson
25. Sho Shigematsu
27. Jordan Oosterhof
#UpThePonies
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