Football Queensland has named a strong Queensland State League Northern All Stars squad that will attempt to topple the formidable pre-season form of Hyundai A-League Champions Brisbane Roar in next week’s curtain raiser to the QSL Grand Final.
The Roar are unbeaten after ten pre-season training fixtures against local Brisbane Premier League and QSL opposition and with just seven short weeks remaining until the next Hyundai A-League season begins, Head Coach Ange Postecoglou will welcome the solid challenge the brought south by the All-Star squad.
The 16-man squad is comprised of players from the four clubs north of Bundaberg in the state-wide competition, Capricorn Cougars, NQ Razorbacks, Whitsunday Miners and FNQ Bulls, and will be guided by Bulls coach and former Brisbane Strikers player Peter Tokesi.
Fourth-placed Bulls dominate the squad with seven representatives, headed by inspirational captain Victor Madrid, while third-placed Miners- resurgent form in the QSL has been rewarded with four players selected, including English imports Jamie White and Clark Bradford who have starred for the Mackay-based club in their debut season in Australia.
Townsville-s NQ Razorbacks have had three players included in the group while Cougars round out the numbers with two representatives, despite finishing in bottom place on the ladder.
With the Miners still a chance to reach the QSL decider, their four representatives will be replaced by shadow players if they overcome the challenge of this year-s premiers Sunshine Coast Fire in the preliminary final on the weekend.
Brisbane Roar will face the QSL Northern All Stars in the curtain raiser to the QSL Grand Final on Saturday 27 August, kicking off at 4.15pm at Perry Park, Abbotsford Road, Albion.
The grand final between Brisbane Strikers and the winner of this weekend-s preliminary final will kick off at 7pm.
QSL Northern All Stars squad: Josh EVANS (NQ Razorbacks), Lee MAYBERRY (NQ Razorbacks), Jacob CROWLEY (NQ Razorbacks), Tim ENGLISH (Capricorn Cougars), Sam FISK (Capricorn Cougars), Jamie WHITE (Whitsunday Miners), Clark BRADFORD (Whitsunday Miners), Corey HOOPER (Whitsunday Miners), Victor MADRID (FNQ Bulls), Alex PLOWMAN (FNQ Bulls), Jack RICHARDSON (FNQ Bulls), Nathan BIRD (FNQ Bulls), Joe RUSCH (FNQ Bulls), Steven CATER (FNQ Bulls), Josh DE NITIS (FNQ Bulls).
