Killarney v Budgewoi
After a false start last weekend, the 2024 MPL season will finally get underway this weekend with reigning First Grade premiers and league champions Killarney who welcome newly promoted Budgewoi to Edsaac Oval on Saturday night.
2023 was another year of dominance from Chris Ackerley and his men who continued to cement their place as the greatest team in Central Coast footballing history, claiming their seventh straight first-place finish in First Grade.
Killarney will enter yet another season with a massive target on their back as everyone will be out to dethrone the current champions. However, Ackerley and his highly experienced players will be ready for anything and everything come kick-off.
Despite losing a few key players for the season ahead, including their captain Sam Kirk, pre-season saw the Terriers make the Grand Final of the 2024 Association Cup where they lost 2-0 to Berkeley Vale in an exciting encounter.
“Pre-season has been quite good,” voiced Ackerley. “Reaching the final was an added bonus in giving us an extra game to help with our preparation. Considering we have had players missing throughout pre-season to reach the final was a credit to the depth of our squad.”
“As always our aim is to finish in the top four. Also to see the younger boys come in & make themselves a regular member of the First-Grade squad.”
“Expecting it to be an extremely close fought competition with any number of sides competing to be league champions,” stated Ackerley when questioned about his team’s ambitions and how he sees the competition evolving for the year ahead.
The 2024 MPL season is shaping up to be one of the closest competitions to date as both promoted sides bolster a squad worthy enough to challenge for the title.
Usually, a team would cherish the idea of starting their season against a newly promoted side, however, Budgewoi who were undefeated last season will be an extremely difficult challenge for the defending champions.
As for what he is expecting from Saturday’s fixture, Ackerley voiced “Budgewoi will be extremely hard as they have been together for a while now and have also recruited well in the off-season.”
“We will need to be patient and take our chances to get anything from this match, also defensively we will have to be tight and not give away silly free kicks as their set pieces are dangerous.”
Budgewoi will be out to make a statement away from home on Saturday night when they face the toughest test imaginable to start their season.
Head coach Hayden Appo, who retook the reins of this team last season, managed to go undefeated in Division 1 to solidify promotion for Budgewoi back into the men’s top-flight competition for the first time since 2015.
After a nine-year hiatus, the budgies will finally be back playing Men’s Premier League football this weekend, a position they will think they deserve to be in and will be extremely motivated to prove it against the benchmark of the competition.
It has been a tremendous off-season for Appo who has recruited heavily to an already solid squad, adding talent such as Josh Swadling, Bayley Appo, and Ryan Frame to name a few of the quality players he was able to attract to his team.
“The pre-season has seen real excitement amongst the playing group, with the foundations coming from the success of 2023. After establishing an environment that everyone could tap into, our second year as a group has been pretty smooth.”
“25 of our 30 players returned, with the addition of youth and experience added in. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead for all 3 of our MPL squads,” commented Appo.
The culture Appo has and continues to build is evident on and off the pitch, and this was shown during their Association Cup run in pre-season.
Budgewoi recorded wins over MPL powerhouse Southern & Ettalong, and Division 1 side Doyalson. They also shared points with last year’s grand finalist Terrigal United in a 1-1 draw.
Despite having a team that could challenge for the title, Appo states he is focused on avoiding relegation and building week-to-week as a squad.
“For me, our first goal as a club is to avoid relegation. Based on previous years, 100 club championship points would keep us up. The quicker we can reach this, the quicker we get to reassess our situation and go again.”
“All clubs start the year with ambitious thoughts, and we are no different. Ultimately, we would like to continue to improve week in, week out, and if that becomes the case for most of the rounds, then I’d say we could be in an exciting position come the end of the year.”
Multiple clubs have labelled Budgewoi as a potential dark horse for the upcoming season. As for opening round opponents, the task does not get much bigger for Budgewoi than having to travel to the home of the champions on a Saturday night.
Nonetheless, this is a test that Appo and his squad will face front on as they look to defeat the reigning premiers and take all three points back to Budgewoi.
“For us to play our very first MPL game in the past nine years, against the club and squad that has progressively won everything over the same period says it all. I have got to know Chris and his football staff over the years, and all I can say is what an incredible achievement.”
“What they have done will never be repeated. I know their boys will be pumped and ready to go, and respectfully, so will we.”
Match Official – Luke Dunkerley
All Round 2 Fixtures –
