We have waited 147 days for the last full weekend of ASNGCPL action but the wait is finally over. Round 3 of the Premier League is set to begin with some cracking games in store throughout the league. Here is a small preview of this weekend’s fixtures.

Surfers vs Broadbeach- Saturday 3:00pm @ Lex Bell Oval

Apollo will be looking to build on their round one victory when they host the Dolphins at Lex Bell Oval in the early kick off. Head Coach Alex Morrison will be delighted to have not lost any key personnel amongst his squad, rather making some tidy additions to an already healthy sized squad.

Meanwhile at the Dolphins life without Lee Vernon and the core group of players who took them to glory for the most part of the last decade hasn’t been the best of starts, but they will be looking to turn that around sooner rather than later under their coach Andrew Robinson.

Player to Watch- Koki Miyasaka (Surfers)

Robina vs Southport- Saturday 4:00pm @ Robina Common

The two newest Premier League clubs will do battle in the middle fixture tomorrow afternoon when the Warriors travel to the Rabbits. Both sides have registered points already in this campaign and will be looking to take the maximum out of this clash. Robina will hope that their new additions can gel as quickly as possible after losing some key pieces as a result of the COVID-19 break.

There is no update on the status of Warriors talisman Morgan Saunders as it has been suggested that the forward underwent a minor procedure in recent weeks. Rob Semple will be hopeful that if his forward isn’t available for this match that he comes back into the picture as soon as possible for his side.

Player to Watch- Curtis Stollery (Robina)

Palm Beach vs Coomera- Saturday 6:00pm @ Duncan McKenna Field

Coomera will be looking to build off their opening two performances when they take on Palm Beach in the late Saturday evening kick off. Both sides know that with the shortened season every game counts and that maximum points here is a crucial stepping stone towards their goals for 2020.

Palm Beach have welcomed some additions into their squad during the break, as well as their captain Dan Smith coming back from his ankle break available for this clash. Brett Budwee will know that it will all be about momentum and putting together a full 90 minutes for his side.

The Colts will face the Sharks without key midfielder Will Asante who was shown a second yellow in their win over Burleigh. With the quality of players going forward, Macdonald will know if they can keep it tight at the back his side will put themselves in great position for a win.

Player to Watch- Ferdinand Annor (Coomera)

Nerang vs Burleigh- Sunday 3:00pm @ Bob Jeffrey Field

The champions travel to Nerang eager to put a win on the board in 2020 after their loss to Coomera last weekend. Both sides are yet to register a victory in 2020, with the Eagles yet to play after the recommencement of the season.

Lee Vernon will be forced into a squad reshuffle after the loss of some players through the break as well as suspensions putting his starting side into question. The Eagles still possess consistent goal scorer Shaun Robinson and Luke Marsh in their lineup and will always fancy themselves to get goals against any opposition.

The Bulldogs will know nothing but 3 points will put themselves in a tight situation to go back-to-back in 2020 with the shortened season. Phelan will take positives into this clash after his side showed fight last week after being 4-1 down.

Expect a lot of open, attacking football but tired legs towards the back end of the match.

Player to Watch- Luke Marsh (Nerang)

Nerang are looking for more players to fill their teams. The teams needing players are;

U15 Girls- 2 players

U12 Div 1 Boys- 4 players

U9 Boys- 4 players

Please contact Junior Director Bryce Roadley on 0433 139 289 for more information.

Pacific Pines are looking for CL1 and CL1 Reserve grade players. Please contact the president Nick Smith 0435 056 399 for more information.

With the ASN GCPL and Coast League One seasons set to return this weekend, we spoke to all the coaches on how they have prepared for the resumption and much more! We wrap it up by speaking to the Head Coache of Surfers Paradise Alex Morrison and reviewing Broadbeach United!

Surfers Paradise- Alex Morrison

Surfers Paradise will be looking to start the way they finished before the break when they take to the field this weekend against Nerang.

Head Coach Alex Morrison said he was happy at the condition his team has come back after the break.

“The break was tough for everyone especially after just playing one fixture. We have prepared well though and the boys have come back fit and ready to go,” said Morrison.

With a side made up of local players, Morrison said his sides only concern in this period was the chance of injuries in a crammed schedule.

“We’ve retained the squad we started with and now it is just about ensuring we keep fit and injury free after the busy pre-season rush.”

With the club’s eyes firmly on winning silverware in 2020, Morrison said consistency will determine the outcome.

“It’s a shortened season so consistency and putting together a string of good performances will be the deciding factor. If we can remain consistent results will follow and we will give ourselves every chance of achieving our goals,” said Morrison.

Apollo face Nerang this weekend in Round 2 catch up action.

Broadbeach- Andrew Robinson

Broadbeach United will be looking to improve on their 0-2 start to the regular season when they resume their 2020 campaign next weekend.

Andrew Robinson’s side faced two tough fixtures to begin the campaign and know the importance of getting back to winning ways considering the shortened season.

With a relatively new playing group at the Dolphins, Robinson faces the tough task of assembling a group of players to fill the void of those gone by in the 2020 season.

Being one of the most successful senior clubs in Gold Coast history brings a level of pressure to the Dolphins to succeed, but one that will surely be taken in their stride come the resumption of the season.

The Dolphins have played NPL competition for majority of the re-start so they will feel confident on their level of fitness and game time heading into their first fixture next weekend.

Broadbeach take on Surfers next weekend in Round 3 action.

With the ASN GCPL and Coast League One seasons set to return this weekend, we spoke to all the coaches on how they have prepared for the resumption and much more! We continue by speaking to the CL1 Head Coaches of Pacific Pines, Bond University and Runaway Bay, Emanuel Meliendrez, Alex Pereira and Nathan Jones!

Pacific Pines- Emanuel Meliendrez

Pacific Pines will be coming back into the season with a limited amount of game time under the belts, with a tough start scheduled. The Pines have already played their round 2 fixture and have the scheduled bye next week, so another two weeks on the sidelines is in store for the side before they return to competition.

Head Coach Meliendrez said that the lack of game time will be an issue for his side in the early stages.

“With the limited preparation and lack of people to play it will be difficult for us to get back up and running. Some players have lost interest during the period so we have some work to do,” said Meliendrez.

Overall, Meliendrez said he was happy with how the side had been training upon return but he is still concerned with what will happen once games begin.

“Training and games are two completely different things. We can say we are ready but as soon as we start playing for points we will truly know what position we are in.”

With the disruption, Meliendrez indicated that his side will just use this period as a tool to get ready for 2021.

“We know the position we were in at the beginning but now that has changed for us. We will use this period to prepare for 2021 and hopefully pick up some wins along the way,” said Meliendrez.

Pacific Pines will return to the field in two weeks time against Kingscliff.

Bond University- Alex Pereira

Bond University enter the re-start in a stronger position than they began the season according to Head Coach Alex Pereira.

Having not played an official competition game yet, Pereira said his side are excited to get on the field and start playing.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed being back and it’s such a happy moment driving the the ground for training and games. We have players returning from injury now which is a positive. We’ve been lucky to only lose a few international players but overall a much stronger team than initially,” said Pereira.

Although the fitness may not be there in the initial stages of the competition, Pereira said he was happy with the progress the side have made.

“We know it will take 2-3 weeks to get to full capacity but we are moving in the right direction which is the most important thing. We will put in a lot of effort and work together as a team which is all you can ask for as a coach,” said Pereira.

The Bullsharks kick off their season against Tweed United tomorrow night.

Runaway Bay- Nathan Jones

The Bayhawks will be coming back into the season hoping to build on what they started at the beginning of the campaign. With a young squad and coach Nathan Jones at the helm, Runaway Bay know the importance of developing as a team.

“We have a young squad who are ready to go once we resume. They are all naturally fit and I’m sure at school have been playing so that won’t be to much of a problem for us once we get back out on the field,” said Jones.

With tough pre-season games under their belt, Jones indicated that development and building for the future is the focus for the club.

“We have set the goals in place for the future years and will be working as a unit to develop these players. The league table won’t merit the outcomes we have set for ourselves but I am confident we can show what we are capable of at a senior level once we kick back off,” said Jones.

The Bullsharks face Musgrave this weekend in Round 2 catch up action.

With the ASN GCPL and Coast League One seasons set to return this weekend, we spoke to all the coaches on how they have prepared for the resumption and much more! We continue by speaking to the Head Coaches of Southport and Robina, Rob Semple and Nathan Mulhearn!

Southport- Rob Semple

The Warriors will be looking to resume their season and build off their initial 5-5 draw result with defending champions Burleigh Heads.

Head Coach Rob Semple said his side have had a different preparation than expected for the resumption of the season.

“I was concerned that it would be a pre-season 2.0 but the boys have definitely come back fitter than at the beginning of the year. We managed to get three games in a short period but I still think we will be four weeks off getting to full flight,” said Semple.

Although the results have been positive for his side in the shortened preparation periods, Semple concluded that the tests they face now are much more difficult than what they have faced.

“We know the quality of opposition we will come up against in the Premier League will be a much different test to that of what we faced in these three games. The true reflection of where we are at will be known after this weekend’s game,” said Semple.

The priority for the Warriors remains on staying away from the play-off spot for 8^th place in the 2020 season.

“We have prioritised just ensuring that we don’t finish in that play-off spot. Anything above that will be a bonus for us this season but if we can put all the pieces together I am sure we can get some good results along the way,” said Semple.

The Warriors face Palm Beach this Saturday in the Round 2 catch up.

Robina- Nathan Mulhearn

Robina will be looking to kick on from their first win in the Premier League for 2020 when the season resumes.

Having a tough introduction to the 2020 season but managing to bounce back against Broadbeach, Head Coach Nathan Mulhearn said that it was finally good to be back preparing for the resumption of the season.

“It was hard with so much unknown in day to day life during the break but now we have a bit of normality and it’s been great to get back to doing what we all love,” said Mulhearn.

Mulhearn expected different levels of fitness from his squad depending on whether they put in the work during the break.

“I’m sure we are all in the same position that we have squad members who worked harder than others during the break. In our couple of games heading into the resumption, we had to work a bit harder off the ball which was a good test of our level. When competition points are at stake though is when we truly find out where we are at,” said Mulhearn.

With a shortened season upon us in 2020, the Robina coach knows that consistency is key for his squad.

“We need to make sure that we have enough fundamentals in place that if we have an off day we can still come away with points. It may not be pretty but as long as we can be consistent and effective we will put ourselves in good positions,” said Mulhearn.

Robina face Southport next week in Round 3 action.

With the ASN GCPL and Coast League One seasons set to return this weekend, we spoke to all the coaches on how they have prepared for the resumption and much more! We continue by speaking to the CL1 Head Coaches of Tweed United and Mudgeeraba, Mark Boelen and Stuart Scrivens

Tweed United- Mark Boelen

The Marlins will be looking to push for a spot back in the Premier League this season when football resumes this weekend. With some major injuries earlier in the year looking in good stead to return, Head Coach Mark Boelen thinks his side are prepared to mount a charge towards the top two spots.

“Overall the break was hard but the positives of having some players return is fantastic. We kept together throughout the break through social media and we were always in touch of all the lads to ensure that we kept the team spirit at a high,” said Boelen.

Boelen was pleased at the dedication his side showed throughout the break and the quality of players he has in his squad.

“The boys were doing their own work at home and keeping their fitness levels high throughout the break. Since we’ve been back, it’s been good to work with the whole squad and building us up from the core of the club,” said Boelen.

With the squad the Marlins have, Boelen said he was confident they can achieve their goal of promotion if they play the way that they know they can.

“Promotion is the goal for us but we know there is no room for error. Every point is crucial in the shortened season so we know we have to start well and keep the momentum rolling heading into the crucial back end stages of the season.”

The Marlins resume their campaign against Bond University.

Mudgeeraba- Stuart Scrivens

The Young Wallabies will be looking to get back on the park and get the ball moving after a tough break to the 2020 season.

With some experienced players opting not to play in the shortened season, Head Coach Stuart Scrivens said it has been difficult to keep on top of all the new protocols and changes.

“It’s great to be back but again with the restrictions still in place for certain things it has been difficult. The boys have indicated they have done work on their own but again we can only take them on their word,” said Scrivens.

With a different approach to keep fit through HIIT training and the distribution of club weights to the players, Scrivens said that his side will be looking to just build upon what set out to do at the beginning of the year.

“We know we are rebuilding and with the young squad we have tough times will face us. We want to keep developing and growing as a squad even though our experience may not be there compared to the other teams. If we can make the top four it would be a massive bonus for us,” said Scrivens.

The Wallabies resume their campaign next weekend against Runaway Bay.

With the ASN GCPL and Coast League One seasons set to return this weekend, we spoke to all the coaches on how they have prepared for the resumption and much more! We continue by speaking to the Head Coaches of Burleigh and Coomera, Colin Phelan and Steve Macdonald.

Burleigh- Colin Phelan

The double winners from 2019 will look to get back in the thick of things when they return back to field this weekend. The Bulldogs have had a solid time off and are excited to get back into the premiership race.

“It’s fantastic to get back into the team environment and get all the lads back on board and keen to get back to work. They’ve all been doing their own things fitness wise and we can only trust that they have looked after themselves,” said Phelan.

Overall Phelan has said that he needs to be realistic on the level of fitness of his squad and knows that at the start it will take some time to get the machine moving.

“We had three games and have improved consistently throughout those. I know that some players haven’t worked as much as they probably should have but overall we know that we will have work to do once the season starts back,” said Phelan.

Having won the double last year, Phelan said the importance of staying fit and healthy throughout the shortened season would be paramount.

“If we stay fit and keep the players as ready as we can we will give ourselves every opportunity to win games. We will have some tough times throughout the year like every team but if we hit the ground running I am sure we will be fine,” said Phelan.

The Bulldogs face Coomera this weekend in the Round 2 catch up game.

Coomera- Steve Macdonald

Steve Macdonald’s Coomera side will be raring to go come this weekend to continue on where they left off from Round 1.

With a big scalp of Nerang to kick things off, Macdonald recognised that getting back to playing is the most important thing for his side.

“We’ve been training a long, long time with only a limited amount of competitive fixtures so it will be fantastic to get back out there. The boys have kept relatively fit for the duration of the break so we are pleased on where we are at heading into the season,” said Macdonald.

Although results came for the Colts in pre-season, Macdonald said that his expectations were not met and he wanted to see a different gear from his side come competition time.

“We had a similar outcome of the friendlies as we did right back at the start of the year. We know what we are capable of and if we can execute our style we will continue to win games and hopefully reach the goals we have set for ourselves,” said Macdonald.

The Colts have been competitive under Macdonald in his two years, with consistency being the main let down for the side in years gone by.

“If we can keep that consistency up in the shortened season we will be fine. We know that the football at the start may not be the best spectacle but we are going out with the mindset that three points at all costs is essential,” said Macdonald.

The Colts face Burleigh this weekend in the round 2 catch up game.

With the ASN GCPL and Coast League One seasons set to return this weekend, we spoke to all the coaches on how they have prepared for the resumption and much more! We continue by speaking to the Head Coaches of Musgrave and Kingscliff, Jason Shultz and Ross Fenech!

Musgrave- Jason Shultz

Musgrave will have their eyes set firmly on promotion when they return back to the field in the shortened Coast League One competition. Coming close in many years gone by will have the Mustangs raring to go and prove why they deserve to be in the Premier League moving forward.

Head Coach Jason Shultz was happy with how his side came back from the break and said it was a welcomed outcome overall.

“We had a chance to unwind during the break and come back fresh and with a clear focus. The boys continued to work hard individually and maintain their fitness so it was an easy return for our squad,” said Shultz.

The Mustangs have had a positive return from their friendly games heading into the restarted competition and will be looking to build off those games come this weekend.

“I was very happy on how the boys played in the two games and we will now be looking to hit the ground running come this weekend. We know the start will be very important and we will have to try maintain that level throughout the whole season,” said Shultz.

The Mustangs return to the field this weekend when they play Runaway Bay.

Kingscliff- Ross Fenech

Kingscliff Wolves will have their tails up as they look towards building off their first game of the season upon resumption of the 2020 competition.

With a big win in Round 1, Head Coach Ross Fenech said his side was eager to return back to the field and continue what they started.

“It is fantastic to be back out on the field. We spent a lot of weekends wondering when the games would be back but now that it is upon us, it is fantastic for us all. The boys have kept fit throughout the whole time and I am happy with the level they are at,” said Fenech.

The preparation for the upcoming return has been fixed for the Wolves, with a few injuries and additions flowing throughout the squad.

“We lost a few players during the break but we managed to gain a few along the way so it was definitely a interesting time. We are switched on and ready to push for the top two spots,” said Fenech.

Consistency will be paramount for the wolves this year and they will focus on continuing off on their good start.

“We want to have teams chase us and not the other way around. If we can keep fit and injury free, we will give ourselves every opportunity to wins most games,” said Fenech.

The Wolves return back next weekend when they play Tweed United.

With the ASN GCPL and Coast League One seasons set to return this weekend, we spoke to all the coaches on how they have prepared for the resumption and much more! We begin by speaking to the Head Coaches of Palm Beach and Nerang, Brett Budwee and Lee Vernon!

Palm Beach- Brett Budwee

Palm Beach will be looking to come out with a bang after the break, with the clear message of consistency preached by their coach Brett Budwee to his young squad. The break came at a welcome time for the Sharks with players coming back itching for a game and the niggling injuries well passed the squad.

With heavy focus on keeping the level of fitness and working twice as hard during the break, Budwee was pleased with how his side came back to full training once everything returned.

“The boys have shown that they were working hard during the initial lockdown phase. Once we returned back to full training I could see that they weren’t far off where we were before the break,” said Budwee.

The side managed to get a few games in the abbreviated pre-season but with the first official game this weekend, Budwee knew that his side needed to focus on one thing in the shortened season.

“With the players coming back in full swing and injury free, we know that it all comes down to consistency for us week in week out this year. If we can maintain that level we know we can play and keep that desire to win for the duration of the year, I am confident we can achieve the goals we set out in 2020,” said Budwee.

The Sharks return to the field in the Round 2 catch up fixture against Southport this weekend.

 

Nerang- Lee Vernon

Nerang Coach Lee Vernon said it was a shock to the system having the break in what is normally a busy time in football. With a few players forced back to their homelands due to the COIVD-19 pandemic, the Eagles will be forced to re-shuffle and adjust on the fly as they prepare for the shortened 2020 season.

“It was hard for us in the beginning stages of the lockdown to get players motivated to work individually as we didn’t know what was going to happen. Our fitness levels aren’t the best but at the end of the day we are happy to get back out on the pitch,” said Vernon.

With the short time after full clearance contact and the resumption of the season, the Eagles will hope that their regular season form can improve on where they have been at during the practice matches.

“I’m not entirely happy with the performances we have put together in the last few weeks but again it is unprecedented times. We have had to adjust to so many different factors and we hope that after the tough pre-season we can put it all together and play some good football moving forward.”

The season will pose challenges to Vernon that he has never had to face in his coaching career, the message to his side is simple from the highly successful coach.

“We have to focus on one week at a time. Although that is the message from most coaches to their teams, we know that with the horror draw we have coming up and the level we are at, we just have to keep focused and continue to play the football we know we can,” said Vernon.

The Eagles face Surfers Paradise in their Round 2 catch up match at Bob Jeffrey Field this weekend.