NPL WA: Several former A-Leagues players set to line up this season as Perth RedStar aim to retain title

After of one of the most-even NPL Men’s WA seasons in living memory, the presence of almost a dozen ex-A-League players could make the sequel even more explosive.

The 2024 NPL season will begin on Saturday, kicking off a hotly-anticipated campaign headed by the arrival of ex-Perth Glory stars Rostyn Griffiths and Joel Chianese.

Perth RedStar will aim to go back-to-back in the league after winning the pre-season Night Series, while Stirling Macedonia look to add some more silverware to last year’s Top Four Cup final win.

Last year was defined by its tightness, with first through to 12th separated by bare margins for most of the season before the contenders began to distance themselves from the chasing pack.

The entire bottom half of the table were separated by just five points, and the margin between relegated Cockburn in 11th and third-placed Olympic Kingsway was just seven points.

RedStar coach Callum Salmon expected more of the same when it came to competitiveness and despite last year’s Top Four Cup final loss to Stirling, said his side were still making the league title their priority.

“It will probably even be more even, if that makes sense. The year before, I think we won 15 or 16 games to finish second; last year, we won 12 games and drew five to win it,” he said.

“Wins this year will be super hard to come by for any team, and it will be a very level playing field.

“The league is what we play for; if we are in a position to win the top four cup as well, fantastic.

“Our focus and something we’ve been clear on from day dot was we want to defend the league and then if we’re in a position to win the top four cup, we’ll go as hard as we can, but all roads lead to winning the league up at RedStar.”

Red Star will again boast Golden Boot winner Darryl Nicol and landed ex-Glory attacker Chianese in the off-season, reuniting him with former Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy.

The northern suburbs club will have stiff opposition though; Kingsway alone boast four former Glory players in Ryan Lowry, Mitch Oxborrow, Aryn Williams and Joe Knowles.

They have also pulled off a coup by luring Liam Boland home to WA after the striker scored 104 goals across 189 matches for NPL Victorian sides Oakleigh Cannons, Green Gully, Hume City, and Avondale.

Balcatta Etna will argue they made the biggest off-season signing involving when they enticed three-time premiership winner Griffiths to the club.

The former Central Coast, Glory and Melbourne City stalwart has more than 150 A-League Men’s games to his name and started for City during their 2021 A-League Grand Final victory.

Newly-promoted Fremantle City boast star power in the form of coach Matt Sparrow - a veteran of more than 300 games for English lower leagues side Scunthorpe United - and former Glory and Sydney FC defender Riley Woodcock and ex-A-League midfielder Cam Edwards.

The NPL season will be available to watch live on Streamer.com.