The Football Queensland ‘Mitre Festival of Football’ kicks off tomorrow at the iconic Suncorp Stadium. The event will feature four Grand Finals, culminating in the Men’s NPL decider between Moreton City Excelsior and Lions FC. Front Page Football previews the highly anticipated contest as the state prepares to crown a new champion in 2024.
Lions FC and Moreton City Excelsior will battle to be crowned the new champion of the NPL Queensland tomorrow night. (Images: Josh Springfield Photography)
Road to the Grand Final
Moreton City Excelsior and Lions FC secured their spots in the NPL Queensland Grand Final by taking notably different paths. Lions, who finished the regular season in fourth place, faced a formidable challenge away in their Semi-Final against the premiers and reigning champions, Gold Coast Knights. A crucial penalty from Luke Broderick in first-half stoppage time proved decisive, propelling Lions through to the final.
“It was a tense match and what you might expect in a Semi-Final, but defensively in particular, we did incredibly well," Head Coach Darren Sime told Front Page Football, expressing pride in his team's performance.
In contrast, Moreton City Excelsior advanced to their second consecutive Grand Final after a dramatic seven-goal thriller. They triumphed 4-3 over Peninsula Power after extra time. After going behind 3-2, Excelsior's fortunes turned with a stunning free-kick from substitute Joe Scott, who had made headlines just days before with a decisive goal in their Australia Cup Round of 16 upset against Perth Glory. Marquez Walters, Excelsior’s leading goalscorer, then sealed the victory with a close-range finish, securing their place in the final.
Players to watch
Declan Smith - Moreton City Excelsior
Towering 6'4" Moreton City Excelsior defender and captain Declan Smith significantly impacts both boxes. His header got Excelsior off and running in their Semi-Final, and he will have to be watched closely by the Lions' defence.
As well as his obvious aerial ability, Smith also likes to carry the ball out of defence to launch attacks. Unsurprisingly, his coach, Cameron Millar, rates the skipper as the best defender outside the A-League Men.
Moreton City Excelsior defender and captain Declan Smith in action against Campbelltown City in the Australia Cup Round of 32. (Image: Josh Springfield Photography)
Jack Skinner - Lions FC
Midfielder Jack Skinner spent time with English National League side Woking and had an impressive loan spell at Eastbourne Borough in the National League South. Returning to his native Brisbane in 2023, Skinner's performances at Redlands United caught the attention of Lions FC, who secured his talents for the 2024 season.
He is known for his creativity on the ball, and the 24-year-old has had a significant impact this season, contributing seven goals in the NPL Queensland.
Ben Holliday - Moreton City Excelsior
After a broken foot kept him out of last year’s Grand Final, Moreton City Excelsior midfielder Ben Holliday is poised to make a significant impact this time. Holliday recently made headlines with a stunning equalizer against Perth Glory, scoring with a super strike with his right foot before delivering a perfectly placed cross with his left for Joe Scott’s winning header.
His stellar performances have not gone unnoticed, with several A-League Men sides reportedly keeping a close eye on the 21-year-old’s progress. Another standout performance on Saturday will only heighten the buzz surrounding his potential.
Andy Pengelly - Lions FC
Lions FC captain Joe Duckworth considers his striker Andy Pengelly to be the finest the National Premier Leagues has ever seen, and the numbers certainly back up that claim.
The Ipswich-born forward is closing in on 150 goals at the NPL level and has already netted 29 times across all competitions this season. Known for his sharp instincts in front of goal, Pengelly will leave the Moreton City defence with no room for error.
Head-to-head
The two sides have swapped victories this season, Excelsior defeating Lions 2-1 on their own patch and Lions triumphing 4-2 in the reverse fixture. They also faced off in the Queensland Cup Final a few weeks ago, with Lions coming out on top 3-0, thanks to a brace from Andy Pengelly and a late Luke Broderick goal.
Despite the result, both coaches agree that the recent final will have little impact on tomorrow's game. Moreton City Head Coach Millar conceded to FPF that his Excelsior team was beaten fair and square in their previous meeting.
“I don’t think we were anywhere near our best that night; Lions started very well, and once they were two goals up, [they] were defensively very good,” he said.
Sime agreed, labelling their recent Cup final win as "largely irrelevant."
“In the Cup final, we scored at key times. Moreton City have some serious firepower and are riding the crest of a wave at the moment, but we’ve identified areas where they could be vulnerable and will try and exploit them,” he said.
The Suncorp factor
Lions FC's men's and women's teams will compete in their respective NPL Grand Finals tomorrow. While Lions players Josh Brindell-South and Matthew Ridenton bring A-Leagues experience and familiarity with high-profile venues, most of the squad will make their Suncorp Stadium debut. Sime, who played at Lang Park (as it was known then) for the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) in the mid-1990s, eagerly anticipates the event.
"I think it’s a fantastic initiative,” he said.
“Suncorp Stadium is steeped in history and features an outstanding playing surface. We hope our players can make their own unforgettable memories there.”
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Most of the Moreton City Excelsior squad was involved in last year's Grand Final at the venue, where they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by the Gold Coast Knights.
Millar believes the experience could stand his side in good stead.
“Playing in such a large stadium can be daunting. Last year, there was a lot of obvious excitement, whereas this time, I think we will be more comfortable, and our focus is very different.”
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