Jet Power lands duo on national stage

Published 6:00am 28 June 2023

Words by Nick Crockford

Moreton Bay United Jets and Peninsula Power will take our region into tonight's live draw for the prestigious Australia Cup Round of 32.

Power will be in the national round draw for a fourth time in seven years. Moreton Bay United has only reached this stage once before.

Their success over four preliminary rounds has given the Moreton Bay Region two of Queensland’s four slots in the open draw. Lions and Gold Coast Knights complete the quartet.

Joining them will be Australia’s professional A-League clubs, semi-professional giants from Victoria and NSW - and teams from every other state.

Round of 32 matches will be televised on scheduled “rest days” within the FIFA Women’s World Cup, being held in Australia and New Zealand (July 20-August 20).

Ben Ryan, Power’s Head of Senior Football, is away the law of averages favours an away tie, after all five previous national rounds ties were at home.

Moreton Bay United celebrate after reaching the Round of 32 for just the second time.

Jet’s head coach Cameron Millar said a home tie would be “great” so the whole club could be “part of the next round”.

“I am really proud of the playing group and staff for their efforts in getting our club back on the national stage,” Millar said.

“It has been a tough cup run so far and we’re motivated to see how far we can go. We’re looking forward to getting together for the live draw on Wednesday night.”

Moreton Bay United has had four home ties this season, but three against teams also from Queensland’s top NPL tier. The fourth was against promotion-chasing FQPL1 team Strikers.

Power was given three away ties and one at home. None were against NPL opposition, but three against sides from the second tier FQPL1.

However, Ryan said: “The games were not gimmes. Maybe not against high-profile teams, but they were tough, including Yeronga.

Peninsula Power celebrate are reaching the Round of 32 again.

If Power are drawn away, Ryan said he'd prefer "an NPL side – perhaps not in NSW or Victoria, but Tasmania or South Australia.”

Power’s season has turned around since previous coach Aaron Philp returned to replace Rick Coghlan. Power is currently unbeaten in nine games and now 10 points clear of relegation.

Jets just escaped relegation on the last day of the 2022 season, but have been among the NPL's front runners this year and are third on the ladder.

The Australia Cup 2023 Round of 32 Live Draw will be on June 28 at 7pm, streamed live on 10 Play, via the official Australia Cup Facebook page and Football Australia YouTube accounts.

Draws pitching A-League against NPL clubs will see NPL clubs at home, regardless of the order.

Over and in - Josh Woolley's corner beats the Green Gully keeper in the Round of 16 for Power's equaliser.

Round of 32 qualifiers:

A-League (10): Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne City, Sydney, Wellington Phoenix, Western Sydney Wanderers, Western United. Playoffs – Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory (July 17); Perth v Macarthur (July 18).

Queensland (4): Gold Coast Knights, Lions, Moreton Bay United, Peninsula Power

New South Wales (6): Apia Leichhardt, Broadmeadow Magic, Edgeworth Eagles, Inter Lions, Mt Druitt Town Rangers, Sydney United 58

Victoria (5): Goulburn Valley Suns, Heidelberg United, Melbourne Knights, Oakleigh Cannons, Northcote City

South Australia (2): Campbell Town City, Metrostars

West Australia (2): Floreat Athena, Inglewood United

Tasmania (1): Devonport City Strikers

ACT (1): Canberra Croatia

Northern Territory (1): Hellenic Athletic