National praise for "underdogs"

Above: MCE coach Cameron Smith addresses his team after bowing out of the semi-finals. Picture Damian Briggs/Football Australia

Flying “under the radar” helped Moreton City Excelsior in their stunning Australian Championship campaign, says one of its star midfielders.

Jackson Courtney-Perkins, who rejoined the club before the tournament, helped MCE reach the semi-finals before going down 1-0 to Marconi Stallions.

It was a remarkable run for the NPL Qld Premiers, which included beating Victorian champions Avondale and drawing with final favourites South Melbourne.

“I think we were seen as the underdogs in this from the start,” Courtney-Perkins said on an SBS Championship Corner podcast this week.

“There was a lot of talk about Victoria versus NSW and which teams would do better in their groups and which teams were going to go through.

“I think we flew under the radar a little bit, which was great for us because the belief and characters we have in our team, we knew we could go a long way in this tournament.

“(It was) just a good feeling to show the rest of the country that sometimes the underdogs can perform like the big dogs.”

Finishing second in the group phase and a crushing 3-1 quarter-final victory at Avondale – especially for a decisive spell in the second half - earned praise from all quarters.

Online and podcasts revelled in MCE's style of play and goals, while Marconi coach Peter Tsekenis gave "credit" to the Brendale-based club for its performance.

Courtney-Perkins, who played for Avondale in the last NPL season, said of the quarter-final win: “It was good to watch such a performance … we stood up to the Victorian Premiers.

“I was sitting with a few of the Avondale boys and in that 10 minutes some of the football we (MCE) played really showcased what we can do … the type of goals we scored.”

More pictures - by Damian Briggs/Football Australia

Courtney-Perkins and captain Declan Smith were among the injuries which hit MCE hard before and during the Australian Championship, leaving them without recognised forwards, depleted in midfield and defence.

But young players gained vital experience and MCE – formed in 2023 when Moreton Bay United and Albany Creek Excelsior merged - had national TV and online exposure.

“Moreton City have played in some big games now,” Courtney-Perkins said on SBS. “With such a young team I think it’s invaluable experience for them and leading into next year, they want to be there again.

"It’s very important to have something to play for. The Australian Cup, for example, you want to verse those A-League teams, those big matches against professional clubs and have those professional game-day experience.”

MCE players are now having a break after a 13-month season before starting their defence of the NPL Qld title in February.