Power's national setback - but Aaron returns

Peninsula Power has not been named among the clubs through to the second round of assessments for the new National Second Tier (NST).

Thirty-two clubs submitted Expressions of Interest (EOI), including Power which had made no secret of its wish to join the new league.

But the 26 successful first-stage applicants, released this week, did not include Power.

Football Australia told Moreton Daily: “While we don’t provide public commentary on each application, the club’s EOI Response did not fulfil the EOI Response evaluation criteria.”

At the time of writing, Power had not publically responded to the decision.

City shocked

Blacktown City, winners of nine NSW Club Championships in the last 12 years, also missed the cut, saying in a statement it was “shocked” at being “rejected”.

The club said it had received no explanation and it was “working to address the issue”.

The 26 clubs going into the next stage of assessments are: ACT - Canberra Croatia, Gungahlin United; NSW - APIA Leichhardt, Fraser Park, Marconi Stallions, Rockdale Ilinden, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58, Sutherland Sharks/Cronulla Sharks, Wollongong Wolves; QLD - Brisbane City, Brisbane United FC (Wynnum Wolves, Brisbane Strikers, Virginia United), Gold Coast Knights, Gold Coast United, Olympic, Sunshine Coast; South Australia - Adelaide City, Football South Australia; Tasmania - South Hobart; Victoria – Avondale, Brunswick Juventus, Green Gully, Heidelberg United, Melbourne Knights, Preston Lions, South Melbourne.

However, Aaron Philp is back at Peninsula Power, 11 months after stepping down as head coach.

Philp has replaced Rick Coghlan, who left Power last week after what the club describes as a “difficult start to the season”.

The returning coach’s first match is a regional derby against Moreton Bay United at AJ Kelly Park tomorrow, kick-off 5pm.

“We are thrilled to have Aaron back," Power President Craig Feuerriegel in an online statement. "His track record speaks for itself.

Power packed

“He is the club’s most successful coach and he knows what is required for success in the National Premier League Qld competition.”

Power is currently third 10^th in the 12-team NPL Qld with two wins from nine games.

Philp took Power from the second tier FQPL to Queensland’s top tier NPL in 2019 and has twice been named Football Queensland’s Coach of the Year.

He won back-to-back Premierships in 2020 and 2021 and took Power into the national rounds of the Australia Cup three times.

Donations are flowing in for Izaack Powell, the 21-year-old Power player who is battling leukaemia for a second time.

A GoFundMe page titled We Stand With Izaack was set-up by Michelle Feuerriegel aiming to raise $20,000 to support Powell and his family.

More than $7500 has been donated in just over two weeks. To donate click here.

Powell needs a bone marrow transplant as a “long-term solution” and the search is on for a donor.

Strength to Give

Those aged 18-35 are also urged to join the Strength to Give appeal, which is part of the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Register (ABMDR) and help.

Strength to Give outlines how swabbing your cheek and sending the swab in could help find a match.

Powell started at Peninsula Power at the age of five, played for Albany Creek Excelsior and Moreton Bay United before joining Brisbane Roar.