With the trend of NPL players making the transition to the A-League on the rise, here is three second-tier defenders A-League agents should be keeping an eye on.
Matthew Schmidt
Club: Gold Coast Knights
On the verge of a breakthrough with the Brisbane Roar in 2015, the 23-year old has spent the last four years honing his craft in the NPL Queensland. First with Gold Coast City, the former Australian Youth representative has been ever-present for the high flying Gold Coast Knights, picking up a host of Man of the match awards in the process.
Possessing an incredible drive which allows him to bomb up and down either right or left flank, much in the mould of a Rhyan Grant-type operator, in addition to his crossing nous, which is at a premium for A-League fullbacks, means he's surely arresting the attention of a few top-tier clubs.
Luke Plummer
Club: Peninsula Power
Plummer's career in the semi-professional ranks of Australian football just goes from strength to strength. Departing Olympic FC in 2018 in search of game time, Plummer dropped down to the FQPL where he was indomitable in Peninsula Power's undefeated promotion campaign.
Now in his second season at the Kippa-Ring club, the 20-year old's exceptional reading of opposition attackers and his calmness in distribution has been pivotal as Power continue their table-topping form. Chipping in with 4 goals in 12 games, including a pre-season strike against the Brisbane Roar, the centrehalf's experience beyond his age could see him rise to the very top.
Hiroki Omori
Club: Brisbane Strikers
It seems an age ago that Hiroki Omori was lighting up the national stage with a sensational freekick against A-League heavyweights Melbourne City in the FFA Cup. A trial with the Brisbane Roar beckoned, but due to a series of unfortunate circumstances he was never given his chance in the Orange and Black. Not that that deterred 28-year old Omori, who kept plugging away under the floodlights of Perry Park.
With an electric engine, quick feet and an eye for goal more becoming of an attacker, the fullback blends his experience with a drive seen among few other semi-pro players. Whilst his Japanese citizenship may act as a deterrent with the A-League's visa rules, it won't be long before his exceptional form is simply too hard to ignore.
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