On the Eve of the 2014 IPL Season, the ‘Man on the Street’ has had a look into his crystal ball to see what might lie ahead in what is sure to be another exciting year of Football in the IPL.

Port Kembla will obviously go into the new season as red hot favourites on the back of their outstanding ‘Double’ achievement in 2013 but will not run away with the League Title in the manner they did last time out.

Port has lost a couple of players in the off-season (see below) but has picked up Matt Floro from the Wolves who will add even more firepower to an already potent attack. They have suffered an early season loss in Mitchell Scazzariello. Mitch, who was MOM in the 2013 Grand Final, suffered a potential long term injury in the Frat Cup but is hopeful he might be back on the park by the end of Round 1.

Scazzariello and Jarryd Vinton were very solid in the Black White’s midfield last season and if Stuart Beedie has the personnel to cover their losses, then expect Port to have another strong season.

The team that could trouble Port Kembla in their pursuit of ‘back to back’ titles is Dapto Dandaloo. The Fury provided the biggest shock of 2013 when they missed the cut for the end of season games but they have recruited well in the off season and added  a lot more pace and quality across the field

They still have experienced players in Alvin Ceccoli and Noel Spencer to call the shots but with a lot more mobility it should provide a perfect blend. There are also a couple of surprises to come from the Fury Camp which will only add to their rebounding efforts this time around. Watch this Space!

Those two teams are my top two picks for the title; the question is who will make up the ‘five’

Bulli who have been thereabouts for the last two seasons should figure in the top end and came out on top in the Frat Cup despite making the semis as lucky runner up. They were not all that convincing during the series and one fears that they may struggle with a lack of depth outside their first choice of 11 or 12 players.

At the end of the season they could rue letting Vaughan Patterson go to Tarrawanna as Patterson added a lot of starch to their mid-field and with Matthew Bailey going back to the Wolves it could be the lack of quality supply to the front line that could hurt their chances of finishing high up the table. On the plus side, collecting the signature of Scott Curran from Woonona could turn out to be a real bonus.

Tarrawanna have been near the head of the table for a few years now and with the acquisition of Paterson it adds a lot more strength in the middle of the Park. If Ricky Goodchild can repeat his first year’s effort in a Blueys Shirt, Luke Maguire’s men should be in for another enjoyable season.

Wollongong Olympic had a good preparation in the pre-season and finished as runners up to Bulli in the recent Knockout just missing out on penalties.

Olympic finished fifth last year and with no major player losses they have picked up Mark Picciolini and Jarryd Vinton which should make them a more formidable outfit in 2014.

I wouldn’t take any notice of last week’s shock exit from the BloorRail Bert Bampton Cup at the hands of Corrimal Rangers and you can count on Coach Wayne Farnsworth having his players charged for an assault on the IPL when the competition kicks off tomorrow.

Wollongong United made the surprising decision in the close season to replace last year’s successful Coach, Paul Carter with Rookie Coach, Oliver Vrtkovski.

Carter led his team to a very respectable 3^rd position on the League Table so Vrtkovski has a big challenge ahead of him to top that.

United has recruited two quality players in Jack Madgwick and John Martinoski from the Wolves and with the retention of most of last year’s squad this should assist Oliver greatly in his first shot at a top grade job.

Albion Park WE and South Coast United was another couple of clubs who changed coaches since last season. Steve Micevski (APWE) and Alan Paine (SCU) have taken the reins at their respective clubs. Both men are astute coaches with lots of experience if anyone can bring out the best in their charges, Micevski and Paine fit the bill.

All teams in this year’s IPL have changed playing personnel in some shape or form as they do their best in their push for honours in 2014 and one can expect the usual roller coast ride in another exciting season of IPL football.

Predictions (for what they are worth):

Champions: Port Kembla
Runners Up: Dapto Dandaloo (close second)

Top Five: Wollongong Olympic, Tarrawanna, Bulli

The team likely to upset the ‘five’: Wollongong United

Surprise Packet: Albion Park WE & South Coast United

Albion Park White Eagles

Gains: Darren Jones (Wollongong United), Andrew Nanos (Coniston), Christian Plakias (Coniston), Chris Smith (Dapto Dandaloo), Doug Woodiwiss (Woonona) and Adrian Karokolevski (Wollongong United).

Losses: Peter Gaffney (Queensland), Mark Picciolini (Wollongong Olympic), Jason Jankuloski (Port Kembla) and Jason Dimovski (Amateurs)

Bellambi

Promoted to Premier League

Bulli

Gains: Corey Haines-Grose (Thirroul), Cameron Littler (Dapto Dandaloo), Caius Don (Coniston), Mitch Veitch (Sydney) and Scott Curran (Woonona).

Losses: Matthew Bailey (South Coast Wolves), Jordan Murray ( South Coast Wolves), Vaughan Patterson (Tarrawanna), Pat Morales (Woonona) and Joshua Hutton (Woonona).

Cringila

Gains:   Dominic Magil (Dapto Dandaloo), Cord Tolson and James Townson (Thirroul).

Losses: Milan Atlagic (Sydney), Chris Atkinson (Sydney) and Rob Bozinov (Sydney).

Dapto Dandaloo

Gains: Joe Crowley (Brisbane), David Hartas (Tarrawanna), Stephen Lee (Sydney), Sam Munro (Rockdale), Wade Oostendorp (Marconi), Hussein Salameh (Sydney Olympic), Graeme Smith (Sydney), Nathan Smith (Sydney) and Ryan Suttle (Wollongong Olympic).

Losses: Ryan Emerton (Woonona), Matthew Radman (Sydney), Ben Price (Retired), Chris Smith (Albion Park White Eagles) and Sasha Petrovski (Reitred).

Fernhill

Gains:   Jamie D’Amico (Wollongong Olympic), Dez Geraldi and Kazuma Koyagashi (Japan).

Losses: Diego Arroyo (Overseas), Nick Beeten (Amatuers), Sam Gordon (Wollongong Olympic), Monty Pfrengle (Retired) and Paul Thompson (Woonona).

Port Kembla

Gains:   Matt Floro (South Coast Wolves) and Jason Jankuloski (Albion Park White Eagles).

Losses: Jarryd Vinton (Wollongong Olympic) and Lachlan Fetterplace (Woonona).

South Coast United

Gains:   Andrew Paine (Helensburgh), Cameron Clifford, Jackson Gandy, Lee Gilroy (All Sydney).

Losses: Patrick Susnja, Junior Mushaba (South Coast Wolves)

Tarrawanna

Gains:   Vaughan Patterson (Bulli) and Aaron Gough (Riverina)

Losses: Kyle Wolski (Overseas), David Hartas (Dapto Dandaloo), Tim O’Brien (Retired) and Ben Zucco (South Coast Wolves).

Wollongong Olympic

Gains:   Samuel Gordon (Fernhill), Jarryd Vinton (Port Kembla) and Mark Picciolini (Albion Park White Eagles).

Losses: Aden Wade, Blake Gates (Queensland) and Ryan Suttle (Dapto Dandaloo).

Wollongong United

Gains:  Jack Madgwick (South Coast Wolves), John Martinoski (South Coast Wolves) and Brendon Reilly (APIA)

Losses: Milan Zoric (Mounties), Steven Kimear, Darren Jones (Albion Park White Eagles) and Domenic Cutri (Parramatta).

Woonona

Gains:   Ryan Emerton (Dapto Dandaloo), Lachlan Fetterplace (Port Kembla), Joshua Hutton (Bulli) and Paul Thompson (Fernhill).

Losses: Nick Potter (Corrimal), Beau Cropper (Retired), Scott Curran (Bulli), Doug Woodiwiss (Albion Park White Eagles) and Patrick Morales (Bulli).