Luke Maguire remains in charge for a second season at the Fury, having steered them to title winners in last season’s IPL, and only falling at the Grand Final hurdle to ultimate winners Albion Park White Eagles. The main change for the Fury this term is their ground-share with Wollongong United at Macedonia Park, though we may have seen the last of Robbie Shields after the striker underwent surgery this summer and is unlikely to start the 2017 campaign.

Players to watch

The absence of Shields means a new strike partnership for Matthew McNab in the Fury frontline. Shields and McNab scored 25 goals between them in 2016, so Maguire will be looking to new signing Liam Unicomb to step into the gap. Unicomb was top scorer for South Coast United with 10 goals in 2016, so Maguire will be looking for him to quickly fit into the Fury format and set up a healthy internal race for top scorer. The return of former Fury striker Ricky Zucco adds more sauce to the mix and keeps Maguire’s options open up front.

Also new for the Fury squad are players with A-League experience as ex-Sydney FC star Adam Biddle joins Alvin Ceccoli again, and Anthony Proia comes in from Blacktown Spartans, where he knocked in a few last season.

Fabian Iacovelli scores a few himself, but makes more goals from the left and is probably the Fury’s top provider. He will be joined in midfield by new Japanese recruit Kazuto Kushida, who was playing in the top tier of Thai football in 2016.

Other new signings for the Fury: Andres Gomez in from Sutherland Sharks; Steven Wright from Parramatta FC; and familiar faces locally in Mitchell Blowes, signed from Corrimal, and Kyle Senior, up from Fury’s Youth Grade.

The club is also on the verge of signing Sam Matthews from the Wolves. His experience and tenancity along side Sam Munro and Shane Murray in midfield sets up a formible trio. Their depth though could be tested the deeper they go in the FFA Cup.

Season expectation

There are some exciting new faces in the Fury squad for 2017, to fill the gap left by Robbie Shields. There’s actually no reason why Kemblawarra Fury should not repeat their Number 1 position on the IPL ladder and even go one better in the Grand Final this season. But there is a lot of talent in the Illawarra Premier League these days and I’m picking one of their biggest rivals to do better over the 22 Rounds. I have the Fury down for second spot this season, though I wouldn’t put it past them to win a Finals series come October.