Review
Not bad, not bad. 5/7 results correct – including the somewhat surprising Northcote win over Hume – with no correct scorelines.
Oakleigh 4-1 Knights (predicted 2-1 to Oakleigh) Correct
Avondale 0-0 Pascoe Vale (predicted 0-1 to Pascoe Vale)
North Geelong 1-0 Green Gully (predicted 2-2)
Northcote 3-1 Hume (predicted 2-1 to Northcote) Correct
Dandenong 0-1 South Melbourne (predicted 1-4 to South) Correct
Werribee 1-3 Bentleigh (predicted 0-2 to Bentleigh) Correct
Heidelberg 2-1 Port Melbourne (predicted 2-0 to Heidelberg) Correct
***
Port Melbourne Sharks SC (8th) vs Avondale FC (10th)
The form
It’s three defeats in a row for the Sharks, succumbing to Hume City, Pascoe Vale, and now Heidelberg. Comparatively, Avondale have drawn their last three games, including against two of the above opponents, Hume and Paco. They’ve done it with two 0-0’s and one 1-1 result, so they’ve reall tightened up at the back.
The players to watch
There’s plenty of talent on show for the Sharks, it’s just all about making it click. Bryan Bran was excellent at the back last round, and one player that seems to fly under the radar despite his application every week is Ryan Opperman. For Avondale, whilst they’ve only scored one goal in three games, they’ve also only conceded one, and part of this has been down to Frazer Siddall‘s good work between the sticks, while Jacob Colosimo has also been positive since his move from Melbourne Knights.
The prediction
Tempted to say a cagey draw, but I just have a feeling Port Melbourne will snap their recent form with a hard fought 2-1 victory at home over Avondale.
Bentleigh Greens SC (1st) vs Heidelberg United FC (2nd)
The form
No problems with form here, as both teams have won most of their recent games, making this top-of-table clash a really mouthwatering prospect. One minor hiccup for each though was Bentleigh’s 1-1 draw against Pascoe Vale earlier this month, while Heidelberg had a Round 12 draw against Hume by the same scoreline.
The players to watch
There will be key battles all over the park for this one. In the middle, Govas and Wallace. At one end, Heffernan and Webster. At the other, Captain Byles will have his work cut out in marshalling the backline against the threat of Ryan De Vries and co, but he may not be able to protect ‘keeper Griffin McMaster from the wrath of the meme Gods after this effort:
The prediction
Kaine Sheppard’s time on the sidelines will hurt Heidelberg, but then again Bentleigh have been playing without Thurtell for a while now, so no excuses either way. Bentleigh got the job done away last time, and may just pip another victory this time at home, winning 2-1.
We also don’t predict as much camaraderie between JA and Katsakis as has been seen at Cannons games between the two:
Green Gully SC (11th) vs Dandenong Thunder SC (13th)
The form
It’s been a bit bleak for both teams. Green Gully’s last win against Avondale seems a long time ago, losing against Northcote, Oakleigh and the lowly North Geelong since then, despite putting in some good performances in those defeats. Dandenong had to contend with Bentleigh and South Melbourne, though were unlucky to lose against South.
The players to watch
Gully’s Matt Breeze hasn’t been spoken of in a while, but the Englishman possesses plenty of attacking spark, while former Oakleigh man Evan Christodolou was brought in mid-season to do a job in midfield, with both having the capabilities to do the job against Dandenong. Meanwhile, Dandenong had plenty of solid individual perfomances last week that went unrewarded, with the likes of Adam Petko, Tim Purcell and Faisal Safa really stepping up against top opposition.
The prediction
Another tough one to call between two relegation threatened sides. Sitting on the fence here and saying both will cancel each other out, 1-1.
Northcote City FC (9th) vs Pascoe Vale SC (6th)
The form
Suddenly Northcote are a bit of a smokey team, knocking off the likes of Green Gully and Hume City in recent weeks. Pascoe Vale have also been solid, unlucky not to beat Avondale in a 0-0 draw following a win over Port Melbourne. That result ends their WLWLWLW streak.
The players to watch
With injuries to main striker Jake Nakic and understudy Matt Conversano, Davey van’t Schip fills the void in the centre and has impressed for Vitale Ferrante. He’s been ably assisted by Luca Santilli on the wing. Northcote seem a bit more defensively stable, with one recent addition getting a run has been Ryan Go, the young left back who arrived this season after spending time at the Feyenoord academy.
The prediction
Both teams are somewhat prone to WLWLW streaks, and it’s kind of difficult to read their form, especially Northcote’s, so I’ll stick with a 2-1 victory to Pascoe Vale.
Hume City FC (5th) vs Oakleigh Cannons FC (7th)
The form
In a sense of deja vu, these two teams will meet again after recently playing out a 1-1 draw in a catch up fixture. It’s been contrasting form since then, as Oakleigh are coming off the back of a convincing 4-1 victory over Knights, while Hume City succumbed 3-1 to Northcote, who sit five places below them on the ladder.
The players to watch
Mirjan Pavlovic, because his talent has been matched by his penchant to court controversy with some of his goal celebrations. 
And after coming on for his debut in the FFA Cup fixture against South Springvale, Kofi Danning will be raring to make an impact in the league as Oakleigh charge up the ladder. In continuing the former A-League player theme, Theo Markelis has been scoring regularly and will need to keep that form up if Hume want to beat the Cannons.
The prediction
We expected Oakleigh to record a win at home against Hume, but just snuck in a draw. Now Hume may have the better circumstances to win, based on home game and no midweek fixture to contend with. However, form suggests otherwise, and we’ll go with a 2-1 win for Oakleigh.
Melbourne Knights FC (4th) vs North Geelong Warriors FC (14th)
The form
North Geelong are finally back on the winner’s list, completing the season double over Green Gully with a 1-0 win at home. There’s still a long way to go for the Warriors, who still sit four points behind 12th placed Werribee. Melbourne Knights have been stuttering as well, backing up a 2-1 win over Northcote with a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Oakleigh.
The players to watch
Matt Townley has been a consistent performer for North Geelong at the back, with most of the team’s woes this season coming up front without a consistent scorer. Yusuf Yusuf has come agonisingly close on numerous occasions, and will need to convert any chances that come his way if the Warriors want to salvage anything from this clash. Former North Geelong man Robert Zadworny was in top form in last week’s defeat, and will have to put friendships aside this week in search of three points.
The prediction
Knights will be on the rebound from a 4-1 defeat against Oakleigh, with Marth most likely pushing the boys harder on the training pitch this week, and it’s hard to see the Warriors halting a fired up Somers Street. 1-0 Knights.
South Melbourne FC (3rd) vs Werribee City FC (12th)
The form
Werribee had a few good games, beating North Geelong and Oakleigh, but have now lost twice in a row to Heidelberg and Bentleigh, and their doesn’t get much easier as they face South Melbourne. Big win against North Geelong aside, it’s been a scrappy month for south, who have lost to Oakleigh and just snuck a win past Thunder last week.
The players to watch
Without Andy Brennan, Leigh Minopoulos seems to having a bit more of a run up forward, and boy isn’t he excited when South win important games:
For Werribee, we’ll give a shoutout to two -ski’s Robert Naumoski and Bobby Vidanovski. Both still young, the former is capable of doing a job in midfield, while the other works hard at the back.
The prediction
Probably something similar to the corresponding fixture last time, a scrappy 1-0 victory to South against a resilient Werribee who will fall just short.