It’s just minutes into the contest between Avondale FC and Port Melbourne when Oleksiy Khrapko channels his Shevchenko-like instinct to make his way forward and slot home the early lead at JL Murphy Reserve, coming back to haunt his former club.
While Avondale have signed high profile names including Massimo Murdocca, Jonatan Germano and Spase Dilevski in the last half a season, with all three battling injury issues of late, one constant during the club’s tenure in the NPL has the Ukranian-born forward.
Signed for the 2014 NPL 1 season from Altona Magic, he has scored 20 goals in 55 league games so far to be a key contributor in Anthony Barbieri’s side in his three seasons.
His most recent strike helped seal an eventual third consecutive win for Avondale, who have now propelled themselves into a comfortable mid-table position after a torrid start to the season saw them sit last after five consecutive defeats.
“It’s a very good win away for us, important three points, Port made it hard for us,” Khrapko said.
“It’s good to score an early goal. They equalized later but we scored again and it’s been a good win.”
“We have good team spirit now and we feel confident and looking forward to playing each week.”
Having arrived in Australia as a 12-year-old, the now 27-year-old has spent stints at Port Melbourne, was at Bulleen in 2012 and Altona Magic in 2013, before being obtained by Barbieri for the 2014 NPL Victoria 1 season.
The side enjoyed an unprecedented rise up the NPL hierarchy, finishing top of the table, with Khrapko earning Rounds 9-12 Player of the Month honours in the process.
The next season he provided key goals for a side more regarded for its defensive solidity.
While Khrapko’s goal tally – like his side’s form – waned in the early rounds of 2016, epitomised by having a penalty saved by John Honos in Round 6 against Oakleigh Cannons, he came booming back into form with a hat-trick against South Springvale in the FFA Cup – including a spectacular free kick – before netting the opening goal against Port Melbourne.
“The coach trusts me and I trust him, he gives us the instructions what to do at training and what to do in the game and I follow these instructions,” Khrapko said.
“The more time you spend at a club the better you will be. You get more experience and you get more familiar with the league.”
“To be honest it’s not a big difference between the NPL and NPL 1 (now NPL2). It’s just a matter of more professionalism.”
In a family affair, Oleksiy’s brother Igor was also a well-known figure in Victorian football.
Having played at Western Suburbs in the VPL under Michael Chatzitrifonos, he was later signed by Oakleigh Cannons.
Hailing from Lviv, and a fan of local side Karpaty in the Ukranian Premier League – as well as being a Shevchenko fan – Khrapko said the earlier days of his footballing experience in Australia was difficult – both in finding a club and settling into Australia as a youngster – but now he’s found his feet and is comfortable at his level in the NPL Victoria.
“It’s always not easy at the start, it’s going well now,” he said.
“I follow football worldwide. Football is the same everywhere around the world – at the same time, it’s the same but it isn’t the same.
“When I first came here it was different to the way it’s played in Europe.
“Now it’s getting better. Many teams are trying to play football, not like long balls but actually trying to play to feet, it’s good to see.”
As Avondale begins to click in 2016 with three consecutive victories, there’s no doubt the Avengers may once again be on the rise with a finals tilt still not out of the question.
One almost certainty is that Khrapko will continue being an unassuming figure in the forward-line, contributing regular goals and assists to aide his side’s cause.
“We knew it was it was going to be a matter of time, we’ve been trying to play football and play the ball along the ground,” he said.
“We’ve got a good squad with a few new players and it always takes time to get to know each other, but we’ve built a good team now and we need to win more games together.”
Image: Mark Avellino