We could’ve just about filled the subs bench entirely with gloveman, such was the influx of nomination for standout performances between the sticks. Pascoe Vale’s young shot stopper Yaren Sozer, Oakleigh’s John Honos and Ballarat’s Aaron Romein all had good games and were unlucky to miss out on selection this week.
Elsewhere, it was a versatile week in terms of the clubs represented, as all but two teams – sorry Northcote and Werribee fans – earned selections in the Round 25 edition of the Team of the Week.
Formation: 4-3-1-2
GK: Griffin McMaster (Heidelberg United)
The sole reason Heidelberg escaped with a point against Werribee, who fought tooth and nail to get an all-important three points towards their relegation plight. Having made a number of sharp saves up until the final few moments, he then had a massive task in front of him; stopping Ryan Filipovic from the penalty spot. He made easy work of it as he expertly thwarted the centre-back from 12-yards.
LB: Luke Pilkington (Bentleigh Greens)
Pilkington was in fine form on the left side of defence for Bentleigh where he linked up with the interchanging wingers Ryan De Vries and Jamie De Abreu. Showed he has an impeccable first touch and always runs hard to give his teammates an option.
CB: Luke Byles (Heidelberg United)
The Heidelberg United captain had to wait until the penultimate round to earn his first spot in the NPL Team of the Week. He does so off the back of a nil-all draw against a Werribee City side who suddenly look favourites for the drop. A typical no nonsense performance from the defender who organised the backline to perfection.
CB: Shane Rexhepi (Hume City)
Commanding, vocal and a general rock for Hume, Rexhepi did on Friday what he’s been doing season long. His distribution was a little off in early parts of the contest, but he worked through it to put in a dominant display at the back.
RB: Milos Ridesic (Port Melbourne)
The Melbourne Victory Youth centre-back earned his side a share of the spoils after heading home a second-half equaliser from a set-piece. Has played sporadically for the Sharks but put in a decent shift at centre-back to make him our second defender to earn a Team of the Week debut. Squeezes in at right-back to accommodate others.
RM: Kieran Dover (Dandenong Thunder)
It was the Dover-Miller show at George Andrews Reserve as the teenagers ran riot against the Goulburn Valley Suns. Dover justified the time that Melbourne Victory have invested in him this season with a wonderful display, which saw him net a hat-trick, while also setting up Millar for one of his two. Our standout player of the week.
CM: Iqi Jawadi (South Melbourne)
Jawadi was his usual energetic self in the South Melbourne midfield, providing plenty of drive with the ball. Uses it well and rarely gives up posession, he was amongst the best players on the pitch.
LM: Matt Millar (Dandenong Thunder)
It’s already been touched on but the Thunder truly does have some special talent on their hands. Millar was immaculate against the Suns, floating free between the left and the middle – almost as a false 10 – to lay on two assists as well as a well taken brace.
CAM: Dusan Bosnjak (Oakleigh Cannons)
A livewire for Oakleigh in their 2-2 draw against South, Bosnjak looked in the mood against the eventual title winners. He put his side into a surprise lead just beyond the hour mark and lead from the front in the search of the killer blow. He made way moments before Milos Lujic’s injury-time equaliser.
ST: Paul Harvey (Ballarat Red Devils)
The importance of Paul Harvey to Ballarat this season is beyond words. Since signing mid-season from Bulleen in NPL 1, he’s put the ball in the back of the next a whopping eight times. Those goals have come at crucial stages, none more so than his 81st minute strike to sink an undermanned Knights side and put Ballarat in the box seat for survival, should they get past the stern test of Oakleigh next week.
ST: Craig Carley (Goulburn Valley Suns)
Carley continues to bang them in for the relegated Suns, and he showed his class again as he netted twice to give his side some hope of mounting a late comeback against Dandenong. While they eventually went down 6-3, the forward did his stocks no harm with his performace. He even came fractions away from a hat-trick, but the crossbar stood firm to deny him.
Substitutes:
Chris Oldfield (Hume City)
The man of the match against Bentleigh, Oldfield pulled his side out of the fire a number of times. Made a crucial double save in the first term to keep his side at 0-0
Ben Surey (Melbourne Knights)
Tasked with leading a young, inexperienced side to battle it out against a Red Devils side with everything to play for, the Knights captain did all he could to get a result. Fantastic work rate in the centre of midfield, he did what he does best and let little past him as he acted as the guard for the back four.
Michael Ferrante (Pascoe Vale)
The veteran midfielder was a standout for Pascoe Vale, who earned a point against Port Melbourne. Contributed the evenings first goal to go along with a commanding performance pulling the strings.
Ryan De Vries (Bentleigh Greens)
Since re-signing in mid-season, the South African born winger has filled a much needed attacking void at Bentleigh, where his pace and trickery on the ball has made a mockery of defences for the best part of two months. He’s an absolute joy to watch when on song and he showed that on Friday night, scoring a goal and running riot on both flanks.
Milos Lujic (South Melbourne)
Salvaged a point against the Cannons with his last minute strike and always looked dangerous. Has the golden boot all but wrapped up.
Matthew Sanders (Green Gully)
Although he’s approaching his tenth season at the Cavaliers, Sanders still managed to find a way to endear himself to the fans even more after his first half goal mathematically secured safety for Green Gully.
Thanks to Brad Hutchings, Christopher Hearn, Brandon Galgano, Ahmed Yussuf and The Corner Flag’s Agron Dauti for their nominations.