GK: Frano Saric (Werribee City)
Kind of no surprise that every player in the TOTW backline is from a relegation-threatened side, given the desperation and desire to try keep their team in the top flight. Saric was on his guard the whole game, swatting away chances and making sure Northcote were kept at bay for as long as possible.
RB: Jarryd Barnes (Dandenong Thunder)
Will be remembered for making two crucial goal-line blocks to deny both Pavlovic and Honos, keeping Dandenong alive in the relegation battle with a clean sheet and invaluable three points. A clutch performance.
CB: Steven Cudrig (Werribee City)
Cudrig was immense at centre-back, clearing away waves of Northcote attacks to preserve his side’s slim lead and three points. Has been one of City’s most consistent all season, and this game was no exception.
LB: Faisal Sakhizada (Dandenong Thunder)
The Afghanistan international proved to be the key man for Thunder, not just because of his usual tireless effort at the back, but because of his goal at the other end which proved to be the eventual winner.
DM: Massimo Murdocca (Avondale FC)
Fantastic movement of the ball by the defensive midfielder, dictating much of the play in the second half in the middle of the park, and showing all the class of a player who has appeared over 200 times in the A-league.
DM: James McGarry (Melbourne Knights)
A key contributor in the Knights midfield, McGarry was the instigator of numerous opportunities on goal and counter attacks with pinpoint deliveries to wingers and forwards from deep.
RM: Michael Anderson (North Geelong Warriors)
A fantastic few weeks for Anderson was capped off by a goal, assist, and an assist of an assist against Heidelberg United. His involvement was immense and almost helped his side pip a monumental win at Olympic Village.
LM: Nick Epifano (South Melbourne)
It was a clinical performance by Epifano, scoring the go ahead goal after the break, before finally killing the threat of Port Melbourne with a classy finish past the ‘keeper.
ST: Milos Lujic (South Melbourne)
They said he’d struggle to score when Reed left, then when Brennan left. But the resourceful Lujic manages to find ways to link up with somebody, be it Epifano, Minopoulos, or this week Norton, putting away two chances from the fullback’s crosses to get him back equal top of the golden boot race.
ST: Dan Heffernan (Heidelberg United)
It’s been a big week for Heffernan, impressing for Central Coast with a hat-trick while trialling, before flying back to Melbourne to help salvage a result for Heidelberg against North Geelong. Did get some assistance from Zilic for one of his goals, and could have killed off the contest by securing his second consecutive hat-trick deep in added time, but nonetheless a worthy .
ST: Nick Krousoratis (Port Melbourne Sharks)
Krousoratis has really grasped his chance in the Sharks side, once again dangerous in a losing side against South Melbourne. Was persistent and deadly up front, taking two well-taken chances, which is no easy feat against South’s defence at Lakeside.
BENCH:
Reardo Luka (North Geelong Warriors)
Was constantly involved in the game, dangerous on the counter and busy around the box. Like Anderson, was involved in each goal, scoring once, setting up another and taking a shot that was eventually tapped in.
Ryan De Vries (Bentleigh Greens)
The Kiwi caused the Avondale defence problems all night with his pace and craft, constantly setting teammates up for goalscoring opportunities, which on another night could have been converted.
Robbie Zadworny (Melbourne Knights)
The winger scored a terrific solo goal to open the Knights’ account in an eventually comfortable victory, and was an ever-present danger up the right side. Made Hume’s defenders’ lives a nightmare at times.
Matthew Breeze (Green Gully)
Played an important role for Gully at centre forward in Liam Boland’s absence, taking up the responsibility of leading the line – a previously unfamiliar position. Scored a well taken goal for his troubles.
Luca Santilli (Pascoe Vale)
Helped turn the game around in second period after Pascoe Vale struggled in the first. Was a threat on the wing, culminating in the delivery of the decisive cross that Davey van ‘t Schip headed home for the equaliser.
Brad Norton (South Melbourne)
Some weeks we get no left back nominations, this week we get two, and therefore unfortunately Norton will have to settle for a bench spot. He’s in a real purple patch at the moment, earning an FFA Cup Team of the Round selection, and was at it again in the NPL, setting up Lujic with two assists in a superb attacking fullback display.