With this week and last being a time of reflection for the NPL Victoria as the competition ticked over the halfway point of the season in both the top flight and NPL2, one of the points of discussion has included the best performing young players in the league. Looking back at key performances, we’ve compiled a list of rising stars (outside A-League youth sides Melbourne Victory and City) who stood out in corresponding months.
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March: Ryan Scott (Bentleigh Greens)
Age: 20, Games: 14, Clean Sheets: 5
Having spent the majority of last season waiting in the wings and learning off Alastair Bray, the Monbulk junior has made the Greens number one position his own this season with a number of noteworthy outings. Having featured in State League One in 2014 with Doveton and Mornington respectively, Scott earned plaudits for his outstanding contribution in February Charity Shield triumph over South Melbourne by making a number of game-turning saves in the Greens 3-0 success.
He continued this form into the first few rounds of the season by keeping a clean sheet in Round 1 against Bulleen where he made a couple of great saves to deny Sami Nour before sparing Bentleigh’s blushes in the 0-0 draw away to Hume in Round 3. Rarely making a mistake, Scott is also assured in the air – a characteristic not that common in many young goalkeepers who improve that attribute over time and with experience. Has only conceded 12 time goals all campaign, with a number of saves sure to make their way into save of the season contenders.
April: Nick Glavan (Melbourne Knights)
Age: 19, Games: 13, Goals: 1
The Melbourne Knights continued ability to bring the best out of emerging youngsters continues, with the right-back being the pick of a number of quality teenagers who have impressed in the first-team this season under Andrew Marth. Having been an ever-present in the Victory Youth team last season, Glavan was surprisingly released at the end of the season but rather than dwelling on that disappointment, the right-back has been one of the league’s standout full-backs over the course of the first half of the season.
Initial performances were solid before managing successfully to tame the offensive threats of Sami Nour and Theo Markelis, also putting in a respectable showing in a 3-1 defeat to Bentleigh where his tendency to overlap the wide forwards was evident. Having initially made the grade with Dandenong City in 2014, Glavan has not looked out of place in his first season of top-flight experience and will be looking to continue with his consistent form as the Knights chase a finals spot in the league, while also attempting to reach the national stage of the FFA Cup once more.
May: Matthew Millar (South Melbourne)
(Feature image: Mark Avellino)
Age 19, Games: 14, Goals: 5
The winner of the FFV’s 2014 Rising Star award has wasted no time in his return to the top flight, with a number of highly productive performances over the course of the season. His transfer to Lakeside Stadium from Melbourne City came in the final few hours of the transfer window with the former Dandenong Thunder winger storming the flanks in the opening few rounds of the season from where he provided a number of assists.
A brace in 2-1 away victory at Hume City saw him score his first goals for the club before finding the back of the net again a week later in a 4-1 triumph over Oakleigh at Lakeside. Arguably his finest performance in a South shirt to date came in their 5-2 win over rivals Melbourne Knights at Somers Street, with Millar grabbing another important brace in addition to an assist with his link-up play with lone marksman Milos Lujic and fellow attackers Nick Epifano and Marcus Schroen excellent throughout the 90. His form has no doubt once more propelled him into the A-League spotlight again, having made four appearances for City last term.
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NPL2
March: Amir Osmancevic (Dandenong Thunder*)
Age 21, Games: 12, Goals: 10
The recently departed Dandenong Thunder forward began the season with a bang after scoring eight goals in the Thunder’s opening 4 games, and being directly involved in 13 out of the 15 goals they had scored. His link up play with the likes of seasoned campaigners Veton Korcari and Kristian Sarkies was exceptional, with the trio giving the impression that they had been playing together for years.
He then formed a lethal combination with Brandon Barnes, with the duo on the scorers sheet in the away win to Goulburn and in the top-of-the-table tie against Kingston City. Prior to the latter fixture, Osmancevic had spent a short time on the injury sidelines before coming off the bench and expertly tucking away the winner. While his sudden exit from the club last Sunday came in unceremonious circumstances, his fantastic form in the second tier has raised plenty of interest from many NPL Clubs. Quite the transformation for a player a who this time last season was playing in State League 2 with the Peninsula Strikers, having previously featured for Doveton and Sloga Kraljevo in the Serbian 2nd Division.
April: Joseph Monek (St Albans Saints)
Age 19, Games: 14, Goals: 5
The exciting winger was released by Melbourne City Youth at the conclusion of last season, with there being plenty of competition for spots down the flanks under Joe Palatsides. Having made his senior debut for Saints aged just 16 in 2013, Monek answered the call of his former coach at the Melbourne Knights 20s in Zeljko Kuzman, who recruited him to Dinamo along with a host of other youngsters he had previously worked with.
Monek has been the best of the lot this campaign after scoring on debut in Round One following an impressive pre-season. A further strike against Ballarat in addition to a number of assists early on in the campaign was followed by a superb month in April, which saw him nominated for the NPL2 Player of the Month award. A man-of-the-match display against his former side City, a vital winner over Sunshine, and a brace against Box Hill were due reward for the teenager who has taken his game to the next level following his arrival at Churchill Reserve, where his work down the flanks has won him many admirers.
May: Damir Stoilovic (Springvale White Eagles)
Age 18, Games: 14, Goals: 8
The technically gifted forward began the season in a super sub role by scoring a 90th minute header against Goulburn in Round 1, before finding himself on the scoresheet once more with a goal in his first start against Brunswick. Two further goals off the bench followed in fixtures against Whittlesea and Box Hill, as the youthful White Eagles failed to muster a win in their opening seven fixtures.
A change in manager saw Stoilovic take his form to another level by grabbing crucial assists against Nunawading and Dandenong City before scoring in three successive outings in victories over the Moreland Zebras, St Albans and a brace against Murray. The last of those saw the 18-year-old forward put in his best performance to date, which included a goal of the season contender as he caught United goalkeeper Rohan Pearce off his line. His diminutive frame has not hampered his aerial prowess, with three of Stoilovic’s goals this season coming from headers highlighting his knack of finding himself in the right place at the right time – ala Tim Cahill.