It was honestly the most difficult week of TOTW we’ve ever had to do. There were six players who scored two goals or more, and we received over 20 nominations – mostly mids and forwards with four right-backs and two centr-backs. Therefore we had to do some serious re-shuffling and many players who otherwise would have made it had to miss out. Any other week the likes of Hume and Gully would have had more than one player in the XI.
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GK: Griffin McMaster (Bulleen Lions)
In a week where goalkeepers were either on the receiving end of thrashings, or nowhere near the action, McMaster was somewhere in between. Benefited from Avondale’s profligacy up front but did make a couple of important saves and did well to cut danger out in the air and along the ground, preserving a clean sheet.
LB: Nick Symeoy (Avondale FC)
Made life continually difficult for Bulleen’s forwards with a solid defensive display by rarely being beaten, while also getting forward well to link with his side’s midfielders and forwards. A good all-round game from Symeoy that at least yielded a clean sheet if not a win.
CB: Luke Adams (South Melbourne)
In a topsy turvy contest, two early strikes condeded were overcome by Adams with a couple of telling contributions, including a long pass that ended in a goal, along with a goal himself.
RB: Liam McCormick (Bentleigh Greens)
Didn’t have the usual threat to face with a number of Bergers forwards missing, but nonetheless provided a solid and uncompromising performance at fullback worthy of a clean sheet, which just didn’t eventuate for the Greens.
CM: Alan Mulcahy (Port Melbourne)
A collector’s item for Mulcahy in the form of a hat-trick – including two free-kick specials – leaves him as one of the week’s standout players. Was instrumental in the 7-0 rout over Richmond and thoroughly deserved his personal achievement.
CM: Harry Noon (Heidelberg United)
One of the most astute signings of the season continued his midfield dominance and took over scoring responsibilities for the equaliser in the absence of many of Bergers’ forwards.
CAM: Lambros Honos (Port Melbourne)
Didn’t feature for the full 90 minutes, but his goal involvements were exceptional in his time on the pitch. Scored one of the goals of the season as well with an audacious chip over the keeper.
ST: Milos Lujic (South Melbourne)
It’s his first TOTW appearance this season, which may be surprising considering Lujic has propelled himself back on top of the scorer’s charts this season. And yet he’s gone about his business with minimal fuss, this time grabbing two against his heated rivals.
ST: Joey Katebian (Melbourne Victory)
Victory missed his presence through injury in the past few weeks of a barren, but he came roaring back this week with two goals to ensure Victory a crucial three points against fellow strugglers Pascoe Vale.
ST: Kym Harris (Hume City)
Sliced open Northcote to two goals of his own and made an overall telling contribution up front as his side came roaring back towards the top four with a comprehensive rout.
ST: Liam Boland (Green Gully)
A goal – via a sublime free kick – and two assists highlighted the nature of Green Gully’s performance – lots of contributions shared around by the team. Boland helped put his side to the sword with a clinical touch up front.
Substitutes:
Daniel Clark (Hume City)
What a cameo it was. A double off the bench from the #10 position helped heap the misery on Northcote as Clark ran riot late in the game.
Amadu Koroma (South Melbourne)
Voted by South as their man of the match, but we can’t even fit him XI such was the competition for spots this week. While the contest’s goals game in rapid succession early, it was a bit of slow burner for the fullback who found his feet after the two early goals conceded, before making his mark on the game both defensively and roaming forward.
Jeremy Walker (Hume City)
The fourth right-back to be selected in the side, Walker was dominant on his side of defence and barely allowed Northcote a sniff, denying them any opportunity of pegging back a goal.
Evan Christodoulou (Green Gully)
Also a goal to his name, Christodoulou was described as being everywhere by his coach. Constantly looking to create or get on the end of chances, he also scored himself. A 5-0 win over Oakleigh doesn’t come every day, and any other week he could have been starting.
Nick Krousoratis (Green Gully)
Another of Gully’s current deadly trio including fellow TOTW players Boland and Christodoulou, Krousoratis was also involved with a goal and assist as his side put away Oakleigh.
Jamie de Abreu (Port Melbourne)
Worked hard for Port up front to create goalscoring opportunities throughout the 90 minute, and was rewarded with a late goal himself for his efforts.
John Maclean (Melbourne Victory)
With Victory staring down the barrel of a 1-0 defeat, on came John Maclean to turn the game on its head. Involved in all the goals – scoring a rocket volley, winning a penalty and assisting Katebian – he turned the deficit into three points.
Some of the honorable mentions this week from the nominations also include: Matt Millar (South Melbourne) for two goals, Stipo Andrijasevic (Melbourne Knights) for two assists, Ryan Paczkowski (Bentleigh Greens) for his threat up front, and Andrew Mullet (Bulleen Lions) for his defensive display.