Plenty of attacking-minded men were amongst the nominations this week, and despite a wealth of players in the team capable of playing a striker role, none were actually nominated. Instead we have a wealth of wingers and attacking midfielders, which has resulted in a creatively formed starting XI.
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GK: Alex Pavlidis (Pascoe Vale)
A penalty save in the 1-0 win over South Melbourne was a standout moment for the Pascoe Vale ‘keeper, who’s found his form since returning to the line-up after an injury lay off. Had to deal with a lot of balls over the top in a scrappy contest, but his telling impact helped Paco grab three points and a clean sheet with 10-men.
RB: Nick Symeoy (Avondale FC)
Two goals marauding up from right-back marks a great afternoon out for Nick Symeoy, who showed his class to put the Melbourne Knights to the sword in a 3-1 win. His first was an absolute peach on his left boot.
CB: Ross Archibald (Bentleigh Greens)
The Bentleigh Greens centre-half has looked a class above this season in the NPL Victoria and once again proved his ability to keep Northcote without a sniff in his sides 5-0 win at Kingston Heath. His distribution from the back was tidy, and his reading of the play was elite, as he cut off a number of hit-and-hope deliveries.
CB: Luke Byles (Heidelberg United)
The Heidelberg skipper was once again brilliant, despite his side conceding late in a 1-0 loss to the Oakleigh Cannons. Commanding and brilliant in the air, Byles marshalled and organised his backline to distinction as an undermanned Heidelberg were kept busy in their defence.
LB: Kris Kioussis (Richmond SC)
The well-travelled fullback provided plenty of drive down the left wing for his Richmond SC side, as they grabbed an important 1-0 win over Bulleen Lions. He was brilliant in transition and helped create chances from wide positions, while also proving adept enough down his flank in a defensive sense.
CM: Nick Hegarty (Hume City)
The Englishman has been in superb form of late, correlating with Hume City’s positive results on the park. On the weekend, he had former Richmond striker Tom Cahill deployed just in front of him, which gave him added foil to dictate play from behind the forward set up. However, he was on hand to twice find the back of the net, one directly from a corner in an all-round display.
CM: Steven Topalovic (Oakleigh Cannons)
Despite getting sent off late into injury time due to a second yellow card for the night, Steven Topalovic added an extra level of protection for the Cannons in their narrow victory over Heidelberg United. Deployed in a central midfield position, the technically gifted hard-man was rarely beaten through the middle, while also capable of creating chances with his drive from midfield.
AM: Tom Cahill (Hume City)
An assist on his long-anticipated Hume City debut was almost worth the wait for Tom Cahill, who was forced into a second striker role, deployed just behind the in-form Kym Harris leading the lines for Hume City. Cahill provided a goal for Hegarty with a bullocking run down the left flank, while also netting himself in a fruitful NPL Victoria top-flight debut.
LW: Nick Krousoratis (Green Gully)
A match-winning two goals off the bench marked a fantastic performance for the Green Gully man on the right wing, who’s had to toil hard in the absence of teammate Matthew Breeze. The former Port Melbourne player is in rare form, and Arthur Papas and co. will be hoping he maintains this touch for the remainder of the season.
CF: Dusan Bosnjak (Oakleigh Cannons)
Playing in an advanced role just behind the striker, Dusan Bosnjak was another standout as his side grabbed a shock win over Heidelberg. He was creative and ultimately, he was clinical, as he took his chance to win the contest in the 80th minute, redeeming himself for an earlier saved penalty.
RW: Chris Lucas (Bentleigh Greens)
The livewire winger looked threatening all game without really having the success in front of goal he would’ve liked, until he broke through with a thunderbolt in the 85th minute. He then capped the game off with a late penalty in the big win over Northcote.
Bench:
Javier Marangos (Richmond SC)
The Richmond SC fullback can consider himself unlucky to not make the starting line-up for this round’s Team of the Week after putting in a noteworthy performance on the right flank. He showed composure at the back in just his second start in the NPL Victoria and looked dangerous when moving further forward.
Tyson Holmes (Bentleigh Greens)
Taken off just beyond the hour mark, Tyson Holmes was afforded a rest with his side comfortably in front against Northcote. Their early ascendency was thanks to Holmes who scored the opener with a rare header, while helping create the second with a pinpoint cross for Wayne Wallace. A number of delicate through balls unluckily went without reward, in an all round good team performance for Bentleigh.
Luca Santilli (Pascoe Vale)
Adjusting well to a change of formation as coach Vitale Ferrante worked overtime to mastermind a brilliant 1-0 win over South Melbourne, Santilli was tireless in his work down the right flank, working in both an attacking and defensive capacity to help make up for the man-down Paco played with for 70 minutes.
Massimo Murdocca (Avondale FC)
The former Melbourne City man was the game breaker in the second half, central to nearly all of Avondale’s attacking forays which resulted in a 3-1 win against the Knights. Opposition goalscorer Jason Hicks was also a standout in that contest, despite the loss.
Evan Christodoulou (Green Gully)
With Liam Boland also grabbing a goal and two assists, it seems to be the same three usual suspects for Gully who are performing above and beyond in the attacking third. Playing in an attacking midfield role, Christodoulou was central to the Cavaliers’ comeback against Melbourne Victory. Won the free-kick that Boland beautifully dispatched.
Alex Caniglia (Richmond SC)
The Richmond winger becomes the second player from the club to make the starting XI after putting in another bright display across both wings. Caniglia was a threat with the ball at feet throughout, and proved a hard player to mark for the Bulleen Lions defence. He created a number of chances, but finished the one that counted as he scored the only goal of the contest to earn his side three points.