You know how it goes. Have a team of the week almost compiled and then the infamous Round 3 standalone midweek game kicks in. Luckily for Hume City it worked in their favour, with their 4-3 and 5-0 results almost warranting a Hume XI team of the week. Alas, that wouldn’t be fair on the other teams’ efforts over the weekend, so here is your Round 5 team of the week, whose nominations from around the grounds may have led to the most unbalanced formation ever:
GK: Stjepan Gal (Port Melbourne)
He may have conceded two goals, but Gal’s second Team of the Week spot so far this season was down to three great saves to prevent Northcote scoring a few more, including an almost sure fire tap in.
CB: Steven Pace (Heidelberg United)
Pace’s quality shone against Avondale, as he was both solid in defence to restrict opposition opportunities on goal, whilst also getting forward as well. A good all-round performance from the veteran.
CB: Petar Franjic (Hume City)
Bundling over the winning goal one game, and keeping a clean sheet the next, rounds out a pretty sweet week for ex-Victory man Petar Franjic. Whilst teammate Rexhepi was also deserving for a goal and clean sheet over two games, we’ve gone with the impact of the Franjic’s late dramatics.
CB: Carl Recchia (Pascoe Vale)
In perhaps an overlooked result this weekend, Pascoe Vale notched their first win of the season while consigning Oakleigh to the bottom of the table. While the Cannons weren’t at their best, take nothing away from Paco’s defensive effort – led by Recchia – that restricted Oakleigh to only a few chances on goal.
CM: Tomislav Uskok (Melbourne Knights)
The club captain, cult hero and social media favourite has a knack of scoring late winners, so it’s no wonder Uskok makes another Team of the Week. He was at it again in the victory over Dandenong Thunder, which, after a mostly cagey 90 minutes, sprung to life not long before the end. The game needed a hero and who else but Uskok to pop up and force home the decisive goal.
CM: Matthew Theodore (South Melbourne)
The former Thunder midfielder returned to South’s starting eleven after a lengthy absence from midfield and was instrumental in South’s second half comeback. His hard work and efficiency earned him a full 90 minute role by Chris Taylor, when perhaps he may have been touted for 60 or so minutes.
AM: Tyson Holmes (Bentleigh Greens)
Holmes looked like a man on a mission against his old club and was at the heart of everything good Bentleigh produced in a dominant first half performance. He was involved in the superb team move that led to Thurtell’s opener before a fantastic through ball from the ex-South man set up Lucas for the second.
AM: Marcus Schroen (Hume City)
Schroen’s midweek performance, scoring a brace against Northcote, earns him a spot in the side. The first goal was an opportunistic scrap in the box, while the second was a neat finish from Mbarga’s delivery. That all happened within the opening 25 minutes to effectively kill off the contest early.
RF: Nick Hegarty (Hume City)
Forgive us Mr. Hegarty for sticking you on the right instead of the left. Think of it as a vote of confidence that you’d do a good job anywhere, such is your versatility. Hegarty contributed with a quickfire brace against Northcote after half time, firing in one from close range and slotting a penalty minutes later.
CF: Jai Ingham (Hume City)
Jai Ingham is one of those Queenslanders coming to Victoria and performing very admirably. A total of three goals in two games this week has him in the XI, highlighting his ability to pop up in the right place at the right time and finishing well.
LF: Robert Zadworny (North Geelong Warriors)
The North Geelong Warriors can be grateful for Zadworny’s contribution so far this season, scoring with his feet and his head – despite not being overly tall – to lead the goalscorers chart. Unfortunately, his brace wasn’t enough to help the Warriors to victory, who were pipped at the post by Hume.
BENCH:
Kaine Sheppard (Heidelberg United)
All that was missing was that elusive goal. Sheppard could’ve scored on multiple occasions and was causing the avondale defence problems all match.
Calvin Mbarga (Hume City)
Like Sheppard, the Cameroonian may not have featured on the scoresheet, but while a goal eluded him, he was selflessly involved in the lead-ups to goals against both North Geelong and Northcote, where his strength, physicality and vision troubled opposition defences.
Joseph Youssef (Pascoe Vale)
Was busy all night in the attacking third against Oakleigh, doing his utmost to unlock their defence. Did that with a ball that Jake Nakic – also worthy of a Team of the Week shout – got on the end of, propelling his side to their first victory of the season.
Jordan Wilkes (Northcote City)
Made several goal saving tackles and clearances to deny a Port Melbourne desperately seeking an equaliser. Was absolved from Northcote’s next performance by starting on the bench, so he still features in this week’s Team of the Week.
Chris Cristaldo (Werribee City)
Werribee City have been a much improved side on last year, holding their own against the comp’s top teams. Once again nabbed a hard-fought draw, this time against Green Gully, when Cristaldo – an important part of Werribee’s resurgence – went on a nice run and scored the equaliser.
Graphic: Commissioner Sean Ellicott