GK: Nikola Roganovic (South Melbourne)
Melbourne Knights’ finishing may have led to their downfall at times but it was also Roganovic, returning to the starting XI, who proved a point with a mammoth effort between the sticks to keep out his opposition’s shots and keep a clean sheet.
CB: Will Abbott (Bulleen Lions)
Showed leadership at the back against the dangerous duo of McIlroy and Iaconis, helping keep chances to a minimum, and helped his side survive a late barrage after Bulleen went down to 10 men, despite the latter eventually finding the scoresheet.
CB: Bryan Bran (Hume City)
Facing Heidelberg on the road is no easy task but Bran was immense from the outset, keeping Heidelberg’s chances to a minimum, characterised by Kenny Athiu going goalless.
CB: Daniel Jones (Green Gully)
The experienced Gully man put in his usual reliable defensive performance – including after his side went down to 10 men – to keep St Albans at bay, but his distribution also proved dangerous from the back.
CM: Alan Kearney (Port Melbourne Sharks)
The experienced campaigner was cool under pressure and played a big part in Port Melbourne’s win over Bentleigh, putting in a gritty performance in midfield to halt the Green’s advances.
CM: Wayne Wallace (Hume City)
In a class of his own throughout the 90, dominant in midfield and winning plenty of the ball, with his performance capped off by scoring the winning goal.
RAM: Jordan Templin (Bulleen Lions)
The attacker led his side to a vital victory with a couple of well-taken goals – including a header as one of the shorter players on the pitch – in an enthusiastic performance in Bulleen’s attack.
CAM: Kristian Trajceski (Avondale FC)
The substitution of Trajceski was a masterstroke as he came off the bench and sliced Pascoe Vale open with two assists to Craig Carley to help turn Avondale’s deficit into a win.
LAM: Nate Foster (Oakleigh Cannons)
A busy performance from Foster who, while not getting on the end of many chances, was creating them for teammates. Was involved in the build-up to his side’s goal for the game.
ST: Craig Carley (Avondale FC)
Carley’s match-winning double took his season tally to three. But most importantly the two headed goals sealed an important come-from-behind win over top-four rivals Pascoe Vale to propel Avondale back to the top of the ladder.
ST: Oleksiy Khrapko (Port Melbourne Sharks)
The Ukrainian striker has enjoyed a productive season at JL Murphy Reserve and added a fifth goal of the campaign against Bentleigh Greens – the all-important go-ahead goal – while also helping cap off proceedings with his pass leading to the third.
Bench:
Marko Stevanja (North Geelong Warriors)
Could do very little to deny Oakleigh’s first goal, however his saves throughout the rest of the contest were one of the reasons that North Geelong were able to come away with a point against the Cannons.
Michael McGowan (Port Melbourne Sharks)
Had to show plenty of fortitude and resolve to keep Bentleigh Greens at bay with some important involvements in the last line of defence.
Steve Hatzikostas (Green Gully)
The former South Melbourne man has made some telling contributions at Gully already, and this week he had to play in a makeshift left-back position but did well in that role to restrict his opponents’ opportunities and contribute to the clean sheet.
Luke Adams (South Melbourne)
While Roganovic was the standout in goals, Adams makes our bench having done his international call-up prospects no harm with a reliable showing for South Melbourne alongside Kiwi compatriot Michael Eagar at centre-back.
Joey Monek (St Albans Saints)
It hasn’t been easy with the amount of injuries in St Albans’ squad but Monek cut one of the more consistent figures in his side’s fixture against Green Gully, working tirelessly on the wing to create chances and also help out defensively, earning St Albans’ best on ground.