With the final ‘month’ in both NPL2 East and West counting all four August games and the final September fixture, we’ve allowed a spot for one more player in the vote due to not being able to cut the final list down to five. And for once in the season there’s as big a spread of defenders in the nominations as forwards and midfielders, with some clubs’ runs in the home stretch characterised by a solid rearguard.
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Philip Ajao (Eastern Lions)
Dandenong Thunder in particular will be haunted this season by Ajao’s impact in the final month of the season. Having come into August with only one goal (on the opening day) this term, he quickly tripled his tally with lone strikes against the two Moreland sides. A standout performance against the Thunder saw the Nigerian-born forward net a first half hat-trick to have an instrumental say in the automatic promotion race.
Kobbie Boahene (Box Hill United)
Box Hill will look back on the 2016 campaign as one of inconsistency, picking up some big wins on the back of disappointing defeats, which wasn’t enough to keep them in touch with the leading pack. The club’s form of the final month followed a similar tone. But one shining light was Boahene. Shifted into an unfamiliar right-back role, the former Melbourne Victory youth excelled in the position both defensively and in attack, where his contribution has not gone without notice.
Zdenek Koukal (Kingston City)
Kingston’s rise to the top of the East was made more remarkable given the squad consisted mostly of players who featured in the state’s lower leagues most of their careers or players deemed not suitable for the top flight – yet they proved many wrong. However, they were ably assisted in the middle of the park by a touch of the class from the former Czech youth international Koukal, whose experience and calm under pressure thrived in the cutthroat final month. Crucial winners against Sunshine and Goulburn were sandwiched in between a memorable brace away to Thunder in the 4-3 thriller at George Andrews Reserve.
Darren Lewis (North Geelong Warriors)
The stats say it all. North Geelong had conceded only once in the final month, and the fewest in the league overall for the season. Whereas strikers often get the plaudits, not so in this case as the backline was praised in equal measure at the club this month. Lewis was singled for a leading defensive role that led to four clean sheets and allowed the club’s forwards to do the job at the other end. Monstered some of his opposing strikers.
Ryan McGuffie (St Albans Saints)
Gets the usual plaudits for his performances but perhaps it’s no surprise given the figures – this month he scored twice to remarkably cement his place as St Albans’ golden boot. Those two goals he scored also matched the same amount of goals St Albans conceded in the same period, which is also quite an incredible stat in itself. Given his history as a midfielder as well, McGuffie’s penchant for goals as a centre-back may be less of a surprise, but his all-round contribution this month (and season) is no doubt a key contributor to the club’s overall promotion.
Michael Trigger (Ballarat Red Devils)
Another prolific month, scoring four goals to take his season tally to 14 and make him the West’s third highest scorer, which is quite remarkable given his midfield role and the fact he doesn’t lead the line. Has often been described as a class above in NPL2, which is why it comes as no surprise that Hume City pursued him in the off-season. As capable a provider for teammates as he is in getting on the end of an opportunity himself.
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