GK: Griffin McMaster (Northcote City)
The veteran just keeps getting the job done for Northcote. The commanding and confident presence of McMaster has led to three clean sheets in an unbeaten month. Scenes.
RB: Daniel Petrov (Moreland Zebras)
He was our team of the season right-back choice last year and Petrov was again solid for the Zebras in April, helping his side up to second on the ladder. Also found the back of the net most recently in a big win over Richmond.
CB: Matthew Whatley (Northcote)
The Welsh defender continues his outstanding form for Northcote and has been one of the revelations of the season. Also found the back of the net in round 9 and 12 victories over Werribee and Murray.
CB: David King (Ballarat City)
Despite a tough start to the season, April was month which yielded four wins and four clean sheets for Ballarat City. King’s been solid at the heart of defence – the one game he didn’t play Ballarat ended up losing.
CB: Mile Medjedovic (Moreland Zebras)
The Zebras have come close to promotion in recent years and they’re making another tilt at the top in 2017, currently in that half spot with a game in hand after a month that saw just one defeat. Defensively, Medjedovic has been a leader that has led by example in defence with a number of courageous performances.
LB: George Tsiakalakis (Sunshine George Cross)
Despite the Georgies conceding nine goals this month, Tsiakalakis been individually solid as a rock all season for Sunshine and also throughout April. On the left side of central defence he’s been committing strong challenges and been strong in the air.
CM: Josh Knight (Northcote)
The talisman in Northcote’s midfield continues to dominate the opposition, scoring for fun like a striker to lead his side’s scoring charts. Had a hat-trick in Round 8 against Eastern Lions and also netted against the Zebras and Murray United.
CM: Michael Trigger (Ballarat City)
Richmond, Sunshine and Bendigo all felt Trigger’s wrath in April, netting a brace, a single, and five against the latter to momentarily lead the west’s top scorers. Sealed himself a move to Heidelberg subsequently, despite a red card ruling him out of the last game of the month.
ST: Pierce Waring (Melbourne Victory)
A much improved month for the forward, who found the back of the net in each game in April, including a double most recently against Eastern Lions. Capped off a good month by receiving the 2016/17 National Youth League Top Goal Scorer award at the Dolan Warren Awards.
ST: Trent Rixon (Moreland City)
The phrase ‘turning back the clock’ has been used once or twice to describe the veteran’s form in April. Such has been his form, in fact, that his four goals have taken him to eight for the year, already surpassing his yearly tally in 2016 to keep Moreland City in the promotion hunt.
ST: Thomas Barforosh (Whittlesea Ranges)
Five goals – against Melbourne City, Moreland Zebras, Goulburn Valley Suns x2, and Dandenong Thunder – has solidified Barforosh’s breakout season at Whittlesea in the forward line and is becoming a reliable attacking outlet for Vinko Buljubasic’s side.
Bench:
Josh Dorron (Ballarat City)
The two-metre figure of Dorron is imposing, but more importantly his performances contributed to the four wins and four cleans in Ballarat’s month of revival, a solid return for a player who has done well since arriving from the Northern Territory.
Aaron Turner (Northcote City)
Has been a handy deputy to the more freescoring Knight in the Northcote midfield, doing lots of tireless work around the park and getting the job done week-in week-out for Zeljko Kuzman’s side.
Mario Piraino (Whittlesea Ranges)
Quite a prolific month for the midfielder, who netted in four games – against Melbourne City, Moreland City, Dandenong Thunder and Goulburn Valley Suns – to take his season tally to five and make quite an impression for Vinko Buljubasic’s side.
Nic Niagioran (Moreland Zebras)
Goals haven’t always been easy to come by for the big forward but his athleticism and ability to create space makes him a handy addition to Fausto De Amicis’ lineup and has worked well in the Zebras’ front third.
Cameron McGilp (Melbourne Victory)
In a season that’s seen the midfielder given a shot in the A-League with the senior side, his NPL form has also been consolidated in April, an undefeated month for Victory. Netted against Dandenong Thunder and Nunawading City as his stocks continue to rise.
Adrian Logozzo (Sunshine George Cross)
Logozzo was instrumental in Sunshine’s wins over Brunswick and Eastern Lions. Pinpoint passing and making space was imperative to Sunshine picking points up this month. If he continues to improve he could be a consistent starter in Tony Ciantar’s side.