The final West Team of the Month in 2016 factors in all of August and the one standalone game in September. Two things stood out in this period. St Albans won all five of their games, while North Geelong won four and drew one to round out the run home. Perhaps then it’s no surprise the team is dominated by the two clubs who subsequently ended up as the top two in the league. And given their defensive records in the process, it may not come as a surprise that there’s a distinct lack of attacking picks.
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GK: Kieron McDowell (Moreland City)
There’s be one game in particular that stands out in McDowell’s month – the one where he almost single-handedly kept North Geelong out at home in the one game they dropped points in during this period. That game he saved a penalty as part of his clean sheet. While City’s month was as inconsistent as much of its season, McDowell was a solid presence.
RB: Nathan Long (North Geelong Warriors)
A member of the fantastic four in North Geelong’s defence, Long was one of the key cogs of the backline that conceded the fewest amount of goals in the NPL2 overall. That solidity helped his side to the strong run that ended in second place and kept their promotion hopes still alive.
CB: Steven Cudrig (Werribee City)
A great addition to the club since his mid-season return from Hume City, Cudrig wrapped up the season in style as Werribee won its last few games. He played a leading rearguard role in these fixtures.
CB: Darren Lewis (North Geelong Warriors)
Townley often gets the plaudits but it was Darren Lewis singled out this month for a leading defensive role that led to just the solitary goal being conceded alongside four clean sheets. Monstered some of his opposing strikers.
CB: 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 cement his place as St Albans’ golden boot, which is also the same amount of goals St Albans conceded in the same period.
LB: Josh Pugh (North Geelong Warriors)
Left backs never seem to get the mention they deserve, so Pugh’s inclusion is just reward for his role in the Warriors’ backline that, as well documented in the mentions before, conceded once this month and was the most miserly in the NPL2 overall.
CM: Michael Grgic (St Albans Saints)
The midfielder, for all his good work in the engine room, also provided a couple of important goals during the month to take his season tally to six and ensure the Saints finished top of the ladder. The most crucial strike was the one against Kingston, and he added another against Bendigo City.
CM: Daniel Slovacek (St Albans Saints)
Despite turning 20 this year, Slovacek has shown immense maturity in the St Albans midfield alongside the likes of Grgic and Knight, but also providing that youthful spark that sees him cover plenty of ground and make crucial involvements to benefit his side defensively and going forward.
CAM: Michael Trigger (Ballarat Red Devils)
Another prolific month, scoring four goals to take his season tally to 14 and make him the league’s third highest scorer, which is quite remarkable given his midfield role and he doesn’t lead the line.
RF: Pat Karras (Ballarat Red Devils)
Actually the highest scorer of the month in the league on five, this tally included a hat-trick against Whittlesea Ranges in that thrashing in the penultimate round. Did when rotating between right back and the wing and finishes the season as one of the club’s best performers.
LF: Connor Metcalfe (Melbourne City)
A virtual unknown quantity before this month who wasn’t registered in City’s senior NPL squad, Metcalfe shone when given the opportunity, scoring four goals. Has shown plenty of promise in his role in attacking midfield in the absence of more senior personnel in City’s lineup.
Substitutes:
Alex Baird (St Albans Saints)
May have had a highly competent defence ahead of him, but Baird was nonetheless a beacon of solidity between the sticks, especially putting in some big saves against the likes of Sunshine George Cross and Whittlesea Ranges to complement his back four.
Chris Dib (Sunshine George Cross)
There were many near misses for Sunshine this month, with results often marginally not going their way except for the final day thriller against Melbourne City. Dib was one of the standouts during this time, putting in some dynamic showings down his flank.
Dejan Mitrovic (Ballarat Red Devils)
The Ballarat youngster, promoted from the youths, added four goals to his tally over the month, which included a hat-trick against Nunawading, taking his season tally to six – with a good sign of things to come in the future, as the run occurred late in the season.
Gerrie Sylaidos (Melbourne City)
The young winger was part of the young brigade to get an extended run towards the end of the campaign and showed his worth on the wing, putting in numerous threatening showings and also opening his account in the final week against Sunshine George Cross
Josh Sabidussi (Moreland Zebras)
The Moreland Zebras’ season didn’t reach the heights of last season, consistent in its inconsistency, the final month following in the same tone with a Scored the late winner against Whittlesea Ranges and finished off the season with a double in the Moreland derby.
Special mentions: Matt Townley (North Geelong Warriors), George Tsiakalakis, Yusei Kitade (Sunshine George Cross)