“They say when it rains, it pours,” quipped Heidelberg United coach George Katsakis after his side’s 4-0 defeat to Bentleigh Greens on Friday night.
This was certainly the case – injury-wise and on the scoreboard – for the Bergers, whose list of casualties could almost form an all-star XI.
Going into the match without the injured Kaine Sheppard, ill Griffin McMaster and both Andreas Govas and Andrew Cartanos sitting on the pine underdone with niggles going into the contest, Heidelberg’s woes were compounded by a suspected back injury to Daniel Heffernan in the 60th minute.
“It was the biggest game of the year and we just couldn’t have a full strength side,” he said.
“Andreas felt his knee last week during the Port Melbourne game, during the week he wasn’t feeling the best, our next main option was Andrew Cartanos who [also] has a niggling knee.
“Sheppard’s still a couple of weeks away.
“Heffernan, as a precaution he went to the hospital, fingers’ crossed everything’s okay with him.
It acts as a huge blow for the players, following rumours A-League club Central Coast Mariners were monitoring the form of a number of Bergers’ squad members.
The side will have little time to recover before Tuesday night’s crucial FFA Cup clash against Goulburn Valley Suns at Olympic Village, with the winner to join South Melbourne and Oakleigh Cannons in the national stage of the competition.
“We just have to regroup now before Tuesday,” he said.
“We have recovery tomorrow and training on Monday, but we still need to assess who will be available and who won’t.
“We’ll have to go back to the drawing board.
“But I see it as an opportunity for people who have missed out [during the season].
Katsakis did reserve praise for table toppers Bentleigh, who all but confirmed their status as title favourites at this point in the season with the resounding victory.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Bentleigh, because they were outstanding, to be honest.”