It’s been yet another year of the exhilarating sport of football.
Sure, it may not be the most popular sport in Australia and the stadiums may not be the most modern, but that doesn’t stop its passionate fans.
Despite the lack of big-name influencers and the fact that the Grand Final is not a national holiday… football still occupies a tremendous amount of people’s hearts all over Australia.
It is a testament to the joy and camaraderie the game brings to its devoted followers.
The love for football is deeply ingrained, like a tattoo on the soul. Small, antiquated stadiums come alive with a cacophony of voices and colours on weekends.
It’s a weekly gathering of people from all walks of life, united by their love for the beautiful game.
Football, and the NPL leagues in particular, play a vital role in the various communities that make up the wonderful jigsaw puzzle of our society.
The Greek community is particularly passionate about football – the “blue and white” stadiums are alive with fans of all ages, delicious canteens and historic clubs.
So, how did the teams representing the Greek community fare this year? Let’s find out.
Last year, five Greek clubs participated in the top division of the National Premier League.
South Melbourne
South Melbourne battled their way to the Grand Final, where they were ultimately defeated by Avondale, the season’s big stars.
Hellas a successful year, their renowned competitive style was met with great opposition by both rivals and allies, and they ended the season in second place.
To make it to the Grand Final at Olympic Park, they had to surmount the challenge of the powerful Cannons.
The South Melbourne management is currently searching internally to make bold changes for the next season.
Fans of the team have expressed their wishes on social media, and it looks like their calls will be answered.
The Lakeside Stadium locker room is expected to have a new boss and many new faces.
We will be here to keep you updated on all the latest news concerning your beloved club.
Oakleigh Cannons
Many league insiders were left speechless when Melbourne’s blue and white district team, one of the strongest favourites to win the title, was eliminated in the semi-finals.
Despite the team’s loss, the strong board, with its depth of football knowledge in key areas, and the masterfully led football department by the experienced Chris Taylor, is not expected to change.
The burden of finding 4 or 5 footballers who will add quality to the already extremely strong roster falls on John Ioannou in this year’s off-season, as the people around the club have confidence in the coach and the existing roster.
Port Melbourne Sharks
The Port Melbourne Sharks had a fin-tastic year, swimming their way to the quarter finals and playing some beautiful football along the way.
Unfortunately, their dream was sunk by the Melbourne Knights, but Adam Piddick managed to keep his place on the Sharks bench after presenting a quality team throughout the season.
With some new talent and a lot of hard work, the Sharks are sure to be a force to be reckoned with next season!
Heidelberg United
Alexandros started the year off sluggishly, but eventually managed to find their footing in the field, leading them to the quarter-finals of the Australian Cup, where they were eliminated by the Melbourne Knights.
Heidelberg United, managed by the experienced coach George Katsakis, finished the year in ninth place in the table.
United’s boss is now looking to build a squad ready to take the next step, as they have the outstanding footballers and know the recipe for success.
It remains to be seen if they can find a way to return Alexandros to the top of Victorian football.
The will is there, and the hard work is a given; let’s wait and see if the yellow and black can push their club to the next level and become one of the favourites to win the title.
Bentleigh Greens
It was a season to forget for Bentleigh Greens.
The “Cypriot” club failed to escape the consequences of their poor performance, finishing in the second-last spot of the standings and heading to NPL2.
The “Greens” changed their coach in the early months of the season, replacing Petr Tichy with the up-and-coming Riccardo Marchioli.
The team’s new boss had faith in a set of players he didn’t build himself, and tried to pass on a completely new way of playing – a decision that unfortunately cost the team points.
The footballers looked lost on the pitch, unable to compete against even the weakest opponents in the division – a far cry from what we were used to from the “Cypriot” team in previous seasons.
David Roy Chick has taken on the daunting task of getting the historic club back on track. Our sources say that the experienced coach, with a presence at Dandenong Thunder, Pascoe Vale and Hume City, has already started work, fully aware of the weight of his position and the importance of Bentleigh Greens to the community.
With this in mind, he is creating a team with one goal in mind: returning to the top level.