We’ve hit the eighth round of the new season and the league table is starting to paint a very interesting picture. Our Hellenic clubs are serving up a mixed bag so far, some dazzling performances, some downright stinkers, and a few just plain average outings. It’s a rollercoaster ride that’s reflected in their positions on the ladder.
If you take a good look at the numbers, you can see the story of each team’s journey so far.
This week, the Cannons are hosting a real quality side. Dandenong Thunder.
They’re sitting second and will be fighting tooth and nail to nick something from this match. The ‘Rossoneri’ are a tough nut to crack, fiercely competitive and utterly unpredictable.
The home side will need to replicate their performance from last week when they escaped ‘hell’ at Preston with all three points. Kick-off is Friday night at 8.15pm, so get down there and cheer them on.
Heidelberg, on the other hand, look to have a slightly easier task against Altona Magic. John Anastasiadis’ ‘Yellow and Black Warriors’ are in top form. They’re gelling on the pitch with every game, playing some seriously attractive football. But let’s be real, pretty football doesn’t win you titles. It’s those hard-fought wins and points that lead a club to the promised land. United seem to have the whole package. And let’s be honest, a match against Altona Magic shouldn’t be keeping them up at night.
If Heidelberg’s strikers can start converting those chances, they’ll be in for a comfortable evening, free from any late drama. Finishing is an area they need to sharpen up. They’re creating a ton of opportunities but not burying them, and that’s a habit that could bite them later on.
Either way, a bit of focus and professionalism should be enough to see Anastasiadis’ boys through to victory. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all unfolds on the pitch.
Hellas has a golden opportunity this week to grab some much-needed points and start looking up the ladder. South Melbourne welcomes Dandenong City in a match that feels like a do-or-die clash for the home side. It might sound a bit dramatic considering it’s still early in the season, but let’s be real, it’s not. Plain and simple.
The need for points and a change in atmosphere at the Greek Australian club is critical. The murmurs are getting louder, the faces longer, and the grumbling is reaching fever pitch. A win against Dandenong City would be like a soothing balm for Hellas. It would give the coaching staff time and space to plan for the rest of the season, and most importantly, bring back the smiles to Lakeside Stadium.
On the team news front, Esteban Quintas isn’t facing any major injury headaches and is expected to field a similar eleven to the one that faced Hume last week. He was happy with their effort, believing the draw was down to bad luck and some dodgy refereeing decisions against his team.
The match against Dandenong City is scheduled for Monday night at 7.30pm.
Sharks are desperately trying to escape the nightmare they’ve been living since the start of the season. But they’re coming up short.
Rock bottom of the table is their current address, and they need to completely turn things around if they don’t want to be playing in VPL1 next year. Nea Hellas has only managed to score a measly 2 goals in seven games. And you don’t want to know how many they’ve conceded… but I’ll tell you, a whopping 17!
They look like a team that’s been abandoned, and against Preston, we’ll need a miracle to avoid another loss for the Greek Australian side. Easter, the season of miracles, is approaching, who knows, maybe we’ll see one happen at Port Melbourne.
VPL1
The mighty Bentleigh Greens are looking to keep their spot at the summit this week. But they’re in for a proper scrap. Coach Katsakis’ boys are heading away to one of the toughest grounds in the division, the Lions’ den at Bulleen. It’s a tricky and dangerous mission for the ‘Greens’, but definitely not impossible. Especially when you look at the form the Greens are in.
Leonidas are hosting North Sunshine Eagles this week. The Brunswick boys are keen to stay as high up the ladder as possible, and to do that, they need to put teams like the ‘Eagles’ to bed early. If things go their way, three points could see the Greek Australian side climb as high as third spot. That’s a massive incentive to go for the win! The match is set for Friday night at 8pm.
Just below Leonidas in the standings are Clarinda and Hercules. The ‘Reds’ are welcoming Manningham United on Monday night. Only three points separate these two sides, adding a real ‘derby’ spice to the clash. The visitors are a capable bunch, so Kingston’s players will need to show serious focus, concentration, and guts to grab the three points and stay in the top half of the table.
Hercules faces an even tougher challenge, heading away to George Cross. The home side is a serious outfit, sitting fifth and eyeing promotion. They’ll be going all out for the win against Northcote City. The visitors need to be tight at the back, keep a clean sheet, and then hope to nick a goal or two from the few chances they get. It won’t be easy, but big teams live for these moments, and it’s in these matches that players show their true metal.
VPL2
Pythagoras has a golden opportunity this weekend to keep their winning streak going and climb even higher up the ladder. Box Hill are hosting a struggling Werribee side, a match that’s definitely within reach for our Greek Australian boys. A win would see them stay firmly in the top six, keeping them within touching distance of the top spot. Let’s hope they get the job done! Kick-off is Friday night at 7:30 pm, so get down there and show your support!
NPL – Schedule
Friday March 28
Heidelberg United – Altona Magic 7.30pm
Port Melbourne – Preston Lions 8.15pm
Oakleigh Cannons – Dandenong Thunder 8.15pm
Saturday March 29
Avondale – Hume City 3pm
Melbourne Victory – Green Gully 4pm
Sunday March 30
Melbourne Knights – St Albans Saints 3pm
Monday March 31
South Melbourne – Dandenong City 7.30pm
NPL – Standings
1. Avondale 7 18
2. Dand Thunder 7 16
3. Oakleigh Cannons 7 13
4. Heidelberg Utd 7 13
5. Preston Lions 7 11
6. Hume City 7 11
7. St. Albans 7 10
8. Mel Victory NPL 7 8
9. South Melbourne 7 8
10. Dand City 7 7
11. Altona Magic 7 5
12. Green Gully 7 6
13. Melb Knights 7 6
14. Port Melb Sharks 7 3
VPL1 – Schedule
Friday March 28
Brunswick City – North Sunshine Eagles 8pm
Moreland City – Langwarrin 8.30pm
Saturday March 29
Caroline Springs George Cross – Northcote City 6pm
Melbourne Serbjia – Eastern Lions 6.30pm
Sunday March 30
Western United – Melbourne City 4pm
Monday March 31
Kingston City – Manningham United 7.30pm
Bulleen Lions – Bentleigh Greens 8.30pm
VPL1 – Standings
1. Bentl Greens 7 18
2. Melb City 7 15
3. Western Utd 7 14
4. Bulleen Lions 7 13
5. Carol Springs 7 12
6. Brunswick City 7 12
7. Kingston 7 10
8. Northcote 7 9
9. Manningham 7 8
10. North Sunshine 7 7
11. Melbourne SRBIJA 7 5
12. Moreland 7 5
13. Langwarrin 7 4
14. Eastern Lions 7 2
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