A cracking weekend awaits footy fans in the NPL Victoria, with the Greek-Aussie community gearing up for some ripper “Hellenic” derbies that’ll have everyone on the edge of their seats.
The blockbuster clash is South Melbourne (Hellas) locking horns with Oakleigh Cannons. The two sides are in starkly different form.
South Melbourne, playing at home, are desperate for a big win to shake off the blues and look to the future with a bit more confidence. Last week, Hellas welcomed new gaffer Sinisa Cohadzic, and his arrival seems to have already sparked some life into the club.
A cup win over Bentleigh Greens finally gave the fans something to smile about. Cohadzic will be keen to build on that result, hoping to string together a run of wins to turn around the fortunes and morale of this historic club.
A scalp against the Cannons would be just the tonic for a South Melbourne side that’s had a rough season so far. But it’s no easy task. Oakleigh aren’t rocking up to Lakeside Stadium to admire the swans gliding around Albert Park Lake.
The reigning champs are stinging from last week’s loss to Heidelberg and will be hell-bent on bouncing back with a statement win over Hellas. That said, beating South Melbourne on their home patch is never a walk in the park, even when they’re struggling.
The new coach’s arrival will surely fire up the players, who’ll be itching to prove they deserve a spot in this iconic team’s line-up.
Oakleigh will need to bring their A-game if they want to head back to Jack Edwards Reserve with the three points.
The other massive showdown in Round 13 is Heidelberg United (Alexander) taking on Port Melbourne Sharks (Nea Hellas).
This one’s shaping up much like the Lakeside derby. Heidelberg are flying high, sitting pretty near the top, while Port Melbourne are languishing at the bottom of the ladder. The roles of favourite and underdog couldn’t be clearer.
Truth be told, Port Melbourne’s chances of getting anything from this match are slim. The Sharks have been copping it from all angles since the season kicked off, struggling to find the net, pick up points, or avoid being the competition’s punching bag. But this is footy—anything can happen!
Heidelberg, under boss John Anastasiadis, are in top nick, both on the pitch and mentally. Their stunning run, capped by last week’s win over Oakleigh, has the “yellow and black” buzzing with confidence as they aim to stay unbeaten through the first half of the season.
Against Port Melbourne, they’ll need to stay switched on to avoid a shock upset. Seriousness and ruthlessness—hallmarks of Anastasiadis’ side—are why Heidelberg are riding so high.
Here’s hoping both derbies deliver the spectacle their history and stature deserve. Don’t miss the action!
VPL1
The Hellenic rivalries don’t stop at the NPL.
On Friday 9 May, Northcote City (Heracles) will host Bentleigh Greens (Pancyprios) in a clash steeped in Victorian footy folklore.
The ladder positions of these two sides add extra spice—Bentleigh sit second with 25 points, while Northcote are hot on their heels in third with 22. This one’s set to be an absolute belter, with fans counting down to the ref’s first whistle.
Meanwhile, Brunswick City (Leonidas) and Kingston City (Clarinda) face tough away trips. Brunswick head to table-toppers Melbourne City, while Kingston take on Eastern Lions.
VPL2
Box Hill’s Pythagoras are desperate to get back in the winner’s circle this week. They’ll make the trek to Altona, ready to leave it all on the pitch to bag as many points as possible. With their ladder position looking shaky, every match is a must-win, and they’ll be going flat out against Altona. It remains to be seen if they can pull it off.
NPL Round 13 Schedule
Friday 9 May
Green Gully – Avondale 7.30pm
Heidelberg United v- Port Melbourne Sharks 7.30pm
Dandenong City – Melbourne Victory 7.45pm
Saturday 10 May
Altona Magic – Melbourne Knights 6.15pm
Dandenong Thunder – Preston Lions 7.00pm
Hume City – St Albans Saints 7.00pm
Sunday 11 May
South Melbourne – Oakleigh Cannons 5.00pm
NPL Standings
Avondale 12 30
Heidelberg United 12 28
Dandenong Thunder 12 26
Oakleigh Cannons 12 25
Preston Lions 12 21
Hume City 11 17
Dandenong City 12 16
Green Gully 12 15
Melbourne Victory 11 12
St Albans Saints 12 11
Melbourne Knights 12 9
South Melbourne 12 9
Altona Magic 12 8
Port Melbourne Sharks 12 7
VPL1 Round 13 Schedule
Friday 9 May
Eastern Lions – Kingston City 7.30pm
Moreland City – Manningham United Blues 8.30pm
Northcote City Bentleigh Greens 8.30pm
Saturday 10 May
North Sunshine Eagles – Langwarrin 3.00pm
Melbourne Srbija – Bulleen Lions 6.30pm
Sunday 11 May
Western United – Caroline Springs George Cross 4.00pm
Melbourne City – Brunswick City 6.00pm
VPL1 Standings
Melbourne City 12 30
Bentleigh Greens 12 25
Northcote City 12 22
Brunswick City 12 22
Western United 12 21
Caroline Springs George Cross 12 21
Bulleen Lions 11 20
Manningham United Blues 12 14
North Sunshine Eagles 12 12
Eastern Lions 12 11
Kingston City 12 10
Langwarrin 12 11
Melbourne Srbija 12 8
Moreland City 12 8
