The 2025 Dockerty Cup final is upon us, and it’s shaping up to be an absolute belter. Two of Victoria’s—and indeed Australia’s—most storied Greek Australian clubs, Heidelberg United and South Melbourne, will lock horns in a clash for the ages. This marks only the second time in the competition’s history that these two heavyweights will face off in the final. The first was way back in 1993, when South Melbourne hoisted the prestigious trophy aloft in Melbourne’s sky, thrashing the yellow-and-black 6-2 in a one-sided affair.
South Melbourne are no strangers to Dockerty Cup glory. The club has reached the final a staggering 13 times, clinching the silverware on nine occasions. They’re one of the most decorated sides in the competition’s history, and their pedigree speaks for itself. Heidelberg United, or Alexandros to their faithful, have been to the final four times but have only tasted victory once—in 2017, when they edged out Pancyprios 5-4 in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Both sides entered the Dockerty Cup fray in the fourth round and had to battle through some proper tough opponents to book their spot in the final. Heidelberg United dispatched St Albans Saints, Hampton East Brighton, Clifton Hill, Northcote City, and Nunawading with grit and flair. South Melbourne, meanwhile, muscled past Eastern Lions, Bentleigh Greens, Pascoe Vale, Dandenong City, and Avondale to earn their shot at glory.
The blockbuster final will take place at the home of the Matildas in Bundoora, with the first whistle set for 4pm on Saturday 9 August.
Below, you can dive into the rich history of the Dockerty Cup finals, from its inaugural clash in 1909 to last year’s nail-biting penalty shootout between South Melbourne and Oakleigh Cannons.
Dockerty Cup Finals History
Season Winning Team Runner-Up Score
1909 Carlton United St Kilda 2-1
1910 Carlton United Prahran 1-0
1911 St Kilda Williamstown 4-2
1912 Williamstown-Yarraville Wonthaggi Rangers 3-0
1913 Yarraville St Kilda 4-3
1914 Melbourne Thistle Northumberland & Durham 0-0
1915 Melbourne Thistle Albert Park 2-0 (replay)
1916-1918 No competition
1919 Footscray Thistle Windsor 2-0
1920 Cup final abandoned
1921 Northumberland & Durham HMAS Submarine Depot 2-0 (replay)
1922 Albert Park Windsor 3-2
1923 St Kilda Preston 1-0
1924 Naval Depot Footscray Thistle 1-0
1925 Melbourne Thistle Preston 3-1
1926 Naval Depot St Kilda 4-3
1927 Footscray Thistle Naval Depot 5-2
1928 Naval Depot Wonthaggi Magpies 6-0
1929 Footscray Thistle St Kilda 3-2
1930 Footscray Thistle Royal Caledonians 3-2
1931 Wonthaggi Magpies Brunswick 1-0 (replay)
1932 Footscray Thistle Melbourne Thistle 2-1 (replay)
1933 Brighton St Kilda 4-3
1934 Royal Caledonians Hakoah 3-2 (replay)
1935 Hakoah Royal Caledonians 4-3
1936 Royal Caledonians Footscray Thistle 5-2
1937 Brighton Prahran 3-1
1938 Nobels Hakoah 3-2 (replay)
1939 Nobels Prahran 6-1
1940 Nobels South Yarra 5-1
1941 Moreland Prahran 1-0
1942 Prahran Moreland-Hakoah 3-0
1943 Brighton Moreland-Hakoah 3-2 (replay)
1944 Brighton R.A.A.F. Laverton 3-0
1945 Moreland-Hakoah Box Hill 6-1
1946 Prahran Moreland 3-2
1947 South Yarra Park Rangers 2-1
1948 Park Rangers South Yarra 4-3
1949 Park Rangers South Yarra 2-1
1950 Moreland Box Hill 2-0
1951 J.U.S.T. Brighton 1-0
1952 Brighton Juventus 5-0
1953 Hakoah Brighton 2-1
1954 Hakoah Footscray City 7-1
1955 Hakoah Polonia 2-0 (replay)
1956 Hakoah Brighton 2-0
1957 Moreland Juventus 2-1
1958 Wilhelmina Juventus 3-0 (replay)
1959 George Cross Hakoah 3-1 (replay)
1960 Juventus Hakoah 3-1
1961 Polonia George Cross 4-2
1962 George Cross Hakoah 3-0
1963 J.U.S.T. Polonia 4-2
1964 Slavia J.U.S.T. 1-0
1965 Slavia Croatia 1-0
1966 Hakoah Slavia 4-2
1967 Port Melbourne Slavia South Melbourne Hellas 4-0
1968 Croatia South Melbourne Hellas 1-0 (replay)
1969 Croatia Juventus 3-1
1970 Juventus South Melbourne Hellas 2-0
1971 Juventus Footscray J.U.S.T. 2-0
1972 Juventus George Cross 2-1 (replay)
1973 Hakoah-St Kilda Fitzroy United Alexander 1-0
1974 South Melbourne Hellas Ringwood City Wilhelmina 4-1
1975 South Melbourne Hellas Sunshine City 2-1
1976 Footscray J.U.S.T. Maribyrnong Polonia 2-0
1977 Juventus Essendon Lions 0-0 (0-0 extra time) 5-4p
1978 George Cross Ringwood City 3-2
1979 Essendon Croatia Frankston City 1-1 (2-1 extra time)
1980 Essendon Croatia Brunswick Juventus 7-0
1981 Green Gully Sunshine City 2-0
1982 Green Gully Melbourne Croatia 3-1
1983 Melbourne Croatia Box Hill 4-0
1984 Fawkner Maribyrnong Polonia 3-2
1985 Melbourne Croatia Preston Makedonia 2-0
1986 Green Gully Preston Makedonia 2-1
1987 Brunswick Juventus Heidelberg United 3-1
1988 South Melbourne Hellas Melbourne Croatia On protest
1989 South Melbourne Hellas Altona Gate 1-0
1990 Melbourne Croatia Brunswick Juventus 3-1
1991 South Melbourne Hellas Sunshine George Cross 3-2
1992 Preston Makedonia South Melbourne 1-1 (1-1 extra time) 4-2p
1993 South Melbourne Heidelberg United 6-2
1994 Morwell Falcons Melbourne Zebras 2-1
1995 South Melbourne Melbourne Knights 3-1
1996 Melbourne Knights Altona Magic 4-2
1997-2003 No competition
2004 Green Gully Fawkner 1-0
2005-2010 No competition
2011 Northcote City Melbourne Knights 2-0
2012 Dandenong Thunder Port Melbourne 0-0 (0-0 extra time) 5-4p
2013 Green Gully Dandenong Thunder 3-1
2014 Melbourne Knights South Springvale 1-0
2015 South Melbourne Oakleigh Cannons 3-0
2016 Bentleigh Greens Green Gully 0-0 (1-0 extra time)
2017 Heidelberg United Bentleigh Greens 1-1 (1-1 extra time) 5-4p
2018 Bentleigh Greens Heidelberg United 2-0
2019 Hume City Melbourne Knights 1-0
2020 Competition abandoned
2021 Avondale Hume City 1-0
2022 Bentleigh Greens Oakleigh Cannons 2-1
2023 Oakleigh Cannons Heidelberg United 3-0
2024 South Melbourne Oakleigh Cannons 0-0 (0-0 extra time) 5-4p
