We’ve reached the penultimate round of the 2025 regular season. A season packed with surprises, thrills and matches of the highest calibre.
The situation at the top and bottom of the ladder remains extremely fluid.
At the summit, we find Avondale and Alexandros locked on 55 points apiece. But who can predict what the top of the table will look like after round 25, with two massive clashes on the cards? On Friday night, Alexandros host Oakleigh Cannons, while on Sunday afternoon, Hellas welcome Avondale.
The Friday fixture is the one stealing all the spotlight.
Alexandros find themselves at a crossroads after their setback in last Saturday’s Dockerty Cup final against Hellas. The side managed by John Anastasiadis have two paths ahead. Either they put the defeat to South Melbourne behind them and floor the accelerator in pursuit of the title, or they succumb to the raw emotions stirred by that dramatic final and sabotage their title charge so far.
There’s no third option.
The gaffer of the yellow-and-blacks isn’t expected to tinker much with his starting deck against the Cannons. He trusts his players, believes in their quality, and expects that faith to bear fruit.
The Cannons are in a more laid-back mode. Chris Taylor seems to be treating these final rounds as a sort of prep for the finals. He’s trialling faces and formations, hunting for the right setups ahead of the playoffs. It’s a given they’ll chase the win against Alexandros, which, if it comes, would serve as the perfect morale booster just before the matches that will decide this year’s champions.
Another big clash awaits in-form Hellas this week. On Sunday afternoon, the Dockerty Cup winners will host the ladder-leaders and one of the division’s top outfits, Avondale.
The hosts are in cracking form. The buffer they’ve built from the drop zone and their Cup triumph have draped the Greek Australian club in a veil of positive vibes and optimism. Against Avondale, they’ll aim to prove they’ve been hard done by not sitting in the top six. But their task won’t be easy. Far from it.
The visitors are a cracking ensemble. The numbers back it up. Avondale have notched 17 wins, four draws and just three losses in 24 matches. They boast the league’s most potent attack with 59 goals and the second-stingiest defence, conceding only 26. Let’s see if Hellas can stare them down.
The Sharks will play their final card this week when they travel to face Altona Magic. One goal: a win to pull them within touching distance of their 11th-placed opponents. But the hosts could settle for a point, which would make life even tougher for the visitors. Words are pointless and predictions useless in derbies like this. Port Melbourne must win their last two to have any hope of staying up in the NPL. In short, they’re chasing a miracle. Nothing less, nothing more.
VPL1
The quest for the top spot takes Pancyprios to North Sunshine Eagles’ ground this week. The Greens are enjoying a belter of a season. Alone at the summit, they see promotion edging closer every week. Against the Eagles, they’ll give it everything, showing heart and passion to hold onto first place. Their opponents won’t sit back with arms folded, though. Sitting fifth, they’ve got eyes on a top-six finish. That hints at the effort the north-western suburbs outfit will throw at the Greens.
Brunswick City’s Leonidas are tested away at bottom-placed Moreland City this week. The historic side are expected to go all out for the win, which would keep them in the top six if it comes.
Iraklis host Manningham United this weekend. The Northcote outfit want to squeeze every last chance of cracking the top six, so expect them to come out with real attacking intent against United.
Clarinda remain alive in the survival scrap. Con Tagkalakis’ side face Melbourne City in a match that could seal the club’s fate this season. A win for them coupled with a Manningham loss to Iraklis would rocket the Greek Australian team to 11th, clear of the doomed bottom three. Fingers crossed they pull it off.
VPL2
Pythagoras will look to keep their upward trajectory going this weekend. The Box Hill side travel to Boroondara Carey Eagles—one of the league’s weaker teams. The visitors will battle for the three points, which under the right conditions could hand them a shot at the top six.
NPL – Fixtures
Friday, 15 August
Green Gully – Preston Lions 7:30pm
Hume City – Melbourne Victory 7:30pm
Heidelberg United – Oakleigh Cannons 7:30pm
Saturday, 16 August
Altona Magic – Port Melbourne Sharks 3:15pm
Dandenong City – Melbourne Knights 4pm
Sunday, 17 August
St Albans Saints – Dandenong Thunder 5pm
South Melbourne – Avondale 5pm
NPL – Standings
Team Matches Points
1. Avondale 24 55
2. Heidelberg 24 55
3. Dandenong Thunder 24 50
4. Oakleigh Cannons 24 45
5. Preston Lions 24 41
6. Hume City 24 35
7. Dandenong City 24 34
8. Green Gully 24 31
9. South Melbourne 24 28
10. St Albans Saints 24 27
11. Altona Magic 24 21
12. Port Melbourne 24 16
13. Melbourne Victory 24 15
14. Melbourne Knights 24 15
VPL1 – Fixtures
Friday, 15 August
Eastern Lions – Bulleen Lions 7:30pm
Northcote City – Manningham United Blues 8:30pm
Saturday, 16 August
Moreland City – Brunswick City 3pm
North Sunshine Eagles – Bentleigh Greens 3pm
Melbourne Srbija – Caroline Springs George Cross
Sunday, 17 August
Melbourne City – Kingston City 3pm
Western United – Langwarrin 4pm
VPL1 – Standings
Team Matches Points
1. Bentleigh 24 52
2. Melbourne City 24 51
3. George Cross 24 51
4. Western United 24 43
5. North Sunshine 24 36
6. Brunswick 24 36
7. Melbourne Srbija 24 34
8. Bulleen Lions 24 33
9. Northcote 24 32
10. Langwarrin 24 29
11. Manningham 24 22
12. Kingston City 24 20
13. Eastern Lions 24 18
14. Moreland City 24 17
