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NPL Victoria talking points: Preston's bad form, another South disaster, and an FPF curse?

  • Writer: Ross Papadakis
    Ross Papadakis
  • Apr 3
  • 5 min read

The 2025 NPL Victoria season delivered another action-packed weekend. Front Page Football's Ross Papadakis brings you five key takeaways from Round 8.

Front Page Football NPL Victoria

Port Melbourne celebrate their very late 3-2 win over the Preston Lions in Round 8. (Image: Brock Pearson Photography)


  1. Preston's slide continues


The cracks are starting to show for the Preston Lions. After their blistering start to the season, they've now suffered three consecutive defeats, with Port Melbourne Sharks the latest side to take advantage in a 3-2 victory on Friday night.


John Markovski's Port Melbourne entered the match needing a response after some inconsistent performances, and they delivered a composed professional display.

It took until the 57th minute for the deadlock to be broken, with Jason Romero firing Preston ahead. But the Sharks wasted no time hitting back, and when the opportunities came, they were ruthless. Nicholas Dib equalised in the 65th minute before Delarno Pharoe put them ahead five minutes later, flipping the game on its head.


Preston fought to get back into it with a goal from Jonas Markovski. But a 98th-minute strike from Thomas Alisandratos ensured the Sharks secured all three points.


The Lions' attacking quality is still evident, but the warning signs are there defensively. Three straight losses, defensive lapses creeping in, and key players missing—this period is a defining moment in their season. Meanwhile, for Port Melbourne, this win was the response they needed.



  1. Hellas keep falling


It feels like an eternity since I have mentioned South Melbourne Hellas in a positive light, and that's because it has been.


Once the envy of the NPL Victoria, a club that set the standard for excellence, South Melbourne now languishes in third-last, winless since Round 2 and struggling to find its identity. They now appear a shadow of their former selves, and their 3-1 loss to Dandenong City only deepens the question of whether Hellas' reign as a contender is ending.


Tim Atherinos gave Dandenong City the lead, opening the scoring in the 21st minute. South Melbourne received another blow when Gustav Møller was subbed off early. But his replacement, Rob Harding, made an immediate impact. Harding scored a crucial goal in first-half stoppage time, levelling the score just before the interval.


The second half saw Will Bower put City ahead again in the 60th minute with a well-taken strike. South Melbourne's defensive discipline faltered further as Brad Plant added a third goal in the 89th minute to seal the win for Dandenong City. The final blow for South Melbourne came in the 93rd minute when captain Marko Jankovic received his second yellow card and was sent off, capping off a dismal evening for the club.


South Melbourne's form is dire: they haven't won since Round 2, and the pressure is mounting. The team is in a perilous position, with Jankovic suspended for the crucial match against Altona Magic. The game is a true must-win if Hellas are to maintain hopes of turning their season around.

It may only be eight games into the new season, but the club is suddenly in an early-season fight for survival. Unless something changes quickly, South Melbourne could be staring down the barrel of a season that no one could have foreseen. The road ahead is long, and with every loss, South Melbourne's standing in the league becomes more and more precarious.

  1. Gully and FPF's NPL Victoria curse


There does seem to be a Ross Papadakis FPF curse (or blessing) within the walls of NPL Victoria. After receiving scrutiny following their 5-0 loss to Dandenong City back in Round 5, Green Gully has bounced back in style, going three matches unbeaten and securing a 2-1 away win over Melbourne Victory over the weekend.


Kasper Hallam was the star of the show. He opened the scoring early, finishing a well-worked move to put the visitors in control. But Melbourne Victory hit back, with Tommaso Minutoli equalizing, briefly shifting the momentum in the hosts' favour.


However, any hope of a share of the points was short-lived. Hallam restored Gully's lead just a minute later, delivering a decisive blow Victory never recovered from.


For a side that has faced questions over consistency, this performance was a statement from Green Gully, proving they're still a force to be reckoned with.

As for Victory's young squad, they continue to show fight, but moments like these highlight the fine margins at this level and why experience so often prevails in the NPL Victoria.



  1. Cannons notch consecutive wins


Oakleigh Cannons continued their impressive run, claiming a 3-1 victory over Dandenong Thunder. Joe Guest again played a pivotal role, scoring the Cannons' third goal in typical fashion, showing excellent timing and composure to extend his team's lead.


Alex Salmon and Ajak Deu opened the scoring for Oakleigh with goals in the first half, showcasing their attacking strength. Though Yuki Uchida pulled one back for Thunder late in the game, it wasn't enough to mount a comeback, as Oakleigh's defence held firm.


The Cannons were dominant throughout, with Guest continuing to shine, further cementing his reputation as one of the league's top performers. His quality was evident in his goal and overall movement and influence on the match. Oakleigh's controlled approach and clinical finishing proved too much for Dandenong Thunder, and the victory has left them firmly in the mix for the premiership.


Former Curzon Ashton man Guest already has seven goals this season, making him one of the standout performers in the NPL Victoria so far.

As the season progresses, Guest's consistency in front of goal will be crucial to Oakleigh's title aspirations. They sit in second, and his form continues to underline why he's one of the league's most dangerous players, in contention for this season's NPL Victoria Gold Medal.


 

READ MORE ON FPF


  1. Ali stars for Heidelberg


Heidelberg United's season started shakily, with early struggles putting them under pressure. However, they have now hit a strong run of form, securing three consecutive wins, the latest being a 3-1 victory over Altona Magic.


Jamal Ali was the hero, scoring twice in the first half—one in the 10th minute and the other in the 32nd minute. Despite Hiyori Kawaguchi's equaliser for Altona, Heidelberg didn't lose focus, with Bul Juach adding a third in the 83rd minute to seal the win.


This victory was crucial for the three points and Heidelberg's growing confidence, as they've now climbed up to third place.

The recent string of victories has shown that the team is slowly finding its rhythm. After a difficult start, they are now well-positioned. With Heidelberg's momentum growing, they will be a team to watch for the remainder of the season.


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