Victorian football in mourning after star’s death

The Victorian football community is grieving following the death of a Heidelberg United and Eltham Redbacks great, just six months after her twin brother also died in tragic circumstances.

Keely Lockhart in action for Heidelberg United. Picture: HUFC

The Victorian football community is mourning the death of star Heidelberg United forward and Victorian representative Keely Lockhart.

A member of the Warriors’ championship-winning side last season, scoring in the grand final victory over Preston Lions, Lockhart died on Sunday morning, just six months after the death of her twin brother Connor.

Their father Cameron wrote about the double tragedy for the family.

“We are absolutely devastated losing Keely six months after losing her twin brother, both to the curse of mental health,” he said on Heidelberg United’s Facebook post.

“Losing her twin, Connor, was just too much for her as her heart was so big and full of love.”

Keely was a rising star and blossomed into one of the state’s most dangerous strikers.

A two-time State League premiership winner with Eltham Redbacks, winning the State League 1 and 2 competition best-and-fairests and Golden Boot in each year.

She led Bulleen Lions to an under-18 title and was a NPL Under-19 champion at Heidelberg United before helping the senior team to victory last year.

It earned her Victoria representative honours against Queensland.

Lockhart’s toughness was on display earlier this year when, in a Nike Cup semi-final against South Melbourne, she played on after suffering a chipped pelvis.

The injury came in a collision with the Hellas keeper in the opening minutes of the game but she played on and scored a first-half double before collapsing after the game and going to hospital.

In announcing her death, Heidelberg United said Lockhart had become a legend of the club with her exploits on and off the field.

“The club is heartbroken by this loss. Keely Lockhart became an indispensable member of the Heidelberg family as both a formidable striker in our women’s team and as a coach in our community girls’ program,” the club statement said.

“Keely had a profound impact on all our lives, both on and off the field. She was a mentor, a leader and a friend to each of us.

“Keely always put everyone around her first, always checking in with every player, parent and club member and she was frequently on the sidelines at junior girls matches cheering on and encouraging the players.

“She was a true Heidelberg Warrior and put everything on the line week in week out for her team, her teammates and the club.”

Lockhart came through the ranks at Eltham, where her father was one of the club’s longest serving presidents.

All five Lockhart siblings represented the club and it was only a matter of time before Keely’s class saw her move onto bigger things.

“Whilst her playing journey took her to the heights of Victorian football, Keely remained a passionate Redback and was a coach in our junior program up until 2023,” a club statement said.

“Our club and our players were so happy to have a coach of her calibre and warmth imparting her knowledge to the next generation of Redbacks, and we know that her impact with those players and our club will live on.

“We give all our thoughts and strength to the Lockhart family and all who are mourning Keely.

“We know that this is a very challenging time for wider Victorian football community, but also to many Redbacks who know the Lockharts and who have been coached by Keely.

Essendon Royals Women’s coach Vince Battiato coached Lockhart in last year’s Battle of the States and was struck by her on and off-field greatness.

“It’s very difficult to find the words that can do any justice to this terrible tragedy. So perhaps the sharing of a memory is best suited,” Battiato posted on Heidelberg United’s Facebook post.

“I’d known Keely from her Eltham days in state 1 where she terrorised us with her pace and ability and I always found her to be a respectful human both on and off the pitch.

“But it wasn’t until the end of last season where I had the pleasure of coaching her in the Victorian squad, in just a few short weeks I found a human who never said no to what was needed of her and who completely wore her heart on her sleeve right underneath the tatts.

“So despite knowing her for years, I got to know her in those short weeks as a truly genuine soul. Sadly and tragically gone far too soon.

“As a father I cannot imagine the pain. As a father of twins myself I’m numb at just the thought of this.”

RELEGATION LOCKED IN?

There are five games remaining in the NPL Victoria season and its looking more and more likely traditional powerhouse Melbourne Knights is heading for the exit. A 4-2 defeat to relegation rival St Albans on Sunday leaves the Knights last on the ladder, now eight points back of 11th-placed Altona Magic and safety. The club, once a byword for footballing success in Victoria and Australia, needs a miracle to avoid playing VPL1 in 2026. Due to a postponed match against Oakleigh Cannons, rescheduled for Friday night, the Knights have a game in hand. They then face Preston Lions, Dandenong Thunder, Hume City, Dandenong City and Altona Magic in the run home. A difficult ask. The Knights actually had the lead at Churchill Reserve, thanks to a Gideon Arok own goal in the 35th minute. However, a disastrous second half saw Joey Monek (48), Lucas Byrns (62) Ollie Dragicevic (68) and Shaun Ruzvidzo (87) pile on the goals for Dinamo. Ciaran Bramwell scored an 85th minute consolation. The season that started with confidence, a 3-2 win over current ladder-leader Heidelberg United, has turned into a nightmare. Club great Ivan Franjic stepped down as coach and off-field issues saw a spill of the board. It would be the club’s first relegation in its history. Port Melbourne and Melbourne Victory are also teetering on the brink. The Sharks’ 5-0 loss to Preston Lions on Sunday and Victory’s 4-1 defeat to Green Gully on Friday night leaves them six points behind Altona.

A FAMOUS COMEBACK

George Andrews Reserve was rocking as Dandenong Thunder burst out of the blocks on Saturday night. The home team was three goals to the good within 25 minutes. And looked to be cruising to a big win. Daniel Clark got the party started in the eighth minute and Yuki Uchida doubled the lead in the 23rd. Sri Lanka international Wade Dekker made it 3-0 just two minutes later to send the home crowd into raptures. Importantly, there was still more than an hour left. Oakleigh’s comeback started just six minutes after Dekker’s goal as Adem Duratovic tapped home at the near post. Time was running out when Kingsley Sinclair revived hopes with a glorious volley from the edge of the box. His 75th minute strike gave the visitors hope. And it was level not long after. Cameron Mcgilp was taken down inside the box and skipper Joe Guest stepped up to tuck away the penalty and send both teams home with a point. The goal was Guest’s 13th of the season, second most in the competition.

🚨🟡 NPLMVIC GOAL! 74:04: Oakleigh Cannons FC score to make it DTFC 3 : OCFC 2.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/SD1KcDDDwUpic.twitter.com/U6vKddOR37

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) July 5, 2025

AVENGERS, WARRIORS POWER AWAY

With Oakleigh and Thunder drawing, it’s now a two-team fight for the NPL premiership. Heidelberg United and Avondale claimed 2-0 and 2-1 wins over Altona Magic on Saturday and Hume City on Friday night respectively to make it a duel to the finish. The Warriors remain three points clear of the Avengers with five games remaining but can’t afford a slip up with Avondale holding the superior goal difference. The two teams face off in the coming weeks with a Round 24 meeting at Avengers Park set to decide the title race. On Friday night, Avondale pipped Hume at Broadmeadows Stadium. An unfortunate Alsen Ishak own goal gave the visitors the lead in the 20th minute and Stef Zinni doubled their advantage in the 36th. Mid-season recruit Mason Tatafu got one back for Hume just two minutes later but the home team couldn’t find the equaliser. Meanwhile on Saturday, Altona proved a tough nut to crack at Paisley Park. However, Heidelberg finally found the breakthrough in the 73rd minute. Asahi Yokokawa continued his impressive campaign with the opener. Speaking of impressive campaigns, Bul Juach then scored his 17th goal of the season in the 81st minute to seal the three points.

GULLY FIRE

The top-six battle is going down to the wire. Green Gully kept its finals hopes alive with a strong 4-1 victory over Melbourne Victory at Gully Reserve on Friday night. Reigning Gold Medallist Aamir Abdullah got the home side off to the perfect start in the 11th minute but the visitors were level in the 24th thanks to Patrick Wall. Scott Lochhead put Gully back in front just three minutes after the half-time break and mid-season recruit Dor Jok – his first goal since arriving from Germany – and skipper Josh Hope sealed the three points. Gully is now eighth but just two points behind sixth-placed Hume City.

PRESTON FIRE

It had been a tough month for Preston, four matches without a win. However, the Lions let all their frustrations out – and turned on the style – against Port Melbourne, romping to a 5-0 win at BT Connor Reserve. Gian Albano got the party started in the four minute of the match and Lleyton Brooks doubled the lead in the 20th minute. The 2023 NPL Golden Boot winner Jonas Markovski scored his third goal of the season, heading home in the 68th. Preston then finished in style, Connor Bell lashing home a superb volley in the 80th minute and Marcus Schroen curling in a delightful free kick in the 89th to cap a classy performance. The result keeps Preston in front in the top-six battle, sitting fifth and three points clear of Dandenong City in seventh.

SIX GOAL THRILLER

Dandenong City and South Melbourne played out one of the games of the year on Friday night. Hellas will rue letting a two-goal lead slip in the final minutes as City stormed home to secure a share of the points in a 3-3 draw at Frank Holohan Reserve. Max Mikkola opened the scoring in the 15th minute and Jack Painter-Andrews doubled the lead just two minutes later as South made the perfect start. On the half-hour mark, Diego Cuba produced arguably the goal of the week with a stunning long-range free kick that curled perfectly into the top left-hand corner from 30-35m out. However, Copper Halfpenny restored the visitors two-goal cushion with almost the last kick of the half. With time running out, Kenny Athui reignited City with an 86th minute strike from close range. With City pushing forward, Corey Sewell ran onto a rebound and thrashed home a volley to level the scores in the 92nd minute. The result sees City sit seventh, two points behind sixth-placed Hume City. South Melbourne is 10th, eight points outside the top-six and eight points clear of the relegation zone.

🚨🟡 NPLMVIC GOAL! 28:26: Dandenong City SC score to make it DCSC 1 : SMFC 2.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/SD1KcDDDwUpic.twitter.com/JgRIAMF497

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) July 4, 2025

WESTERN BLOWS OPEN PREMIERSHIP RACE

Western United put a major dent in Melbourne City’s VPL1 premiership push and automatic promotion hopes. In a battle of the A-League academies at Casey Fields, Western claimed a 3-2 victory to keep it’s own automatic promotion hopes alive. Mark Leonard continued his outstanding season, opening the scoring in the 24th minute and he couldn’t the lead in the 39th. The brace takes the striker to 11 goals for the season, third most in the competition. Besian Kutleshi then made it three for the visitors on the hour mark. Kavian Rahmani sparked a late City fightback in the 78th minute and Ryan Kalms scored in the 88th to set up a grandstand finish. However, the ladder-leader couldn’t find an equaliser. Instead, City drops to second on goal difference ahead of Caroline Springs. Western United is still in the hunt for a top-two finish but is seven points back with five games remaining.

GREENS, GEORGIES EYE NPL

Bentleigh Greens are back on top of the VPL1 ladder and in the box seat to claim the premiership. A tough 1-0 win over Bulleen Lions at Kingston Heath - coupled with Melbourne City’s loss - sees the club three points clear on top of the ladder with five matches remaining. Cameron Saul provided the match-winning moment, pouncing in the 37th minute to score the only goal of the game. However, they can not afford a slip up with City and Caroline Springs George Cross hot on their heels. The Georgies sit third - on goal difference behind City - after a second-half comeback 2-1 win over Northcote City. Rob Harding - on loan from South Melbourne - had put Hercules in front in the 22nd minute at John Cain Reserve but the visitors finished strongly. Marc Petheriotis found an equaliser in the 55th minute and prolific strike Luke Lofts secured the three points just eight minutes later. The strike - a wonderful curling free-kick - was Lofts’ 15th of the campaign and puts him in the box seat to win the Golden Boot.

NORTH SUNSHINE PLAYOFFS BOUND

The Eagles are one team you might not want to face in the finals. North Sunshine has been in red-hot form this season. In the past 10 games it has only lost to top-three teams Bentleigh, Melbourne City and Caroline Springs. After a 2-1 win over finals rival Brunswick City at Larissa Reserve, the club now sits fifth and looks odds-on to make the playoffs in its first season up from VPL2. The Eagles have a three-point buffer on seventh-placed Bulleen Lions. Aymane Sordo gave the home team the perfect start on Saturday, scoring in the 35th minute and Kaan Elibol doubled the lead in the 74th, just a minute after coming on as a subtitute. It proved critical as Austin Wong got one back for Brunswick almost immediately after. Despite the result, Brunswick holds onto sixth, two points ahead of Bulleen.

LANGY REVIVAL TOUR

It’s been a weekly highlight for the past month now but Langwarrin’s revival continues to gather momentum. The club picked up its fifth win in the past six weeks on Saturday, knocking off last-placed Moreland City 3-1 at Lawton Park. After looking like relegation candidates in the first half of the season, Langwarrin can surely now start planning for VPL1 football in 2026, sitting 10th and nine points clear of the bottom three. Lucas Portelli gave the home team an early lead, scoring in the 23rd minute and Tom Youngs doubled the advantage just eight minutes later. Ali Al Shiekh got Moreland on the board on the stroke of half-time to continue his personally impressive season. However, the visitors couldn’t keep the momentum going after the break. Luke Goulding scored six minutes after the resumption to seal the three points. While Langwarrin can look ahead of VPL1 football, Moreland City can start planning for the drop to VPL2.

KINGSTON STILL ALIVE?

Boom! It’s been a difficult season for Kingston City but the club came alive offensively on Saturday, demolishing Manningham United 6-1 on the road at Pettys Reserve. An almost perfect first half saw the visitors take a four-goal lead to half-time. Damian Iaconis got the party started in the 15th minute and Cooper Legrand’s brace (29th, 40th) and Chudiar Tharjith (43rd) kept it rolling. Legrand, a Mauritius international returning to the club from Langwarrin, secured his hat-trick in th 74th minute and Hayato Fukuda put a cherry on top proceedings four minutes later. The dominant win keeps Kingston’s survival hopes alive, while sitting 12th it is only six points behind Manningham and safety. Meanwhile, the result continues a concerning downward trend the United having lost five and had a draw in its past six outings to put itself in danger of back-to-back relegations.

PACCO STILL AIVE?

Last week’s loss to Whittlesea United was a setback but Pascoe Vale’s late-season survival charge is back on. The Rams secured a critical 2-1 win over relegation rival Boroondara-Carey Eagles at Wilcox Field on Saturday to stay in the hunt to avoid relegation. Daniel Lucente gave the visitors the lead in just the third minute of the match. Apai Ukuno got Boroondara level on the hour mark but Pascoe Vale captain Aydin Mustedanagic scored one of the biggest goals he’s scored for the club to win the game in the 80th minute. The result sees Pacco sitting 13th, just one point behind Werribee City and safety. It must face ladder-leaders North Geelong and Eltham in the run home before a Round 26 clash against Werribee, which could decide who goes up and who goes down.

WARRIORS MARCHING TO TITLE

Speaking of going up, North Geelong is on track to claim the VPL2 premiership after a fighting 1-0 win over Eltham Redbacks in a top-of-the-table clash at North Eltham Reserve on Friday night. As he’s done all season, Sonny Brimmer scored the all-important match-winning goal to secure a critical three points. The 28th minute strike was his 11th of the season, third most in the competition. The result sees the Warriors move five points clear in the title race with five games remaining. The Redbacks remain in second, and on track for automatic promotion, but are only one point ahead of Brunswick Juventus.

SUNS DENT ZEBRAS’ HOPES

The Zebras travelled up to Shepparton to face Goulburn Valley Suns on Saturday but came home empty handed after a 3-0 defeat. The Suns were too good at John McCain Reserve. Mangara Munguakonkha gave the home team a 23rd minute lead and second half strikes from Brandon Giaccherini (52nd) and Laywi Niyonkuru (78th) sealed the deal. Juventus sits third but is only point behind Eltham Redbacks in the hunt for automatic promotion. However, their premiership hopes look dashed, now six behind North Geelong. Goulburn Valley is on track for a playoff spot, sitting fifth.

CALOSI INSPIRES GEELONG SMASHING

Geelong eased the pressure of relegation threat with a dominant 4-1 win over Essendon Royals and Cross Keys Reserve. The club was winless in its past seven matches before an attacking outburst on Saturday. Bruno Gervasoni opened the scoring in the 11th minute before the match turned into the Giovanni Calosi Show. Calosi bagged a hat-trick, scoring in the 24th, 34th and 74th minutes to single-handedly humble the opposition. The result sees Geelong sitting in 10th, now three points clear of the bottom three. In contrast, the Royals are now seven games winless and after being premiership contenders early in the season have fallen back to sixth, holding the final playoff spot on goal difference ahead of Altona City.

WHITE EAGLES PLAYOFFS BOUND

Springvale White Eagles has been the dominant of the four sides that stepped up from State League last year. The club’s 1-0 win over fellow promotion-winner Whittlesea United at Epping Stadium on Friday sees it sitting fourth on the VPL2 ladder. It’s in the box seat to play finals and have a strong chance to winning back-to-back promotions to VPL1. A Faisal Sakhizada goal in the 32nd minute was enough to seal the three points. Sprinvale is six points clear of Altona City in seventh with five games remaining. Whittlesea, meanwhile, sits in the bottom three but is only one point away from safety.

Originally published as Victorian football in mourning after star’s death