Check out all the highlights from the weekend’s NPL and VPL action
TALKING POINTS: George Mells lights up the original derby, Brunswick Juventus’ comeback for the ages and North Sunshine Eagles make history.
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It was another big weekend of football.
From some instant classic Friday night games to Monday night’s original derby.
The goals were flowing across the NPL and VPL1 and VPL2.
Check out the highlights from the weekend’s action below.
SUPER STRIKE LIGHTS UP ORIGINAL DERBY
George Mells was a boyhood South Melbourne fan, and even represented Greece Under-17s – as well as Australia 17s and 20s – so to score for Hellas against Melbourne Knights in the original derby must have been a dream come true. To do it in such style, too, smashing a sublime volley from the edge of the box is something to tell the grandkids about. It kicked off a dominant display from South as Danish striker Gustav Moller also netted his first goal for the club and Nahuel Bonada scored for a second straight game in a 3-1 win. After an impressive debut last week, Alex Hird, son of AFL great James, scored the consolation goal for Knights.
GOLD MEDAL STOUSH ENDS IN DRAW
In a match that featured three Gold Medallists, Green Gully and Oakleigh finished tied 1-1. It was the reigning Gold Medallist, Aamir Abdullah that opened the scoring at Gully Reserve on Friday night. Brodie Boyce appeared to win the ball in a 50-50 contest but was adjudged to have fouled Gianluca Iannucci. Abdullah converted from the spot just four minutes after half-time. Joe Knowles, the 2022 winner, equalised in the 62nd minute with a piece of magic that surprised even himself – lobbing goalkeeper Liam Driscoll. The two teams shared the points, both having 13 shots and five each on target.
BISETTO SHOWING CLASS
Max Bisetto struggled to get a look in at Oakleigh Cannons after joining in the mid-season window last year. He’s made the move to Olympic Village and showing the class that saw him picked up by Western United. The young striker scored for the second game in a row, this time netting the match-winner as Heidelberg United edged Melbourne Victory 1-0 on Friday night. Anthony Lesiotis’ through ball was picked up by Bisetto on the edge of the area and he had no trouble finishing in the 21st minute. The win gets the Warriors off the mark after last week’s heart-breaker against Melbourne Knights.
ISGROVE OFF THE MARK
Hume City’s leading goalscoring last year, Lloyd Isgrove, opened his account with a brace and secured a critical come-from-behind win over Dandenong Thunder at Hume Stadium on Friday night. The visiting Thunder had taken a first-half lead through impressive recruit Hassan Jalloh, his second goal in as many games. It wasn’t looking good for the hosts as time ticked down before Isgrove stepped up to save the day. In the 82nd minute, the Welshman gathered on the edge of the box made five or six Thunder defenders miss and thumped a shot through traffic into the bottom corner. Then in the 92nd minute, Isgrove went down after a challenge by Muamet Selimovski and Ross Clarke pointed to the point. A-League Goalkeeper of the Year Jamie Young got a hand on Isgrove’s penalty but couldn’t stop it going in and Hume snatched all three points at the death.
LIONS DENY CITY LATE
What a final 25 minutes it was at Frank Holohan Reserve on Friday night. Trailing 0-1 after Lleyton Brooks scored a peach of a chip in the 26th, Dandenong City roared back into the contest and hit the lead with a stunning four-minute double-strike. First Jamie Latham finished from Yagoub Mustafa’s perfect pass in the 77th minute, then skipper Jack Webster thumped home a header from Tim Atherinos’ corner in the 81st. However, the drama wasn’t over. Giorgio Serdenes – one of the top young guns in the NPL according to coach Louis Acevski – pounced in the 92nd minute to pinch a share of the points.
WELCOME BACK, MANY
Manyluak Aguek is back at Avondale and (in his second game) back on the scoreboard. After a stint in Malta, the lanky striker scored his return goal in the 87th minute as the Avengers pumped Port Melbourne 4-1 at Avengers Park on Saturday. An unfortunate own goal, forced by Jackson Courtney-Perkins, opened the scoring in just the fourth minute of the match and Stefan Zinni doubled the lead just before half-time. George Ott made it three and was replaced by Aguek shortly after. Avondale is the one of two-from-two teams along with South Melbourne.
HABIB IN MAGIC FORM
Bilal Habib has begun life at Altona Magic in spectacular fashion, scoring in both matches so far. The star forward opened the scoring against St Albans at Paisley Park on Saturday with a beautiful curling strike in the 18th minute. He was then involved in the set-up of Anthony Frangie’s 36th minute strike that doubled Altona’s lead. The second half went from bad to worse for St Albans as first, Mikael Platt suffered a hamstring injury and then Johnny Maglaras received a straight red card after a fracas in the 84th minute. The Saints got a late goal back, Brian Summerskill scoring after both Josh Divin and Lucas Byrns had both hit the woodwork. In a tense finish, Altona held on for its first win of the season.
EVER-RELIABLE EVERSON
Do they call Ben Everson the mailman at Manningham United? Because he delivers. The striker scored a brace to lift his club to a thrilling 3-2 win over Eastern Lions at Gardiners Creek Reserve on Friday night. It was the club’s first win back in VPL2 after relegation last year and a 2-2 draw with Melbourne City in the season opener. Ren Nagamatsu and Jose Arancibia scored for Eastern, while Kevin Lynch was also on the scoreboard for Manningham. However, it was a man-of-the-match performance from Everson, who now has three goals in his two games and he’ll be a key player as the club looks to make an immediate return to NPL Victoria.
BRAZILLIAN MAGIC
A double from Brazillian Matheus Assumpcao lifted Bulleen Lions to a thumping 4-1 away win over Langwarrin at Lawton Park on Friday. Assumpcao stole the show as the Lions bounced back from an opening round 3-2 loss to Western United. Dennis Menelaou and Jamie Mantelos also found the back of the net in the big win. Kosta Apostolopoulos got the second-half consolation goal for Langwarrin.
LEONARD BANGING DOWN THE DOOR
Western United’s 18-year-old striker Mark Leonard has had a taste of A-League action and clearly wants more. The young gun scored a hat-trick in United’s 4-0 demolition of Kingston City at Ironbark Fields on Saturday. Leonard scored seven goals last season and has made a blazing start to 2025 with four already under his belt. United is now two-from-two to start the season and sits on top of the ladder, one of two perfect teams along with Northcote City. After a brace last week against Bulleen Lions, Jake Najdovski also continued his strong form but finding the back of the net.
EAGLES ON THE BOARD
After a tough road loss in the season opener, North Sunshine Eagles are on the VPL2 winners list for the first time ever. And they did it in style, a 3-0 win over local rival Caroline Springs George Cross in front of their home fans at Larissa Reserve. Ndue Mujeci got the party started in the 34th minute, banging in the opener from the edge of the box. Hayden Tennant then opened his account in the 50th minute and Mujeci made it a double – and three for the season already – with a 95th minute penalty.
ZEBRAS’ COMEBACK FOR THE AGES
This one will go down in Brunswick Juventus folklore and Lachlan Smith etched his name into club history. It was all going wrong at half-time as the Zebras trailed rival Pascoe Vale 3-1. A sensational strike from Nic Hatzigeorgiou and a brace from Tom Barforosh had given the Rams a comfortable lead in their return to Hosken Reserve but it all changed after the break. English import Lewis Gilboy kick-started the comeback just five minutes after the restart, the ball contentiously declared over the goalline. Scores were level after 65 minutes as Theodore Aresti launched an ambitious long-ball from the right wing that somehow found Smith alone to head home. As the rain poured down the match looked to be heading for a draw but there was a final twist. In the 92nd minute, Smith completed his hat-trick, turning in Elliot Frost’s cross.
REDBACKS RED-HOT
Some wondered how Eltham Redbacks would go stepping up to VPL3 for the first time in club history. Those doubts have been put to bed immediately, with the club now two-from-two to start the season. After defeating Box Hill in Round 1, the Redbacks dismantled premiership fancy Essendon Royals 4-1 at Eltham North Reserve on Saturday. Lewis Bamford and Lewis Collins both scored braces in the win, while Dean Clarke scored the consolation goal for the Royals. While it’s only two games, Eltham sits on top of the ladder as one of only two teams to win both games, alongside Brunswick Juventus.
WARRIORS IN THE WINNERS’ CRICLE
Last season it took North Geelong 11 games to secure their first win. This season it took just two as the Warriors defeated Box Hill United 2-1 at Elcho Park. The victory was also the club’s first in its last eight games dating back to last year when it was relegated from VPL1. Aguer Manyiel opened the scoring in the 33rd minute before Pythagoras equalised through Ruben Sanchez Marcano. With time running out, Sonny Brimmer popped up to score the match-winner in the 77th minute and earn a vital early-season three points.
LIONS OFF THE MARK TOO
It was a big weekend in Geelong. After the first derby since 2019 last week ended in a 2-2 draw, Geelong also secured its first win of the VPL2 campaign with a 2-0 win over Nunawading City. Boom recruit and Papua New Guinea international Tommy Semmy opened his account, while Liam O’Connell also found the back of the net. It’s Geelong’s first win at the level in 546 days, the last win coming on the final day of the 2023 season as the club was relegated.
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