Check out all the weekend’s NPL and VPL highlights

TALKING POINTS: A fallen power of Australian football has axed its Socceroo coach, while his son scored an incredible goal for a rival club.

John Markovski during his time at Melbourne Knights.

There are just three weeks left in the NPL and VPL seasons.

The premiership and relegation races are still wide open with clubs fighting for their seasons.

It was another huge weekend of results with some stunning goals.

There’s also been some news off the field.

Check out all the news below.

SOCCEROO GETS SACKED

John Markovski’s brief stint in charge of Melbourne Knights is over. The 19-cap Socceroo lasted just nine matches after replacing fellow ex-international and club legend Ivan Franjic in May. Already facing relegation when Markovski took the reins, the Knights won just one game, drew two and lost six. There are just three games remaining in the NPL Victoria season and the Knights sit last, staring down the barrel of relegation for the second time in club history. A humbling 4-0 loss to Dandenong Thunder on Sunday was the final straw. Markovski was appointed mid-season, poached from NPL rival Port Melbourne, which is also in danger of relegation. Melbourne Knights face Preston Lions, Dandenong City and Altona Magic in the run home. With the bottom three going down this season, last-placed Knights are seven points behind Altona Magic in 11th.

SON’S WONDER GOAL

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Markovski family over the weekend, Jonas produced arguably the goal of the week with a long-range howitzer for Preston Lions. The stunning strike proved decisive in a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory. The former Brisbane Roar striker picked up the ball with his back to goal 35m from goal, turned, took a quick glance and unleashed an unstoppable bullet. The goal is Markovski’s fourth of the season, a quiet campaign in his return to the competition, where he was the Golden Boot winner in 2023. It secured an important win as Preston cements a spot in the NPL top-five. The Lions are sitting fifth, five points clear of Dandenong City in seventh with three games remaining.

AVONDALE BACK IN THE HUNT

Markovski’s wonderstrike has some competition from Avondale’s Luca Tevere. The Avengers star scored an incredible Olympico goal to secure a tough 1-0 win over Altona Magic at Paisley Park on Saturday. In the 55th minute, Tevere curled his corner kick dangerously toward goal and Magic goalkeeper Christian Rossi’s attempted punch missed its mark, allowing the ball into the back of the net. It proved the match-winning moment and could be pivotal as Avondale chases the NPL premiership. With Heidelberg United held to a draw by South Melbourne, the win moves Avondale back within three points of the ladder-leader with three games remaining. The Avengers have the opportunity to jump to the top of the ladder this weekend when they host the Warriors in what is likely to be a premiership-deciding top-of-the-table blockbuster on Saturday night.

HEIDELBERG HELD

This is a different South Melbourne to the one Heidelberg beat 3-0 earlier in the year. Hellas has turned its season around under Sinisa Cohadzic and were chasing a big upset against their old rival at Lakeside Stadium. And South took the lead in the 25th minute thanks to Charlie Leech. A sublime Jack Painter-Andrews through ball sprung Campbell Dovison but after rounding the keeper he hit the post. The rebound came back to the former Australia youth international and he set up Leech for the put away. The game turned in the second half and Heidelberg’s pressure paid off in the 65th minute. Asahi Yokokawa swung in the corner and Sabit Ngor jumped strongly to head home. The result reopens the premiership race with the Warriors now only three points ahead of Avondale ahead of a potential premiership-deciding clash this Saturday.

CITY RUNNING OUT OF TIME

Dandenong City is doing everything in its power to play NPL finals. However, Hadjuk remains one point outside the top-six and is running out of time with just three games remaining in the home-and-away season. City secured a fighting 1-0 win over high-flying Oakleigh Cannons at Frank Holohan Reserve on Friday night and is unbeaten in its last six matches – four of those have been draws though. Gaku Inaba chose the perfect time to open his season account, bundling home Jamie Latham’s free-kick from close range in the 55th minute. The draw has been kind to Dandy with the bottom three – Melbourne Knights, Melbourne Victory and Port Melbourne – to come in the run home.

HARKER ENDS DROUGHT, HEGARTY’S FIRST WIN

Dandenong City is chasing Hume City, which kept its nose in front in the race for sixth, with a dominant 4-1 win over Port Melbourne at Broadmeadows Stadium. UK import Rob Harker chose a good time to break out of his recent funk with a brace. While the forward hadn’t scored in five matches, he now has seven goals in 14 appearances – a strong return in an interrupted campaign. George Mells gave Port Melbourne a surprise lead in the 23rd minute. Harker found an equaliser just seven minutes later and would seal the three points in the 67th minute. He also provided the assist for Godfrey Debele’s goal in the 57th minute to complete an all-action display. Fellow import Lloyd Isgrove’s goal in the shadows of half-time gave Hume a lead it would not relinquish. The win is also coach Nick Hegarty’s first since returning mid-season. The club great took the reins in June and has endured a difficult first month, losing his first four matches. The drought-breaking result keeps Hume in sixth, one point ahead of Dandenong City and four points behind Preston Lions in fifth.

GREENS BACK ON TOP

In a see-sawing VPL1 premiership battle, Bentleigh Greens is back on top. The Greens claimed a 2-0 win over Brunswick City on Friday night to move one point clear of Melbourne City and Caroline Springs George Cross after the Georgies knocked off the A-League academy team 2-1. The premiership would see Bentleigh return to the NPL on a high, two years after relegation. The Greens face Manningham United, North Sunshine and Northcote City in the run home. City has Bulleen Lions, Kingston City and Brunswick City and George Cross faces Eastern Lions, FC Melbourne and Western United. Bentleigh secured a critical three points at Kingston Heath. Ryo Okamoto opened the scoring in the 14th minute and Sean Ellis - coming out of retirement to reunite the coach George Katsakis last month - in the 40th minute. The strike was Ellis’ first after playing the last four matches for the Greens. Meanwhile, the loss drops Brunswick back into a fight for a top-six finish. The Spartans are only two points clear of Bulleen Lions in seventh.

GEORGIES’ BIGGEST WIN

Bentleigh returns to the top thanks to Caroline Springs George Cross. The Georgies continued their red-hot form with a stirring 2-1 win over ladder-leader Melbourne City at Casey Fields on Saturday. The club has won 11 of its past 13 matches, losing to Bentleigh and Brunswick City in that time. Caroline Springs was spanked 6-2 by City back in April but gained revenge and drew level on the ladder, sitting third on goal difference. Roland Ballah had given City an early lead, striking in the 14th minute. However, the Georgies responded immediately as Morgan Filer equalised just 60 seconds later. Josh Whiteley then snatched all three points with a 52nd minute winner. Whiteley was Johnny on the spot in a goal-mouth scramble, the ball bouncing kindly for him to finish from close range. It was a Whiteley goal that secured the VPL2 premiership back to 2023 too. If George Cross can claim the title it would be the club’s third in fourth seasons and complete a stunning rise/return from the State League to the NPL.

MORELAND BREAKS DROUGHT

Fair to say, it’s been a season from hell from Moreland following on from the club’s NPL relegation from last year. City sits last on the VPL1 ladder and is five points away from safety with three games remaining. However, the club celebrated its fifth win of the year on Friday night, taking down playoff-chasing Bulleen Lions 1-0 at CB Smith Reserve. Jason Quinlan scored the match-winning goal, his 19th minute strike proving the difference. Moreland remains a chance to survive. It finishes the season against fellow relegation battlers Kingston City and Manningham United as well as Brunswick City.

NORTHCOTE EXPLODES

It has been a tough month for Northcote City, five straight defeats and co-coaches Steve Bebic and Zeljko Kuzman moved on. However, Hercules broke out of their funk in a big way on Friday night, smashing lowly Kingston City 7-1 at John Cain Park. Zach Bates opened the scoring in the ninth minute with an acrobatic karate kick but Kingston was level just two minutes later thanks to a Yianni Panakos long-range rocket. From there, it was one-way traffic. Rob Harding and Dean Larson made it 3-1 at half-time. Alun Webb scored a second half-brace, Bates bagged his second and Liam Nolan joined the party too. The result keeps Northcote’s playoff hopes alive, moving within four points of sixth-placed Brunswick City, which ironically, it faces this weekend in a potentially season-defining clash.

10-MAN LANGWARRIN CONTINUES CHARGE

Langwarrin is one of the hottest teams in VPL2. The club has gone from relegation trouble to 11 points clear of the bottom three with three games remaining, securing VPL1 football for 2026. A 2-1 win over Eastern Lions at Gardiners Creek Reserve is the latest positive result for the surging club. Aiki Tsukamoto gave Eastern the lead in just the second minute of the match. However, Langwarrin was level on the half-hour mark thanks to Kosta Apostopoulos. Jeremy Min Fat then picked the perfect time to score his first goal of the season, securing all three points in the 47th minute. Langwarrin was forced to play out the last 25 minutes with 10 men after Tom Youngs was shown a straight red card.

NORTH SUNSHINE FINALS BOUND?

In its first season in VPL1, North Sunshine has one foot in finals. The Eagles cemented fifth spot with a strong 4-1 win over Manningham United at Larissa Reserve on Saturday. It would be a dream year and give the club a shot at continuing its meteoric rise and NPL football for the first time in history. North Sunshine will certainly have its credentials tested in the final three weeks with matches against fourth-placed Western United, ladder-leader Bentleigh Greens and a red-hot Langwarrin. On Saturday, Aymane Sordo opened the scoring in the 16th minute and Abdalla Okud doubled the lead just eight minutes later. Christian Mladenis got Manningham back in the game in the 42nd minute but the hosts responded immediately and Kaan Elibol restored the two-goal lead seconds before half-time. Aiden Olds then sealed the three points in the 75th minute.

BEES BUZZING

If Werribee City survives relegation and secures VPL2 football in 2026, Friday’s 3-1 win over Essendon Royals at Galvin Park will be pivotal. The Bees were staring down the barrel of back-to-back relegations but are now sitting in safety with three games remaining. John Mabok opened the scoring in the 18th minute, Werribee taking the lead to half-time. However, Essendon was level just five minutes after the restart as Takumi Niwa struck. Parity only last two minutes though as Tom Biss restored City’s lead. And it only got harder for Essendon in the 57th minute as Vince Lia copped two yellow cards and was sent off. Dau Akol then sealed a critical three points for the home team. The Bees now sit 10th, two points clear of the relegation zone. Essendon retains sixth place and a playoff spot but is only goal difference ahead of Altona City after its thrilling 3-2 win over Springvale White Eagles.

WHITTLESEA SEASON SAVER?

Every game is critical in a razor-tight VPL2 relegation race. Whittlesea boosted its survival hopes with a massive 1-0 win over relegation rival Geelong at Stead Park. With both teams facing the drop back to the State League, Whittlesea secured an invaluable three points thanks to Jonathan Sopena’s 74th minute strike. The result sees Whittlesea move out of the bottom three, climbing to ninth, three points clear. The club’s -12 goal remains an issue, the second worst of the bottom seven clubs. The loss sees Geelong teetering on the edge. Back in VPL2 after promotion last year, it is 11th, just one point above the bottom three.

SCENES, LIMBS, ETC

Ecstasy for Eltham Redbacks. Heartbreak for Pascoe Vale. After 90-plus minutes of stalemate, Retsu Sugasawa popped up in the 97th minute to score a stunning winner for Eltham and send the home team fans at North Eltham Reserve into hysterics. The goal keeps the Redbacks premiership dream alive, while the Rams’ devastation was doubled as the club fell back to the bottom of the ladder. Eltham is second, five points behind ladder-leader North Geelong. It remains in the box seat for automatic promotion, which would be back-to-back years, now five points clear of Brunswick Juventus.

BUT NORTH KEEP WINNING

North Geelong is officially heading back to VPL1, securing promotion on Saturday. A 2-1 win over Nunawading City also sees the Warriors put one hand on the VPL2 premiership, now five points clear of Eltham Redbacks with three games remaining. It could be individual joy for Sonny Brimmer too, his opener on Saturday taking him to 13 goals and the outright lead in the Golden Boot ahead of his teammate Angus Chapman and Tom Barforosh. Brimmer opened the scoring in the 34th minute, the Warriors taking the lead to half-time. Lochie McGrath doubled the lead on the hour mark. Denis Daluri got one back for Nunawading but the visitors couldn’t find an equaliser in the final 30 minutes. It was a big week for City having travelled back from Darwin mid-week when it knocked off Darwin Olympic by a record-breaking 9-0 in the Australia Cup.