NPL Victoria wrap: Dandenong City back up, Altona Magic seals finals, NPLW title race
With just one round remaining in the NPL Victoria season, check out all the big news and how the promotion, relegation and premiership races stand.
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The penultimate round of the NPL Victoria season has been run and won.
One premiership has been decided but two remain open.
Three clubs have earnt promotion but one spot is still up for grabs.
Three clubs know they’ll suffer relegation but three more are still to learn their fate.
It was a fascinating weekend of football across Melbourne.
Check out the biggest results and talking points below.
DANDY COMING BACK
It’s the type of drama only sport can provide.
Dandenong City needing a win to seal promotion, scores locked at 2-2, just seconds left in the match.
The game needed a hero and super sub Riley Bidois popped up to score a 96th minute winner to seal City’s return to the NPL in 2024.
Cue delirium as the travelling Dandy fans were rewarded for making the long trek up to the Veneto Club.
Bidois, who entered the game in the 77th minute, found himself on the end of a pin-point Jamie Forrester cross and he calmly nodded home from close range.
City coach Nick Tolios said it was the stuff of dreams.
“The way we celebrated, the way the fans celebrated that’s what we play for all season, to have that moment,” he said on the club’s Facebook page.
“To get promoted that was our first goal, what a way to do it, it’s been the story of our season – not giving up.
“That’s our squad, the boys that came on, even the boys that missed out, they’ve all played their role to get this opportunity.
“I said to the guys in (the changerooms), enjoy it, it’s very hard to do what we’ve done, to achieve and win things.
“I’m over the moon, really happy for the club because it deserves to be in the NPL set-up and the boys deserve to achieve that and feel what it’s like to get promoted.
“It’s not easy because it’s been a super league, it is super tough with so many quality teams, and it will come down to the last day for second spot.”
It was a fitting end to what had been a drama-filled match.
Jack Webster opened the scoring for Dandenong in just the seventh minute before Bulleen took control.
Carlton Westerdale levelled the scores just eight minutes later and the Lions were in front on the hour mark as Luke Lofts slotted his league-leading 16th goal of the campaign.
The drama kicked up a notch in the 85th minute when Matthew Hennessey got the equaliser for Dandenong.
City through everything at the Bulleen goal and it looked like it might not find a winner before Bidois’ last-gasp winner.
The win lifts Dandenong straight back up to the top flight after it suffered relegation last season.
It can claim the premiership in the final game of the season, this time in front of its home fans, when it hosts Eastern Lions at Frank Holohan Reserve on Saturday.
GOAL OF THE WEEK
All the action came from Sunday’s games. Ivan Franjic and Sean Ellis both scored late match-winners with rockets from outside the box. Melbourne Knights skipper Franjic is given far too much time by the Dandenong defence and laces a left-foot strike into the far bottom corner. Heidelberg United star Ellis, meanwhile, pounces on a loose ball and just puts his left-foot through it and it somehow finds its way through traffic and into the far bottom corner. However, we’re going with Nahuel Bonada’s audacious – cheeky even – chip for Green Gully. Playing a one-two with Cavaliers teammate Gianluca Iannuci, Bonada battles past Heidelberg defender Shunsuke Murakami before attempting the most delicate chip that left Pierce Clark in no man’s land and with no hope. As Bruce McAvaney might say, delicious.
AVONDALE CLOSES ON PREMIERSHIP
Avondale is one match away from a historic first NPL Victoria premiership. In a mini grand final, the Avengers snared a dramatic 2-1 win over arch-rival South Melbourne to put one hand on the premiers plate. Now five points clear at the top, Avondale just needs a win or draw against relegation-threatened Bentleigh Greens in the final game of the campaign to be crowned league winners. Stefan Zinni gave Avondale a lead in the 61st minute, poking home after a bit of a goal-mouth scramble and Liston Diaz made it two, finishing off a swift counter-attack. Luka Ninkovic scored a late consolation for South but it was too little too late.
MAGIC SEALS TOP-SIX
A Christian Cavallo own goal has secured Altona Magic a NPL finals campaign. The Magic’s 1-0 win over Bentleigh Greens on Saturday, coupled with Green Gully’s loss to Heidelberg United means the top-six is set. Eight wins in its last 10 matches saw Altona launch into the finals and they’ll look to finish off the home-and-away in style with an early taste of finals against fifth-placed Port Melbourne. Jonas Markovski is all but certain to win the league goalscoring, currently on 18 goals, five ahead of Gully’s Pierce Waring.
CUP WINNERS BACK UP
After winning their Australia Cup ties on Thursday night, Melbourne Knights and Heidelberg United both returned to the field three days later in the league. And both picked up 2-1 wins. The Knights squeezed past Dandenong Knights thanks to a 82nd minute winner from skipper Ivan Franjic. Meanwhile, fresh off the plane from Queensland, the Warriors upset Green Gully as Sean Ellis scored an 84th minute winner. Their pair have drawn South Australian giant-killer Campbelltown City and NSW outfit Mt Druitt Town Rangers respectively in the Australia Cup Round of 16.
LAST DAY TO DECIDE RELEGATION
It comes down to this. Who will go down? North Geelong, Bentleigh Greens or Moreland City? All three lost in the penultimate round and all three face horror Round 26 draws. At this stage, Moreland City sits in safety, one point ahead of Bentleigh and two ahead of North Geelong. The Warriors need a win over second-placed South Melbourne, while Bentleigh Greens needs at least a draw against ladder-leader Avondale. Moreland takes on third-placed Oakleigh Cannons knowing it may not need a result but stranger things have happened.
NEIGHBOURS’ PREMIERSHIP BATTLE
Two teams, neighbours, rivals, one match left, who wins? Boroondara-Carey Eagles and Bulleen Lions are separated by just one goal at the top of the NPLW ladder. A 3-2 win over FV Emerging combined with Bulleen’s draw with Calder United put the Eagles on top with one match remaining. It puts Boroondara-Carey in the box seat but it faces third-placed South Melbourne in the finale, needing a win to claim the premiership. Meanwhile, Bulleen hosts last-placed Southern United.
NPL2 TITLE DOWN TO TWO
Having already sealed promotion back to the top flight, Dandenong City is now a win or draw away from the NPL2 premiership. The stunning 3-2 win over Bulleen Lions on Monday night moves City three points clear of Western United at the top of the table. It faces Eastern Lions in the final game of the home-and-away season for a chance to win the title. However, a loss will leave Dandy vulnerable with Western United holding a superior goal difference. United conceded a 91st minute equaliser on Friday night in a 1-all draw with Northcote City and will need to beat Bulleen Lions and hope Dandenong stumbles to be crowned champions.
MANNINGHAM SMASHING
Kingston City was on top of the ladder and eyeing an NPL2 premiership a couple of weeks ago but is now out of the title race and sitting three deep for promotion. Instead, Manningham United launched into the promotion conversation with a thumping 5-0 win at The Grange on Friday night. Ben Everson continued his stunning form since crossing to the Blues mid-season, netting a hat-trick. The star striker now has 10 goals in just seven appearances. James Tountas opened the scoring in just the seventh minute of the match, his first goal of the campaign, while Nicholas Voulgaris also found the back of the net for the first time in 2023. Manningham United is now third, two points behind Western United in the promotion race. In the final game of the season, United faces Bulleen, Manningham takes on Northcote City and Kingston faces Melbourne City with all needing a win to earn a spot in the top flight next season.
BRUNSWICK RIVALS FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL
With one game remaining in the home-and-away season, the NPL2 relegation battle will come down to neighbouring rivals Brunswick Juventus and Brunswick City. Both clubs celebrated wins in the penultimate round, Juventus piling on five goals in a 5-2 thumping of Melbourne City, while City racked up four of its own in a 4-1 win over Pascoe Vale to seal the Rams’ relegation fate. At CB Smith Reserve, Tom Barforosh and Jay Kelly both scored braces for Juventus, while Jonathan Bounas also found the back of the net in a big win. Meanwhile, Yuga Watanabe and Itsuku Narumi scored within four minutes of each other to give City a quick-fire lead before Narumi scored his second and Atay Ibrahim slotted his first of the season in the second half. Will Roberts picking up two yellows in the opening 30 minutes to earn an early shower did Pascoe Vale no favours. City holds a one-point lead over Juventus entering the final round and face Preston Lions and Langwarrin respectively. Werribee City isn’t safe just yet either and faces cellar-dweller Pascoe Vale.
GEORGE CROSS ARE PREMIERS
A 91st minute winner delivered Caroline Springs George Cross the most dramatic of victories and the NPL3 premiership. Josh Whiteley’s last-gasp goal secured the Georgies a 2-1 triumph over Ballarat City in Ballarat on Saturday, it’s 14th straight win, and back-to-back league titles. Whiteley opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 40th minute but the home team was equalised in the 77th minute through Michael Trigger. Just as it looked like the game would finish in a draw, up stepped Whiteley to score his league-leading 16th goal of the season and spark wild celebrations. Having sealed promotion a fortnight ago, it’s the club’s ninth premiership and second time it has gone back-to-back in its storied history.
ROYALS ARE SAFE
After stepping up from State League 1 this season the Royals battled relegation for much of the season. However, back-to-back victories has secured the club’s position in NPL3 for 2024. A commanding 3-0 win over Box Hill United at Cross Keys Reserve on Friday night sealed safety. Dean Clarke scored a brace and Matt Breeze slotted his first goal of the campaign in the win. However, the night was soured when skipper Matteo Ballan was stretchered off with a broken leg. The horror injury came after a mistimed tackle that saw Nikita Varelas shown a straight red card. The Royals are also celebrating victory in the inaugural Nike Community Cup, defeating Casey Comets on penalties.
BEAUY SAVES SEASON IN STYLE
Hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone, Beaumaris officially confirmed its place in NPL3 next season with a sizzling display on Saturday. The Sharks thumped high-flying Nunawading City 7-1 at Beaumaris Reserve on Saturday. Ryan Brown scored a hat-trick, Zach Lemke finished with a brace – his first goals of the season – and Felix Polster and Yosuke Sazuka also found the back of the net in the rout.
RELEGATION CONFIRMED
Unfortunately, Geelong and Ballarat City will be stepping down to State League 1 next season. Loses to Goulburn Valley Suns and Caroline Springs George Cross respectively combined with Essendon Royals win mean a bottom two finish is guaranteed. It’s been a tough season for the pair Geelong winning just four games, while Ballarat was winless for the first 14 rounds before going on a stunning five-game winning run to breathe life into its season. In Round 5, Geelong knocked off eventual premier George Cross and also had a win over Australia Cup Round of 32 qualifier Goulburn Valley. Ballarat meanwhile, also upset the Suns and Boroondara-Carey Eagles.
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