The decision on the Player of the Month was taken with the decision of both a panel and also the public vote in mind. Without further ado, here is the two best performers of the month from both the NPL and the NPL2.
READ MORE > March Nominees: NPL & NPL2 Player of the Month
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Sami Nour
Public vote: Sami Nour has been one of the revelations of the season in 2016, going up with his promoted Bulleen side and taking his game to the next level in the early stages of the season. One of the more dangerous players in the respectable first up loss to Bentleigh Greens, he certainly made his made his mark against Oakleigh, scoring with a brilliant run and deflected finish to earn his side their first NPL Victoria points in the top flight. Was also instrumental in the draw against South Melbourne, setting the Lions on their way to victory with a goal and many other goalscoring opportunities – two late goals to South denied another win. Overall, his trickery, pace and eye for goal has been crucial in his side’s push for first-up survival and beyond.
Media selection: Marcus Schroen
Behind the scenes it was a much tighter affair, with the votes amongst the media split between Nour, Schroen, Epifano and Ruthven. Schroen snuck in by one vote, noted for his excellence at South Melbourne by pulling the strings from behind the front three and creating problems with his darting runs through the channels.
Amir Osmancevic
Public vote and media selection: Eight goals in four league games for Amir Osmancevic has marked an astonishing opening period to life in the NPL2 system. The former Peninsula Strikers man has taken to the higher level of competition like a duck to water, netting a brace in four consecutive games, while notching up a number of assists in the process. While he sat out the final game of the allotted monthly period, his form in the other games was enough to hand Osmancevic what was almost an unanimous victory for the best player of the month, with all bar one panel member voting for the forward, as the public followed suit as well. Velibor Mitrovic of Kingston City received the final vote. Won the public vote and media vote unanimously, a testament to his early dominance at Thunder throughout the early months of the year.
Feature Image: Mark Avellino/Graeme Furlong with thanks to Wayne Unwin.