GK: Michael Weier (Hume City)
The young keeper had one of those in-form days where everything he touched was an incredible save. Frustrated the hell out of a Heidelberg side which created plenty of chances but couldn’t beat the keeper at the last hurdle, held to a clean sheet and losing top spot in the process.
CB: Kristian Konstantinidis (South Melbourne)
In a game where Nikola Roganovic had a hard-earned clean sheet and Michael Eager was strong in the air, Konstantinidis gets the nod for a team defence that weathered Knights’ best attacking challenges and gave stability to the South team. South’s first-half dominance was starkly contrasted by its concession of the midfield in the second half, leaving Konstantinidis and company to repel and protect.
CB: Faisal Sakhizada (Kingston City)
Immense at the back for Kingston. While Jovanovic got the important opener, it was Sakhizada who often found himself involved in passages of play from Bulleen that were repelled by him regularly, be it along the ground or in the air.
CB: Matt Hennessey (Pascoe Vale)
The young defender again showed maturity beyond his years to play an important role in Pascoe Vale taking the big scalp of Avondale. Composed and unflappable at the back, he contributed to a clean sheet and the eventual three points
CM: Matteo Ballan (Pascoe Vale)
The holding midfielder executed his role expertly, making sure the opposition’s midfield struggled to build any momentum through the middle. Continues to be one of Paco’s most consistent performers.
CM: Andreas Govas (Port Melbourne)
Another week, another impressive strike to find the back. Win, lose or draw, always tends to stand out in Port’s midfield as one of the side’s main outlets.
RM: Dean Piemonte (Oakleigh Cannons)
Piemonte is no stranger to the spectacular and his first-half antics showed just what he can do with a ball at his feet. His double came via a right-footed volley, which did take a deflection, and a left-footed curler from distance.
LM: Kieran Dover (Bentleigh Greens)
His best goalscoring return since joining Bentleigh, netting a double. That takes his league tally to three and he continues to build his form at Bentleigh enter a crucial part of their exhausting campaign, where surely he’ll play a key role.
CAM: Dusan Bosnjak (Oakleigh Cannons)
Constantly poked and prodded at the North Geelong goal, hitting the woodwork and testing the keeper – which led to Marafioti’s goal. Was eventually rewarded with a goal of his own for his efforts.
ST: Wade Dekker (Green Gully)
A fairly straightforward pick to make, up for it from the opening minute Dekker made light work of Dinamo’s defence, netting a hat-trick, which makes for a nice boost to the striker’s goal tally.
ST: Taban Makoii (Kingston City)
Played a key role in Kingston’s win with a couple of important involvements. First, it was his cross which led to the opener, then he put the crucial win beyond doubt with a poacher’s effort.
Bench:
Nikola Roganovic (South Melbourne)
While South’s 2-0 result looked comfortable enough, it didn’t come without its periods when Knights looked likely to get back into the contest. And while South’s defence held up well, for the moments they didn’t it was Roganovic who made the final crucial involvement – the save to deny Cahill at the end of the first half a particular highlight.
Simo Jovanovic (Kingston City)
Alongside Sakhizada, Jovanovic formed part of a duo – and really the back four were all solid – that barely gave Bulleen a peep throughout the night. Jovanovic also pounced to open the scoring, a crucial moment after Iaconis’ earlier saved penalty.
Andy Brennan (Bentleigh Greens)
Powerful and tricky on the wing, Brennan was too difficult for Port to handle at times, with his distribution leading to an assist to Dover, with whom he linked well.
Dylan Smith (Green Gully)
Had one assist on the night to Dekker and in general his link-up play in the front third made plenty of space for teammates.