NPL2 East Team of the Month: April

by Damir Kulas 0

GK: Keegan Coulter (Box Hill United)
The former Melbourne Victory Youth shot-stopper has been one of the shining lights in an underwhelming campaign for Pythagoras and kept three clean sheets in five as United notched up their first win of the campaign following last week’s 2-0 triumph away to Werribee City.

RB: Declan Lambert (Richmond)
The teenage full-back made his senior debut in Richmond’s first top-flight fixture against Hume last year and has continued on with his development at Kevin Bartlett Reserve this term. Mature, consistent and with his feet placed firmly on the ground, he was his team’s best in April.

CB: Simon Colosimo (Dandenong Thunder)
While he is more revered for his defensive abilities, the ex-Socceroo also had a good month in the attacking front having netted two world class goals from range against the Eastern Lions and Whittlesea respectively – the latter becoming a viral sensation this week.

CB: Jordon Hall (Melbourne City)
Now in his third year Bundoora, the teenager joined City in 2015 from Blacktown City and continues to stake his claim as one of the second tier’s best defender. Having recently played his 50th league game for City, he is growing in stature and confidence with a possible first-team call up on the cards.

LB: Jeremy Min Fa (Springvale White Eagles)
The former Malvern City full-back makes his second starting appearances this year and was easily Springvale’s best in another underwhelming month for Vlado Tortevski’s side. Shifted out to left-back, he has made a smooth transition and continues to impress.

CM: Alon Blumgart (Dandenong Thunder)
Having failed to stamp a starting eleven role at either Green Gully or Bulleen in 2016, the former Melbourne Heart Youth team player is enjoying life in the centre of the park at George Andrews Reserve and has delivered some of his best performance in a Thunder shirt for the month of April.

CM: Lewis Greenwood (Murray United)
It is hard to believe that the exciting youngster is still only 17 years old having amassed plenty of senior team experience since debuting in 2015. Started all five of United’s league games in the past month and also scored his second goal of the campaign in the 2-0 triumph over Werribee in Myrtleford.

AM: Zac Walker (Murray United)
Three goals in five games from United’s forward talisman who has enjoyed sharing the goals with the likes of Archie Thompson and Chad Bugeja lately. An eventual winner away in the wet to Richmond was followed up by a late brace against the besieged Bendigo.

RF: Mate Dugandzic (Dandenong City)
His best month in a Hajduk shirt to date included the sealer in City’s 3-1 win away to the Zebras and further goals against Murray and Bendigo as well as the memorable performance in the FFA Cup. His quality shone through on numerous occasions throughout the month.

CF: Brandon Barnes (Dandenong Thunder)
A notable absentee from TOTM in March – his first omission in the monthly team since moving to Australia last year, the Englishman responded in style netting 8 goals in 5 games to single-handedly salvage 10 points out of Thunder’s 13 in the same month in which he became a dad.

LF: Mitch Cooper (Nunawading City)
The former A-League midfielder has been given greater freedom in a more advanced role and excelled for City this campaign. April saw him find the back of the net six times which included a four goal-haul against Bendigo City as well as further strikes against Melbourne Victory and Sunshine George Cross.

Bench:

Abdulkerim Koc (Murray United)
An excellent month in between the sticks for the former Whittlesea Ranges custodian who is enjoying life as number one at the regional club and collected two clean sheets to his name in April.

Shaun Filipovic (Dandenong City)
A second consecutive TOTM appearance for the 23-year-old who up until this year had been deployed as a box-to-box midfielder. A hat-trick in Hajduk’s final fixture against Bendigo City as well as another strike in the 2-2 draw have taken him up to eight goals from 11 matches.

Ali Eyigun (Melbourne City)
The longest-serving member of City’s current youth crop, the 19-year-old has featured in defence this campaign where he has once more demonstrated his versatility and talent.

Ryan Go (Box Hill United)
An improved month from Pythagoras saw a number of improved performers which included ex-Northcote left wing-back Go, who has spent time in the youth setup of Dutch giants Feyenoord.

James Brown (Nunawading City)
Continues to show his quality at Mahoneys Reserve and is leading by example. Netted twice in the past month and is surely going to be one of the most sought-after players in the upcoming window.

Robert Hughes (Goulburn Valley Suns)
The Welshman took some time to find his feet in Shepparton but has enjoyed his best run of form in a Suns shirt lately and netted two superb free-kicks as well as an excellent finish against Brunswick.

Archie Thompson (Murray United)
The Victory legend might feel a bit hard-done by not being named in the staring XI having netted his maiden goal for Murray against Werribee before scoring against Hajduk and netting a double vs Bendigo.