Melbourne City have been the begiiest beneficiaries in March, with a good run of results and points deductions to Springvale and Dandenong Thunder putting them firmly in the promotion race. Dandenong City also benefited to now sit pretty on top, though there are plenty of peak peformers in the XI from around the clubs.
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GK: Muntadhar Al-Gazaly (Goulburn Valley Suns)
The local favourite can count himself unlucky on not making last month’s TOTM but features this time around having kept two clean sheets from two league games over the course of March before picking up an injury and missing last week’s 3-2 defeat away to the Eastern Lions.
RB: Enes Sivic (Dandenong City)
A second consecutive TOTM appearance for the 25-year-old who has been solid defensively as well as contributing in attack. Has thrived this term in his more natural position having spent last year patrolling the centre of the park as Hajduk’s defensive midfielder.
CB: Thomas Falconer (Eastern Lions)
The 29-year-old Englishman is renowned for his defensive abilities but has also chipped with crucial goals over the past month. Successful spot-kicks against Werribee and Goulburn have turned out to be winning strikes with his contribution at the back also key.
CB: Sean Pye (Murray United)
The 27-year-old is a natural midfielder but has featured in defence this term with his performances over the month drawing praise. A clean sheet in the 1-0 victory over Moreland City was the highlight with the former best and fairest winner preventing the likes of Rixon and Ukuno from scoring.
LB: Nathaniel Atkinson (Melbourne City)
While primarily featuring as City’s right-back, the teenager has also spent time on the left-hand side, excelling under the tutelage of Joe Palatsides. The Tasmanian will be looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow full-back Jeremy Walker and ultimately make his debut for the club’s seniors.
CM: Ashley Dunn (Murray United)
The 26-year-old has been one of the regional outfit’s best since arriving in Australia mid-way through 2015 and counts Phil Jones as a close friend. His late winner against Moreland City secured United’s first three points of the season with James Coutts’ men showing signs of improvement.
CM: Steven Topalovic (Dandenong City)
Having begun the year as a number six, the 26 year-old is now being deployed in an unfamiliar box-to-box midfield role. The 2015 NPL Championship winner has thrived in that role and formed a formidable midfield partnership with the returning Ljubo Milicevic.
AM: Joshua Cavallo (Melbourne City)
The 17-year-old moved to Bundoora from Victory Youth on the eve of the season, joining older brother Christian at the club. Has not looked back since and scored his maiden senior goal for City in their 3-1 triumph over Werribee before being influential in the 5-1 thrashing of former side.
RF: Gerrie Sylaidos (Melbourne City)
Three goals in three games has seen the 17-year-old move to second on the goalscoring charts behind Brandon Barnes with his overall season tally being five. Having already trained with the senior team last pre-season, the diminutive winger is definitely one player to keep an eye on.
CF: Shaun Filipovic (Dandenong City)
A box-to-box midfielder, the 23-year-old has been deployed in a more advanced forward position up front following the early season injuries to Paul Harvey and David Stirton. A game-sealing second against Ballarat and a brace against Nunawading highlights his goalscoring exploits.
LF: Veton Korcari (Dandenong Thunder)
Having battled back to full fitness following injury, the 31-year-old veteran made an immediate goalscoring return by netting a late equaliser in a draw to Moreland City before adding a quality brace against Northcote to his name. Came off injured during the first half against Murray.
Substitutes:
GK: Damir Salcin (Dandenong City)
The shot-stopper has had a dominant month between the sticks, keeping consecutive clean sheets against Sunshine and Ballarat before being denied a third by a 90th minute strike against Nunawading.
DF: Rodrigo Vargas (Dandenong Thunder)
The former Socceroo shows no signs of slowing down and has been one of the Thunder’s best performers in what was an underwhelming month for the 2012 VPL treble winners by their standards.
MF: Ljubo Milicevic (Dandenong City)
Rejuvenated at Hajduk, the ex-Socceroo’s inclusion into the starting eleven has coincided with City’s magnificent Month with the 36-year-old also getting himself on the scoresheet.
MF: Matthew Lelliott (Goulburn Valley Suns)
The Alice Springs native has been the Suns best outfield player this month with the former Adelaide United Youth team player also grabbing a goal in the 3-2 loss to Eastern last weekend.
MF: Yianni Toumanidis (Eastern Lions)
The 21-year-old midfielder is now in his third season at Gardiners Creek Reserve and is beginning to establish himself as a first team regular with another solid month of football under his belt.
FW: Gonzalo Freddi (Richmond)
A shining light in Richmond’s poor start to the campaign, the Argentine forward netted key goals against Bendigo and Box Hill to make it four goals from seven games this term following his switch from Dandy City.
FW: Marko Delic (Melbourne City)
The first player born in this millennium to feature in TOTM, the teenager netted goals against Victory and Springvale and is making great progress following his move from the Heidelberg youth system.