Image: Passion Creations Photography. Graphic: Ajax 55
Slightly delayed and bypassing the vote for May due to a lack of time and resources, TCF has determined our Player of the Month for May. And that player is Todd Dekker after a bag of goals in a month in which Box Hill coach Greg Kassidas also claimed Manager of the Month as the club drove itself away from relegation with an unbeaten run. But congratulations also to the four nominees below, who also had exceptional months for their respective clubs.
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RF: Todd Dekker (Box Hill United)
From the club’s perspective it was a fruitful month with wins over Bendigo, Nunawading and Murray, plus a credible draw against Melbourne City. On a personal note, the younger brother of Green Gully striker Wade proved himself to be quite the goalscorer, having added eight goals to his name in four games in May. A hat-trick against Bendigo City was followed up by an incredible five-goal haul in the 5-4 thriller against Murray.
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The other four shortlisted:
Shaun Filipovic (Dandenong City)
A goal against Melbourne Victory was followed by a hat-trick vs Eastern Lions before adding a further strike to his name against Goulburn. A tally of five for the month – not bad for a player who before this season had spent the entirety of his five-year senior career as a box-to-box midfielder.
Liam Flynn (Northcote City)
Flynn was particularly impressive for Northcote and versatile in a number of defensive and attacking roles on the left. Netted against old club Richmond and that free kick to salvage a draw against Moreland City was a particular standout.
Charlie King (Ballarat City)
The Dandenong Thunder result aside, Ballarat had another decent Month in May with good wins against Victory and Brunswick and a clean sheet against Werribee, and its defensive record particularly in those three games was is in large due to Charlie’s work in holding midfield.
Aki Machiyama (Werribee City)
It’s been a season of two halves for Werribee but May saw a resurgence of sorts which led to the team’s ongoing form. Werribee were impressive defensively, conceding just four times and keeping a clean sheet for the month, with wins against Springvale and, most impressively, Moreland Zebras. The Japanese defender was at the heart of defence during this run and was solid throughout.