By Kieran Yap 9/9/23
Above: The 2023 Victorian NPLW premiers, South Melbourne. Photo: South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne 4-2 Bulleen Lions
South Melbourne has won the 2023 Victorian NPLW Grand Final after defeating the Bulleen Lions 4-2 in an entertaining game at The Home of the Matildas.
Bulleen entered this game as the premiers. Caitlin Friend’s team finished on top of the ladder after winning on the final day of the season to leapfrog Boroondara-Carey.
Ironically, it was due to South Melbourne winning their Round 22 match against The Eagles that secured Bulleen top spot. But that was the last favour that George Georgiadis’s team was willing to do this season.
Bulleen came in to this game without Tiffany Eliadis, Alex Natoli and Lia Muldeary from their best lineup. Semi-final hero Claudia Mihocic was also unavailable for selection.
South Melbourne were at nearly full strength, and welcomed Leticia Mckenna back into the starting lineup. The experienced youngster was a substitute in last weekends win over Boroondara and was busy early. She had the first shot on goal within 30 seconds.
South opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Tayla Christensen’s corner curled in to beat Gaby Garton directly. The goal felt eerily reminiscent of the way Bulleen conceded in last season’s decider to an Alana Cerne cross that turned into a shot.
Bulleen were able to equalise through Maja Markovski’s excellent goal. The in-form attacker was deployed on the wing and she was able to spread the ball wide to Beattie Goad, then finish off the cross herself in the 24th minute.
South retook the lead with another Olympico. This time it was Akeisha Sandhu from the opposite side who found the net directly from the corner.
Markovski almost equalised, but was denied by a miracle save from Miranda Templeman. The South Melbourne goalkeeper dove the wrong direction, but an outstretched leg deflected the ball clear after Markovski’s clever turn and shot.
Bulleen came out of the break and looked more in control of the game. Despite Alana Jancevski and Rosie Rodger creating moments of danger and Paige Zois stamping an influence on the midfield, they were unable to draw level.
South’s other captain and star recruit Danielle Wise effectively sealed the game in the 70th minute. Bulleen were in relative control of the game, but a turnover in midfield led to Danielle Wise being sprung free on the counter attack. She had some close misses throughout the night, but made no mistake on this occasion. Making it 3-1 and giving Bulleen a mountain to climb.
Substitue Zoe Lambi scored the fourth for South as Bulleen piled forward in search of two goals. The well taken finish capped off a sweeping end to end move.
Jancevski pulled back a consolation goal in injury time, but the match was soon over and South Melbourne are premiers once again.
This was a terrific achievement from South who invested heavily in their side this season. The signing of Wise was a no brainer after the striker won the Golden Boot in 2022, but the additions of Miesha Westland, Leticia Mckenna, Miranda Templeman and Lambi were masterstrokes.
It took some time for South to hit their straps this season, but they peaked that the right time. It was not a perfect year, but it was a well-managed campaign.
On the night itself, they played to their strengths. The defensive pairing of Leah Varley and Brianne Reed were excellent, and limited Jancevski’s influence as much as possible. She has been one of the leagues best strikers this season and proved impossible to keep quiet for the full match, but overall the defence did their job.
The midfield worked hard, and released the likes of Christensen and Wise quickly. They tried to put the depleted defence under pressure quickly and that earned them enough scoring chances to take home the trophy.
Bulleen will leave disappointed and wondering what might have been. They played well enough to draw level, but South simply took their chances better and when luck was a factor it was not in Bulleen’s favour.
There was a clear domino effect from their injuries and player availability. No Natoli or Mihocic meant that Tyla-Jay Vlajnic had to deputise at centre back. Beattie Goad was required at fullback and without Muldeary, there was no option to get either player forward very much.
They won the premiership, and it would have felt like a real injustice had they ended this season empty handed, but the Grand Final proved one challenge too many in a long season.
If there is a silver lining it is that the younger players like Rodger, Aroha Little and Jessica Young all look like future stars of the competition.
There is plenty to build on for Bulleen and will continue to attract experienced players to add to their impressive youth.
This day was all about South Melbourne though, and it was a hugely impressive win over a highly fancied opponent.
South set out to be champions again, and they have achieved that after missing finals entirely in 2022.
Congratulations South Melbourne, and all the teams who played in the 2023 Victorian NPLW season. It really was a terrific year of football. It has been a pleasure to cover this league, and watching it provided the privilege of seeing some of the best players in the country and the most promising rising stars.
Bring on 2024.
Starting Lineups:
South Melbourne
Templeman (GK), Wise, Papatsanis, Sandhu, Christensen, Westland, Kljajic, Mckenna, Reed, Iermano, Varley.
Goals: Christensen 15’ Sandhu 29’ Wise 70’ Lambi 87’
Bulleen:
Garton (GK), Jancevski, Beck, Burn, Markovski, Zois, Little, Rodger, Young, Goad, Vlajnic.
Goals: Markovski 24’ Jancevski 94’
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