Whilst Oakleigh Cannons come into their NPLM elimination final with the higher ladder position, it’s Dandenong City that hold the head-to-head advantage through the regular season, setting up an intriguing clash at Jack Edwards Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
The Cannons are coming into the Finals series off the back of three points over fellow top-six side Hume City in Round 26, a victory that earned them home ground advantage in this first week of finals.
Recent form shows a reason for optimism. Their last seven games comprise a win against South Melbourne and a 3-all draw against Avondale, both top-two sides. The only blemish, a loss to the resurgent St Albans Saints.
The form line that doesn’t work in their favour is the one against this week’s opponents, in the league so far this season.
Spoils were shared at the Frank Holohan Soccer Complex back in Round 4, before Dandenong City claimed at 2-0 win on Oakleigh’s turf in the sides’ most recent encounter.
Dandenong themselves also have a victory over South Melbourne in their last few games, but their last five is a little more split, with two wins and three losses.
However, it’s that record over Oakleigh specifically that makes encouraging reading for City.
Englishman Joe Guest will lead the way for the Cannons, the 2019 NPLM Gold Medal winner has had another great season, his four appearances in the NPL Team of the Week better than any of his teammates.
Guest’s 11 goals on the year is only beaten by his compatriot Alex Salmon, whose total currently sits at an equal-league high 16. Salmon is currently in a rich vein of form as well, with five of those goals coming in his last three matches.
If there’s goals to be scored in this one, the English pair won’t be too far away.
Dandenong City meanwhile, will be looking to make waves in their first appearance in the NPLM finals series, to cap off a successful two-year period for the club.
Earning promotion from the then NPL2 in 2023 to successfully bounce back up immediately into top-flight football, before qualifying straight away for the top six is in itself is a great achievement.
Former Melbourne Victory striker Kenny Athiu leads the goalscoring charts for Dandenong City, but with no one in the double digits, they're likely to share the responsibility around.
The sides in this Elimination Final already know their fate should they advance through to the semis.
If Oakleigh Cannons get the job done at home, then their ticket in the second week will be to Avenger Park to take on Avondale, the reigning NPLM Champions.
Meanwhile, if Dandenong City previal, they’ll take on South Melbourne at Lakeside Stadium in their Semi-Final clash.
Elimination Final in detail
Elimination Final 1: Oakleigh Cannons vs Dandenong City
Venue: Jack Edwards Reserve, Oakleigh
Date/Time: Saturday 24 August 2024, 2:15PM
All-time Head-to-Head
Played: 9
Oakleigh Cannons: 6
Dandenong City: 1
Draws: 2
2024 Season Head-to-Head
Played: 2
Oakleigh Cannons: 0
Dandenong City: 1
Draws: 1
2024 Match Summaries
Round 4, Friday March 1, 2024, 7:45pm @ Frank Holohan Soccer Complex, Endeavour Hills.
Dandenong City 1 (Bower 7);
Oakleigh Cannons 1 (Salmon 21).
Referee: Lucas Mattia.
Dandenong City: John Hall, Jacob Alexander, Jack Webster, Kurt Kouakou (Timothy Atherinos 78), Kenny Athiu, Brady Quinn (Kyan Bryant 84), Valli Cesnik (Christopher Irwin 78), Danny Kim, Thomas Giannakopoulos, Michael Martinovic, Will Bower (Seb Hernando 75); Coach: Nick Tolios; Cautions: Quinn 40, Kouakou 73, Irwin 84, Webster 88, Bryant 90+2, Martinovic 90+5, Kim 90+8.
Oakleigh Cannons: Nicholas Feely, Connor Hampson, Brodie Boyce, Jacob Eliopoulos, Cameron McGilp, Alex Salmon, Joe Guest, Moonib Adus (Pierce Waring 59), Oliver Kubilay, Stefan Valentini, Emlyn Wellsmore (Kingsley Sinclair 59); Coach: Chris Taylor; Cautions: Guest 83, Kubilay 90+5, Salmon 90+5, Eliopoulos 90+5.
Round 17, Monday June 10, 2024, 3:00pm @ Jack Edwards Reserve, Oakleigh.
Oakleigh Cannons 0;
Dandenong City 2 (Lambadaridis 21, Atherinos 36).
Referee: George Lakrindis.
Oakleigh Cannons: Nicholas Feely, Connor Hampson, Brodie Boyce, Cameron Mcgilp, Alex Salmon, Joe Guest, Moonib Adus (Asad Kasumovic 65), Kingsley Sinclair, Oliver Kubilay, Stefan Valentini, Emlyn Wellsmore; Coach: Chris Taylor; Cautions: Valentini 34, Kubilay 74.
Dandenong City: John Hall, Stefan Brecevic, Jack Webster, Valli Cesnik (Brady Quinn 76), Danny Kim, Thomas Giannakopoulos, James Xydias, Timothy Atherinos (Kyan Bryant 87), Will Bower (Jacob Alexander 76), George Lambadaridis, Jackson Lino; Coach: Nick Tolios; Cautions: Kim 74, Lino 90+3.
Oakleigh Cannons Season Summary
Finishing Position: 3rd (Season Record: P26 W16 D5 L5)
Coach: Chris Taylor (Season Record: as above)
Players used: 22
Goals scored: 53
Goals conceded: 28
Cautions: 56
Send offs: 2
Clean sheets: 8
Oakleigh Cannons Player Statistics
| Player | Ap | St | Su | Gls | Ye | Re | TOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moonib Adus | 21 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Max Bisetto | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brodie Boyce | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Jacob Eliopoulos | 15 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Nicholas Feely (GK) | 23 | 23 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Roy Gregory | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Guest | 23 | 22 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| Jordan Hall | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Connor Hampson | 18 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Noah Holmes | 17 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Asad Kasumovic | 17 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Oliver Kubilay | 22 | 22 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Cameron McGilp | 23 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Luke Mensink | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hamish Millar | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Salmon | 21 | 21 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Kingsley Sinclair | 24 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Jacob Tratt | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Stefan Valentini | 18 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Pierce Waring | 20 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Emlyn Wellsmore | 25 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Brendan White (GK) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dandenong City Season Summary
Finishing Position: 6th (Season Record: P26 W11 D4 L11)
Coach: Nick Tolios (Season Record: as above)
Players used: 30
Goals scored: 50
Goals conceded: 51
Cautions: 70
Send offs: 1
Clean sheets: 4
Dandenong City Player Statistics
| Player | Ap | St | Su | Gls | Ye | Re | TOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Alexander | 13 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Timothy Atherinos | 23 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenny Athiu | 22 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Will Bower | 22 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Stefan Brecevic | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Oliver Bressan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyan Bryant | 11 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Valli Cesnik | 24 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryan Crasto | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thomas Giannakopoulos | 23 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Matthew Giofkou | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Hall (GK) | 26 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Nicholas Hamakiotis | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Luqman Hassani | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matthew Hennessey | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seb Hernando | 13 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Damian Iaconis | 15 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Christopher Irwin | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Danny Kim | 25 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Kurt Kouakou | 14 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| George Lambadaridis | 23 | 21 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Jackson Lino | 19 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| Michael Martinovic | 17 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Noble | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brad Plant | 6 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brady Quinn | 23 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Joshua Scarlett | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Olia Sholong | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Webster | 23 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| James Xydias | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Statistical summary
Ap: appearances
St: starting appearances
Su: substitute appearances
Gls: goals (for goalkeepers, this is clean sheets)
Ye: cautions
Re: send offs
TOW: Team of the week appearances