It’s the penultimate round in the NPL Men’s competition and a top of the table clash awaits to potentially determine the 2024 Premiers. The four-way race for the final play-off spot is still alive, and the bottom two could be decided.
Avondale v South Melbourne: Saturday 3:00pm
A blockbuster matchup at Avenger Park awaits as Avondale look to deny South Melbourne a perfect week, after they claimed both the Dockerty Cup and a scalp against A-League club Wellington Phoenix in the national stages of the Australia Cup, over the past seven days.
South need only a solitary point to wrap up the 2024 NPLM Premiership with a game to spare. Failure to do so, and Avondale will have a sniff heading into the final weekend.
A win for Avondale would also come with the added benefit of putting a top-two position almost beyond doubt. They currently hold a three-point lead over Oakleigh and Hume with an 11-goal difference advantage on both.
St Albans Saints v Green Gully: Sunday 3:00pm
After a run of five straight victories, St Albans need just one more win to complete their late-season charge out of the bottom two, currently holding a four-point lead to Manningham in 13th.
Their opponents, Green Gully are still mathematically vulnerable to Manningham as well - even with a 6-point and 14-goal difference advantage - so a point is needed to conclusively wrap up their safety.
Dandenong City v Port Melbourne Sharks: Friday 7:45pm
A place in the finals series is the jeopardy in this one, with both Dandenong and Port Melbourne teetering on the edge of the top six.
Dandenong are the ones who currently sit it the coveted 6th position, one point ahead of the Sharks.
A loss for Port Melbourne would rule a line through their play-off hopes, whilst Dandenong City would still have some life on the final day if they were to lose in this fixture.
Hume City v Altona Magic: Saturday 7:00pm
Hume City will be hoping for a South Melbourne win to lock Avondale at 50 points, meaning a win for Hume in this fixture would draw them level on points with the reigning-champions heading into the final weekend.
Whilst the Premiership is now out of reach, a top-two spot and a bye to the second week of finals is still a possibility.
Altona Magic are still an outside chance of clawing their way into the finals positions. They’ll need some other results to go there way, currently four points off the pace of Dandenong, but alive nonetheless.
Moreland City v Oakleigh Cannons: Saturday 3:00pm
Oakleigh, remarkably sitting on exactly the same points and goal difference as Hume, only hold third position by a solitary goal scored. They similarly will be looking to chase down Avondale’s second spot and earn the week’s rest in the first round of finals.
They come up against Moreland, a win will at minimum keep them in the conversation for second, whilst they will be paying attention to the goal difference column in their battle against Hume.
Melbourne Knights v Dandenong Thunder: Friday 7:30pm
A draw in the Dandenong v Port Melbourne fixture is the ideal scenario for Knights. If they can take points off each other, then a win here against Dandenong will see them shoot up two ladder positions and into the box seat.
Even if the draw doesn’t eventuate, a Knights win will pop them up to 7th at the worst, giving themselves a real chance when they take on Green Gully in round 26.
The Thunder on the other hand sit in the middle table gap between any mathematical chance of either relegation or making finals.
Manningham United v Heidelberg United: Saturday 3:00pm
It’s do or die time now for Manningham now in the race to escape the bottom two. This late in the season, even a complete six points from the remaining two rounds may not be enough.
But they must win if they want to have any chance to jump over the Saints. In their way is a Heidelberg team whose fight in the final two weeks is to crack into the top four and earn a home elimination final.
Their place in the play-offs is already confirmed, but to earn that incredibly valuable home ground advantage will require them making up two points to either Oakleigh or Hume down the stretch.