The opening round of the 2025 Dockerty Cup showcased 40 matches across Victoria, and there were no shortage of cupsets, goals and extra-time encounters to whet the appetite for next week’s second round.
Despite their strongly fancied opposition, Monbulk Rangers (State 4 East) were fearless in their visit to George Andrews Reserve. Dandenong South (State 3 South-East) would not have bargained for such a spirted performance from the visitors, and after a goalless ninety minutes, South’s worst nightmares were confirmed when Liam Baker scored a belter from long-range in the 100th minute to seal a place in the Round of 64.
Hillsview Recreation Reserve was the scene of another shock, as Bundoora United (State 3 North-West), fresh from a fifth-round cup run in 2024, fell 2-0 at home to West Preston (State 4 North) courtesy of a goal in each half to Jakob Van Der Vliet and Jonathan Tsangas. Keilor Wolves (State 4 West) continued the cupset formline, winning 3-2 in a close tussle against Rowville Eagles (State 3 South-East).
Cup debutants Burwood City celebrated their debut with a 2-1 away win to Lilydale Montrose United, despite being a player and a goal down at the half. Second-half strikes to Andreas Aalbers and Isaac Pais confirmed a historic day for the club in only its seventh year since formation.
Perhaps the biggest turn-up came in the final match played in the opening round, with Templestowe Wolves (State 5 North) upending Heatherton United (State 3 South-East) who sit a full two divisions above them in the league pyramid. The opening goal from Jonathan Fulfaro was followed by a brace from Tristian Leo to complete a comprehensive 3-1 win.
Goals aplenty from several players ensures that the leading goalscorer race in the 2025 Dockerty Cup will be a thrilling contest. In all, six strikers managed to nab hat-tricks and aid their club’s progression to the next round, with all of them setting a hot pace in their bid to claim the Alec Forrest Medal.
Alec Forrest Medal Leaderboard:
- James Alexander (Surf Coast) 3
- Mirko Cilli (Moreland Eagles) 3
- Masee Namdar (Hampton Park United) 3
- Jack McEvoy (Middle Park) 3
- Ervin Smajic (Balmoral)
- Ivan Silic (Hoppers Crossing) 3
Dockerty Cup Round 1 Results:
- Point Cook (MSL4W) 3 West Point (MSL4W) 0
- Maryborough (BDSA) 1 Melbourne City (MSL4W) 7
- Manningham Juventus (MSL4E) 4 Myrtleford Savoy (AWFA) 1
- Old Ivanhoe (MSL5N) 2 Truganina (MSL5W) 1
- Monash University (MSL4S) 8 Tarneit United (MSL5W) 0
- Moreland Eagles (MSL5N) 4 Gisborne (MSL5W) 1
- Moonee Valley Knights (MSL4N) 1 Waverley Wanderers (MSL3SE) 4
- Monash City Villarreal (MSL4E) 2 Sale United (LVSL) 0
- Baxter (MSL4S) 5 Colac Otway Rovers (Geelong) 1
- Deakin University (MSL4W) 5 Epsom (BASL) 2
- Boronia (MSL5E) 0 Surf Coast (MSL3NW) 8
- Dandenong South (MSL3SE) 0 Monbulk Rangers (MSL4E) 1 (AET)
- Alphington (MSL5N) 2 Barnstoneworth United (MSL4W) 3
- White Star Dandenong (MSL3SE) 3 Doreen United (MSL5N) 1 (AET)
- Laverton (MSL3NW) 3 Ashburton United (MSL3SE) 2
- Middle Park (MSL3SE) 7 La Trobe University Bendigo (BASL) 0
- Hampton Park United Sparrows (MSL3SE) 3 Sunbury United (MSL3NW) 2
- Knox United (MSL4E) 2 Meadow Park (MSL5N) 1
- Seaford United (MSL5S) 1 Yarra Jets (MSL4E) 2
- Newport Storm (MSL5W) 0 Altona North (MSL3NW) 7
- Diamond Valley United (MSL3NW) 1 Hoppers Crossing (MSL3NW) 4
- Casey Panthers (MSL5S) 1 Mount Eliza (MSL5S) 2
- Plenty Valley Lions (MSL3NW) 3 Birrarung (MSL5N) 0
- Endeavour United (MSL4S) 1 Fawkner (MSL4N) 0
- Glenroy Lions (MSL4N) 1 Old Melburnians (MSL5E) 0
- Bundoora United (MSL3NW) 0 West Preston (MSL4N) 2
- Lilydale Montrose United (MSL5E) 1 Burwood City (MSL5E) 2
- Moonee Ponds United (MSL4N) 3 Chelsea (MSL4S) 1
- Brunswick Zebras (MSL3NW) 5 Riversdale (MSL4E) 1
- Ringwood City (MSL4E) 2 Mount Waverley City (MSL4E) 1
- Bell Park (MSL4W) 2 Spring Hills (MSL5W) 1
- Keilor Wolves (MSL4W) 3 Rowville Eagles (MSL3SE) 2
- Frankston Pines (MSL4S) 0 Sandringham (MSL3SE) 4
- Warrnambool Rangers (MSL5N) 1 Rosebud (MSL4S) 3 (AET)
- Bunyip District (MSL5S) 1 Sebastopol Vikings (MSL3NW) 2 (AET)
- Bacchus Marsh (BDSA) 0 Heidelberg Eagles (MSL3NW) 1
- Greater Dandenong (MSL3SE) 1 East Kew (MSL4E) 0
- Balmoral (MSL4W) 5 Castlemaine Goldfields (BASL) 1
- Golden City (BASL) 0 Croydon City (MSL3SE) 5
- Templestowe Wolves (MSL5E) 3 Heatherton United (MSL3SE) 1