It wasn’t always pretty, but South Melbourne found a way, overcoming late goals, long nights, and some real scares to book their place in another Dockerty Cup Final.
Round 4
Eastern Lions 0–3 South Melbourne
South Melbourne began their Dockerty Cup campaign with a clinical away performance at Gardiners Creek Reserve against VPL2 side Eastern Lions. Robert Harding wasted no time making an impact, opening the scoring in the 6th minute and doubling his tally with a composed finish in the 32nd to complete a first-half brace. With a 2-0 lead heading into the second half, South maintained control, and Andy Brennan added a third in the 59th minute to seal a confident 3-0 victory and progression to Round 5.
Round 5
Bentleigh Greens 1–1 (1–2 AET) South Melbourne
South faced VPL1 outfit Bentleigh Greens at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex — a side with proven Cup pedigree, having won the title in 2022.
The Greens pushed the reigning NPLM Premiers all the way in a tightly contested clash. After a goalless first half, tensions boiled over with a flurry of cautions issued to both sides.
Bentleigh looked to have snatched the win with Ayden Von Essen scoring in the 87th minute, but Marco Jankovic responded almost immediately, equalising in the 89th to force extra time.
With the tie on a knife’s edge, Andrew Messourouni stepped up in the 100th minute to score the decisive goal and keep South’s Cup hopes alive.
Round 6
South Melbourne 2–1 Pascoe Vale
Back at Lakeside Stadium, South came up against VPL2 opponents Pascoe Vale in what proved to be another nervy encounter.
Tyson Sacco gave the visitors a shock lead inside the opening 20 minutes, and South found themselves chasing the game yet again. As time ticked away, it was Jankovic once more who delivered — thundering home an equaliser in the 81st minute. Then, deep into stoppage time, Jordan Lampard — the 2023 NPLM Gold Medal winner — found the back of the net to complete the comeback and secure a dramatic win.
Round 7
Dandenong City 1–1 (1–3 pens) South Melbourne
A cold Tuesday night clash at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex saw South take on Dandenong City in one of their sternest tests yet.
Jamie Latham’s goal gave the hosts the lead, continuing South’s trend of falling behind in the Cup. Andy Brennan drew level in the 55th minute, but despite chances for both sides, neither team could break the deadlock across regulation and extra time. In the resulting penalty shootout, South held their nerve and prevailed 3–1, booking a place in the final four.
Semi-Final
South Melbourne 3–1 Avondale
Lakeside Stadium hosted a blockbuster semi-final between South Melbourne and arch-rivals Avondale — a fixture steeped in recent history and Grand Final drama.
South flipped the script by striking first, with Jack Pope scoring in the 32nd minute. But Avondale hit back before the breakthrough Yusuf Ahmed to level the score at half-time.
With everything to play for, South rose to the occasion. Andy Brennan put the hosts back in front before Nahuel Bonada sealed the deal with a third, sending South Melbourne into the Dockerty Cup Final and keeping their title defence alive.
2025 Dockerty Cup Final: Heidelberg United v South Melbourne
- Saturday, August 9 @ The Home of The Matildas