With a cavernous closed season for Australia’s elite domestic competition – a seven-month break, amid a later start to this year’s A-League campaign – the local scene had extra significance this season.
Apart from the odd Socceroos fixture, the local state competitions were the only avenue for enthusiasts to engage in their state’s highest altitude of football.
For distinctive reasons, each state encompassed success, with an exuberance of talent, skill and enthusiasm all on display, in what was an exhibit of community football at its finest.
Victoria:
The Victorian football scene had a new partner in crime for the 2011 season, with the introduction of the state-wide knockout cup competition – the Mirabella Cup. Since the exploits of the Dockerty Cup, this constituent of football had been in recession since 2004 – last won by Green Gully Cavaliers – however the introduction of Victoria’s newest cup competition was a grand addition to the landscape of our game.
The Victorian Premier League was the most closely contested in several years. Leading into the final round of the home and away season, numerous positions were up for grabs, amid the minor premiership becoming hot property.
In extraordinary circumstances, Green Gully – who started the final round in fifth position – trounced Bentleigh Greens 5-0, while the remaining four teams failed to claim victory, descending down the table. The Cavaliers ultimately leapfrogged its rivals to the summit of the table and miraculously claim the minor premiership. Only three points separated the top five, with Oakleigh Cannons sharing the spoils with Green Gully, only to finish second on goal difference.
A pulsating finals series saw Green Gully and Oakleigh Cannons book their tickets to the Grand Final at the amphitheatre of Victorian football, AAMI Park – a fitting finale with both clubs finishing in the top two. With the Cavaliers trailing 2-1 at the half-time interval, substitute Hamid Basma pulled a goal back to level the scores. The tie ventured into extra-time, where Basma verified his worth by scoring in the 95th minute, which proved to the winning strike.
The Victorian powerhouse recorded back-to-back VPL titles, claiming their ninth state league championship – their sixth title in 12 years. An astonishing accomplishment.
At the other end of the table, St Albans Saints and Springvale White Eagles were instantly relegated back State League 1, after winning promotion to Victoria’s pinnacle division in 2010. Whilst in an animated final day; Whittlesea Zebras won the honour of promotion, accompanied with Southern Stars to the VPL. Port Melbourne had encompassed top position for the majority of the season, only to be extinguished in the last hour.
Turning our attention towards the Mirabella Cup, the competition witnessed a raft of exhilaration, with the notion of the underdog prevailing in the hearts of the Victorian football community. Little known regional outfit, Cobram Victory made soundwaves throughout the tournament, prevailing over Whittlesea Zebras – who claimed the State League 1 championship, to win promotion back into the top flight of Victorian football – whilst also winning the scalp of FC Clifton Hill, who ply their trade in State League 2. Cobram were gallant, but ultimately succumbed to former NSL champions, Melbourne Knights 2-1 in the final 12.
The Knights went on to cement their birth in the inaugural cup final, locking horns with Northcote City, who dashed Green Gully’s aspirations of winning an historic Victorian treble – comprising of the VPL minor premiership and championship and the Mirabella cup crown – by triumphing 2-1 in the semi final.
VPL Gold Medal winner, Glen Trifiro – best and fairest player throughout the VPL campaign – scored the opening goal in the final for Northcote City, before Nicholas Curtis sealed the victory with a strike on 71 minutes. Northcote’s 2-0 feat was their first major trophy, and brought an upbeat closure to the Victorian football calendar.
Coaching changes in the VPL:
Arthur Papas’ impressive season at Oakleigh Cannons – finalists in both the VPL and Mirabella Cup – has seen the 31-year-old-coach win a contact with Melbourne Heart’s foundational youth team, where he will be the assistant coach, working alongside former Socceroos striker John Aloisi.
Andy Vlahos has taken the reins at Heidelberg United, replacing George Katsakis as the first-team coach. Meanwhile, Peter Tsolakis will take charge of South Melbourne, succeeding Eddie Krncevic as coach.
VPL players winning A-League/National Youth League contracts:
Former Green Gully custodian Nikola Roganovic has signed with Melbourne Heart – initially as the club’s back-up keeper – although injury to Clint Bolton just days before the season’s opening has given Roganovic a grand opportunity to showcase his credentials. Last season’s second choice keeper, Peter Zois – who plies his trade for Oakleigh Cannons – has been converted to the role of Heart goalkeeping coach.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Craig Goodwin will play in Heart’s inaugural youth league campaign, after impressing with Oakleigh Cannons this year.
New South Wales:
Sydney Olympic procured a fantastic campaign, to claim the minor premiership with a resounding display of football. The former NSL champion beat nearest rival Sydney Olympic by four points to win top spot after 22 rounds.
It was fitting that the two best-performed teams clashed in the New South Wales Premier League Grand Final. On the eve of the A-League’s commencement, the finale was watched by an enthusiastic crowd of 10,138 at Belmore Sportsground.
In what was at times a tedious encounter, with a sense of caution depicted amongst the teams, Olympic ultimately got the better of their arch-rival, sealing victory with a convincing 2-0 triumph. The enchanted fairytale for former Sydney FC stalwarts Mark Rudan and Ufuk Talay didn’t come into fruition – who are set to formally announce their retirement from all forms of the game – although they can hold their heads up with a towering sense of dignity and honour with what they have achieved in football.
Meanwhile, Paramatta FC and Bankstown City were relegated to the NSW Super League.
Queensland:
Sunshine Coast Fire demonstrated their prominence in Queensland football by winning back-to-back Queensland State League championships, prevailing over former NSL triumphant Brisbane Strikers 1-0 at Perry Park. Reminiscent of the Victorian and NSW state league Grand Finals, both affiliates occupied the top two positions after the customary home and away season.
Sunshine Coast won the minor premiership by a margin of five points, and later on reconfirmed their supremacy with victory at the epicentre of the Queensland football calendar.
Western Australia:
The All Flags Premier League division served up a profusion of excitement and drama in the 2011 season. Balcatta SC was the run-away leaders, claiming the minor premiership by a whopping 12-point margin, over nearest rival Perth SC. Although, their presence at the summit of the WA football tree was short lived, bowing out to eventual winners Perth 2-1 in the major semi final.
Perth, who finished the regulatory season in second spot, exemplified why they’re the most revered outfit in WA football, trouncing Sorrento FC 7-0 at Frank Drago Reserve in an amazing Grand Final. The win cemented their third successive championship – a memorable way to cap off a tremendous hat-trick of titles. Perth are embarking on an incredible dynasty within WA football, can the champions create more history next year?
South Australia:
The South Australian Super League served up an enticing finale to the home and away season, with Metro Stars edging their noses past the finishing line, winning the minor premiership by a solitary point over the prominent Adelaide City.
Despite their dominance throughout the year, neither side would go on to claim greater honours in the finals series. With both outfits slipping up in the earlier stages of the play-offs, it meant their double chance would see them play-off for a spot in the Grand Final. On this occasion, Adelaide City won the bragging rights, courtesy of a riveting 6-5 victory.
City ventured on to battle Adelaide Blue Eagles for the coveted championship. Evocative of the preliminary final, there was no room for caution, with an identical scoreline of 6-5. However, on this occasion Adelaide City were on the receiving end, gifting the Blue Eagles the win and the King’s of South Australian football.
Tasmania:
In the Tasmanian Northern Premier League, Prospect Knights won the minor premiership by the barest of margins, equal on points with Northern Rangers, the Knights’ superior goal difference proved to be the deciding factor. It was the club’s first Premier League title in 52 years.
Moving over to the Tasmanian Southern Premier League, South Hobart won the minor premiership in compelling fashion, accounting of nearest competent Tilford Zebras by 11 points.
With the two divisions split on a geographical basis, the top four from the North and South leagues play-off to be crowed the State-Wide Tasmanian champions. The Grand Final was hosted South Hobart and New Town Eagles at Aurora Stadium, where South Hobart illustrated their supremacy, claiming a fulfilling 3-1 success.
Australian Capital Territory:
The ACT Premier League was conquered by Canberra FC from start to finish. Throughout the year, Canberra demonstrated their proficiency, winning by extravagant margin, and deservingly held the minor premiership in their qualms at the conclusion of the customary home and away season.
In what was deemed a thrilling Grand Final, Canberra FC and Canberra Olympic put on an eccentric exhibition at Deakin Stadium – where a 13 goal thriller engulfed the finale. Showcasing vigour and fortitude, Olympic took it up to their city rivals, although Canberra FC proved to be a mountain too high, prevailing with an astounding 8-5 coup, to be depicted as the 2011 ACT champions – their fifth consecutive title.
Courtesy of Goal Weekly. Follow Robbie on Twitter @RobertDiFabio.
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