By Greg Blake
The wait ate up around six hours of a lazy Sunday afternoon. Heidelberg United’s 1pm game at South Hobart’s Darcy Street home was a thriller. It ended at 2-2. It wasn’t until around 6.30pm that the last of the Group D games was completed and Alexander learned that their home quarter final next weekend would be against South Australia’s North Eastern MetroStars.
On Saturday Wollongong finally shed its sheep’s clothing and – playing like ravenous Wolves – shredded Marconi and, in so doing, assured Heidelberg United of top spot in Group B and a guaranteed home final eight game to come. So Sunday’s game in Hobart wasn’t supposed to matter. A dead rubber. But no-one told the locals. South Hobart deservedly led the game against visiting Alexander and then fought back boldly after falling behind. It was an epic and finished 2-2.
In real terms the result didn’t change a thing, but Sunday’s game was much more than that. There was a matter of pride on the line. Of belonging on the national stage. Of avenging a humiliating six-goal first-half mauling at the hands of Alexander only a matter of weeks ago. And simply flying the flag for the game in Tasmania. In such matters South Hobart ticked every single box.
And in a broader sense, any non-committal onlooker from Australia’s still largely modest soccer audience could surely not resistant the romance of watching games from venues as oddly eclectic and delightfully ‘old-school’ as South Hobart Oval. Or Leichardt Oval. Or Avenger Park. Historic Olympic Village. Iconic Bossely Park. On Sunday just that backdrop of Mount Wellington and the cluster of quaint, single story dwellings – with chimneys – surrounding South Hobart’s ground was a delight. And no developments in sight.
The diversity in stadium aesthetics and accompanying backdrops alone offer and invite welcome adventures away from the state-of-the-art A League all-seaters, which all boast pretty much the same generic look and antiseptic feel.
Next Game
Heidelberg United v Metro Stars
In so very many ways, the Championship is a philosophical rival to the A-League. And while unconvinced of the ongoing viability of the Championship series, Sunday’s game in Hobart reinvigorated hopes that member-based clubs – with most boasting strong and long histories – are not going anywhere and deserve a platform alongside some fragile A-League franchises.
On Sunday, bolstered by a enthusiastically boisterous home crowd and craving a brave showing to complete their cameo in the series, South Hobart ripped the band-aid off Alexander’s tepid start with 17 year-old, Rex Maddox, getting the match opener 24 minutes in and putting the Warriors behind and on the backfoot for an uncomfortable third time in as many games.
Imperious as they’ve been for much of their 45-games and counting season, Heidelberg United and its largely adaptable interchange of starters only wandered towards half time, invigorated sporadically by a couple of wonderfully crafted left-foot free kicks from Marcus Humbert, both of which might have turned the tide.
Choc Dau ignited the second half, with his immediacy and fervor for the contest rallying the Warriors around him into producing their best period of the game. What many anticipated would be the inevitable comeback and goal blitz commenced just three minutes after the re-start. Dau’s cross from the left almost leisurely nodded home at the far post by a ghosting Johnny Apostolopolos. Dogged by injury and a dodgy red card, good to see Johnny A’s fortunes turning.
Dau followed up five minutes later to give Alexander the lead. And this one was all his and all class. Dau’s greyhound swift 40 metre dash down the left ended with his deftest of ballet steps to find balance at the top of the box before a final lethal launch for 2-1. Dau’s goal suggested that the damn wall had been breached.
Next Game
Heidelberg United v Metro Stars
No-one reckoned on Nick Morton’s ripping return of fire just ten minutes later, his dramatic leveler for South Hobart ensuring the Tassie side its first match point of the group games. I reckon not even the staunchest of Alexander supporters would be begrudge them that.
Interestingly, two goals conceded in a game is starting to appear as Heidelberg’s statistical Achilles heel. The Warriors have not won a game in which they’ve conceded twice or more since beating Moreland 3-2 at Olympic Village late in 2024. In the ten games Alexander has conceded two or more in 2025 they’ve lost five and drawn five.
The coming weekend quarter final clash against MetroStars will reacquaint Alexander fans with a player whom many maintain played the best five game spell at Heidelberg United of any newcomers in recent times in Lachie Barr. Barr exploded onto Victoria’s NPL scene in 2020 with Alexander, playing brilliantly in the opening five games of that season, before the state and the game were locked down. Barr returned to his native South Australia, never to wear the yellow and black again.
Next Game
Heidelberg United v Metro Stars
