By Greg Blake
Heidelberg United host Oakleigh this Friday night at Olympic Village in a match as significant as any Alexander has played in season 2025. It is less than four months since Heidelberg sliced and diced the Cannons at their place, yet the tables haven’t just been turned, the whole dining area is in disarray since that game.
A devastating ten minute spell culminating in a couple of Nico Duarte goals and another from Fletcher Fulton in a ten minute blitz capped a Heidelberg United Alexander masterclass back in early March at the Jack Edwards Reserve. It was round five and the Warriors strode into half time of that game holding an emphatic 3-0 lead over Chris Taylor’s Oakleigh side.
Heidelberg appeared slick, skilled and unstoppable on the night and despite two very, very late Oakleigh goals to keep the contest alive, the Warriors came away five points clear of the Cannons on the NPL Victoria ladder. Heidelberg’s first half form that night has rarely been reproduced since. In contrast, Oakleigh hasn’t lost a league game since that night, with a 9-3-0 record and has claimed top of the ladder status with a seven point advantage over the Warriors.
This game is huge for an Alexander side which came so close to winning everything in 2025. A loss here and conceding a ten point gap to Oakleigh after 18 rounds and the Bergers can pretty much kiss the premiership goodbye. That said, Heidelberg has found enough in the important games to suggest this Friday night’s clash will be as fierce and feisty as any this season. A genuine blockbuster, featuring two coaches who’ve largely owned the local competition since its NPL inception in 2014.
Taylor and Heidelberg’s John Anastasiadis have combined for a remarkable seven championships, three Dockerty Cups, a couple of premierships and seven Community Shields since 2014. Johnny A has never outright lost three consecutive games in his 102 as Heidelberg coach. Coming off a galling 1-4 defeat at Dandenong City (the margin only matched by a 0-3 defeat at – of all places – Oakleigh, in 2024) and a last minute defeat at the hands of Preston last weekend, expect Alexander to bounce back with some venom.
The Bergers have quietly gone about signing a couple of new faces, so starting selections will provide an added touch of drama and intrigue into an already intoxicating mix. The last time Alexander lost two on the trot was that controversial loss at Avondale and that equally questionable Dockerty Cup final one week later in 2025. The Warriors came out a matter of days later and smashed Western Sydney Warriors 3-0 in the Australia Cup.
Match Details
Heidelberg United v Oakleigh Cannons
Venue: Olympic Village
Kick off: 7:30pm
Date: 26/6
Never discount a wounded Warrior.
