By Greg Blake
There was little joy about Friday night’s potential season-definer at Olympic Village. Played in frigid winter cold which cut like a razor, Heidelberg United and Oakleigh were minutes from wrestling to an unsatisfying scoreless stalemate. A blockbuster that wasn’t. Not even close.
Instead, a Jacob Tratt header within seconds of the finish gave the Cannons an unlikely 1-0 lead, the advantage clasped tightly and for long enough to ensure Heidelberg of a third successive loss for the very first time during John Anastasiadis’ coaching reign. Ouch.
And with that the anxiety monkey clambered just a little higher up Heidelberg’s uncertain back. The Bergers have conceded just 23 goals this season, but the disturbing trend is that fourteen have been coughed up in the final half hour of their last 14 games, with six of those coming in the last ten and turning results into losses against St Albans, Preston and on Friday night.
On Friday night both sides appeared likely to lose and neither deserved the win. Oakleigh’s plodding yet relentless predictability waited patiently for the spark of something special from a Joe Guest. Or anyone at all. Alexander’s once unfettered certainty has incrementally eroded and been replaced by an edgy, nervous self-consciousness. The Warriors didn’t play at all poorly, but something of the spark – the joy, perhaps – of last season has gone AWOL.
The final whistle was Friday night’s highlight. It was greeted with enormous relief at the promise of cranking up the heater for the drive home.
Alexander started one of two new signings and Tas Mouroukoutas showed some flashes before getting subbed out. A similar story with Christian Theoharous during his second half cameo.
Max Bisetto’s blistering first half pace was offset when he didn’t appear after the break. Fingers crossed his absence was strategic, not born of injury concerns. Ryan Lethlean and Ben Collins were imperious and commanding. Fletcher Fulton played with that gallant, no prisoners commitment. Marcus Humbert was terrific in his duel with the pacy Labib, but two scoreless games in succession suddenly you’re pining for his classy finishing skills at the other end of the paddock.
Anthony Lesiotis is just a beauty. He’s the heartbeat of this side. If the match had any highlight at all, for me it was his breathless chase down and sliding intercept of speedster Lebib midway through the opening half.
Oakleigh is unbeaten in its last thirteen and undefeated on the road this season and now very well placed to finish 2026 top of the NPL ladder for the first time in club history.
Right now the mighty Warriors will be doing all manner of soul searching. Supporters – as they will – are scrambling about and apportioning blame, assessing individuals as weighed and measured for all time and questioning tactical acumen. I reckon the talent pool is quality abundant and the coaching staff is beyond reproach.
My advice, for what it’s worth. Boys, forget about outcomes right now. Remember why you loved playing the game in the first place. Be thankful you’re good enough to play at this level. Get out there and enjoy playing the damned game again. Play with abandon and find the joy in what you’re doing. And we’ll stay along for the ride.
The Warriors now face a mid-week Dockerty Cup semi final against the team which eliminated Oakleigh from the competition, Brunswick Juventus, followed by a round 19 league encounter at home against St Albans.
Warrior Nation.
