Greek pride dominates Victorian football’s night of nights

More than 900 players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers united to observe an unforgettable season, with Greek Australian clubs stealing the spotlight and erstwhile again proving their undeniable strength successful state football.

The much-anticipated Football Victoria Gala 2025 was held past Friday, 19 September, astatine Melbourne’s Crown Palladium.

From Heidelberg United, Oakleigh Cannons and Brunswick City to Bentleigh Greens, Hellenic pridefulness was everywhere, with awards and achievements that filled the assemblage with joy.

Heidelberg United the star of the night

Heidelberg United were the large winners of the evening, capping disconnected a singular play with the NPL Men’s title title. Guided by caput manager John Anastasiadis – named NPL Coach of the Year – Heidelberg displayed quality and quality, culminating successful their 2–1 expansive last victory implicit Dandenong City astatine Lakeside Stadium.

Men’s Coach of the Year, John Anastasiadis. Photo: Mark Avellino Photography

Leonidas combat to the end

Star striker Bul Juach was honoured arsenic Players’ Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner, while goalkeeper Yaren Sozer claimed Goalkeeper of the Year. Heidelberg besides won the Club Media Award for their standout κοινωνικά media presence.

The team present prepares for the Australia Cup last against Newcastle United, with hopes of a historical treble – a travel that has go a source of pridefulness and inspiration for the Greek Australian community.

Minister for Sport, Steve Dimopoulos highlighted the value of shot for Victoria. In particular, helium pointed to the $8.1 cardinal concern for the upgrade of Olympic Park successful Heidelberg, location of Heidelberg United. Photo: Mark Avellino Photography

Bentleigh Greens instrumentality to the top

Another item of the play was the Bentleigh Greens’ instrumentality to the summit of Victorian shot aft two years distant from the NPL. With their Greek Cypriot roots firmly embedded successful the community, the Greens secured the VPL1 title with a decisive 3–1 win implicit Northcote City (Iraklis) successful the last round, clinching automatic promotion.

The revival was led by veteran manager George Katsakis, 1 of the astir respected figures successful Greek Australian football. At Gala 2025, helium was named VPL1 Coach of the Year, recognising not conscionable his tactical abilities but besides his enactment successful inspiring the squad done adversity.

George Katsakis: I consciousness very arrogant of what we achieved this year with the promotion of Bentleigh Greens. Photo: Mark Avellino Photography

“I consciousness fantastic! I’m very arrogant of what we achieved this year,” Katsakis told Neos Kosmos.

“Coming backmost into shot and uncovering contiguous success makes maine some blessed and motivated for the future. Winning is successful my DNA – this grant makes maine adjacent hungrier for adjacent season, and I want us to spell adjacent higher.”

The Greens’ promotion means renewed Greek Australian rivalries adjacent season, with clashes against Heidelberg and South Melbourne sure to occurrence up the NPL.

Brunswick City (Leonidas) fell conscionable abbreviated of NPL promotion done the play-offs but earned respect for their courage. In a melodramatic promotion decider against Melbourne City, Brunswick fought to a 2–2 gully aft other time, lone to suffer 3–2 connected penalties. Dylan Allshorn was named VPL1 Player of the Year, underlining the club’s quality.

Greek Australian women impress

In the NPLW, Heidelberg United FC continued to shine. Keely Lockhart was voted Players’ Player of the Year, Sawa Matsuda claimed the Golden Boot, and manager Dennis Georgakopoulos was named Coach of the Year, cementing the club’s dominance crossed men’s and women’s football.

More than 900 players, coaches, referees, officials and volunteers came together to observe an unforgettable shot season, with the Greek Australian clubs stealing the show. Photo: Mark Avellino Photography

A solemnisation of the whole game

The Gala was not lone astir trophies but besides astir recognising the spirit of the game. Volunteers Megan Roussel (Maribyrnong Swifts) and Phillip Berry (Colts United FC) shared Volunteer of the Year honours, while referees Lucas Mattia and Daphne Gounaris were besides recognised.

Presenters Michael Zappone and Kat Sasso kept the evening buzzing, while Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos highlighted the government’s $8.1 cardinal concern to upgrade Olympic Park successful Heidelberg, the location of Alexander.

“Congratulations to each the grant recipients,” said Football Victoria interim CEO Dan Birrell. “Your success inspires the assemblage and proves that hard work opens doors. 2025 was a record-breaking play thanks to each of you.”

For Greek Australian football, Gala 2025 was much than a nighttime of awards – it was a shining solemnisation of heritage, resilience and success, with promises of adjacent greater triumphs ahead.