By Chris Webb
This year’s Capital League promised to be one of high quality and so far it has delivered, with all eight teams putting in some fantastic performances so far. Ten matches in, and with only seven remaining, the four preseason favourites have had mixed fortunes so far this season, in what has turned out to be quit an unpredictable competition, the sign of a strong and exciting league.
ANU FC
Current 2016 position: 1st (26 points)
2015 finish: 2nd + premiers
Current top scorer: Danny KRAJACIC (8 goals)
Last season’s premiers were one of the two big favourites to win trophies this season and they have more than lived up to their favourite tags. They remain undefeated, with two draws their only blemishes, however more impressively they have yet to drop a point to another team in the current top four. They sit on 26 points, which sees them with a massive 10 point lead over rivals Queanbeyan City. While not exactly unassailable, a 10 point gap in just seven matches is tough to overcome and puts ANU at a short price to reclaim the league championship they won in 2014. It has been a real squad effort from Branko Milenovic’s men thus far. They have faced regular absentees, including talisman Olaide Yinka-Kehinde, who has missed majority of the season with a hamstring injury, but seamlessly dealt with these setbacks as their reserves ranks are more than capable at this level. While their pacey forward line is well known, two of their biggest finds have been youngsters Max Mottl and Luke Udvardi who have given the team another dimension this season. The students are well on their way to claiming the double that has alluded them the last few years, but it still remains a very tough task indeed.
Queanbeyan City FC
Current 2016 position: 2nd (16 points)
2015 finish: 6th
Current top scorer: Daniel CRKOVSKI, Nathan WALKER (7 goals)
While Queanbeyan’s current position of 2nd is a massive improvement on last season’s 6th placed finish, it belies some undoubted disappointment. This is in terms of both the close proximity to fifth place (just 1 point) and the large gap between themselves and first place (10 points). Vlatko Tomeski enjoyed a fantastic start to his return to the club, as the team carried their barnstorming preseason form straight into to the early rounds, racking up wins and scoring plenty of goals. That form has however ebbed and flowed in the last few weeks, seeing the team lose its fourth game for the season on the weekend, more losses than they would have hoped for, and probably predicted, for the entire season. Although second they are the same amount of points from first place as they are from last place, the race for finals positions is set to be fierce, City can take some comfort in their fantastic goal difference they have amassed so far which is essentially a bonus point in their back pocket. There have been many fine performances from their star studded team, Marcin Zygmunt, Zack Knight, Dean Tomeski and Vele Dukovski have all impressed in midfield, Crkovski and Walker have threatened up front, but two of their best performers (when available) have been marauding wingbacks , Dragan Stegnjaic and Mark ‘Tex’ Walker. The League Championship will take some claiming from here, but if anyone can do it, it’s this side, they should have the quality to hold off the many challengers to their finals placing, and be a real threat in September.
Weston-Molonglo FC
Current 2016 position: 3rd (16 points)
2015 finish: Champions (State League Division 1)
Current top scorer: Josh PENDER (4 goals)
Weston-Molonglo FC were the unknown entity after stepping up to Capital League after winning State League 1 in 2015. They had a fairly slow start, with some heavy defeats, however took an impressive turn of form, which saw them win four straight matches, including an impressive run in the cup, narrowly ending at the hands of PS4 NPL leaders Tigers FC. The team has exceeded expectations thus far as few would have thought that this deep into the season the team would be sitting on equal points with second place. After last weekend’s loss, they are however just a point ahead of fifth place, so there is still much work to do to claim a spot in the finals. Weston-Molonglo’s lofty position on the table is made all the more impressive by their constant list of absentees, which has seen the team play multiple games with nine or ten first graders missing. This has resulted in an astonishing 30 different players talking the field for the first team already this season. Jarrod Adams and Syn-Zer Lim have been inspirational in defence for the magpies, whilst top-scorer Josh Pender has been a consistent threat upfront. If they can keep a solid team on the park and hold on to their finals spot, than there will be more than a few dreaming of emulating the grand-final heroics of 2014.
White Eagles FC
Current 2016 position: 4th (15 points)
2015 finish: 4th + GF runner’s up.
Current top scorer: Thai TRAN, Pepe VARGA (5 goals)
White Eagles were aiming to improve on their disappointing 4th placed league finish last season, however ten weeks in to season 2016 they again find themselves in fourth place (albeit with a game in hand). It has been quite an amazing season for the mighty eagles so far, as they stormed to the top of the table with victories in the first five straight matches. With a number of players finding themselves on the injury list, the team took a massive drop in form, going from a 100% record to losing the next 4 straight matches. While they are yet to take a point since the beginning of May, they still find themselves in touching distance of second spot due to the leagues unpredictable nature. Eric Bonnett’s men now find themselves in a tough battle to hold onto a finals place, and if they do history suggests the rest best beware. The evergreen Thai Tran and Pepe Varga have led the front line in the absence of Irish forward Eoin Devaney, while Aleks Nedeljkovic has lead the midfield with experience.
Canberra Olympic
Current 2016 position: 5th (15 points)
2015 finish: 7th
Current top scorer: Nick MIHAILAKIS (5 goals)
In their second season in Capital League Canberra Olympic's all age reserves have showed a touch more consistency and while they sit outside the top four, they are just a single point behind second place. The team has tasted defeat just three times, the second least in the league, however whist they have the third most potent attack, their defence has been questionable at times. The team has shown to have attacking threats all over, combining skill and blistering pace, a combination epitomised in Oliver Weiderkehr, Nick Mihailakis, Jeremy Hegarty, Matt Atkins and Richard Santiago. While the Olympians are well placed to make a run for the finals in what is set to be a thrilling race, their role as a reserve side for their first grade NPL side who have an extensive injury list may prove telling. Olympic have matched it with both ANU FC and Queanbeyan City and are seen as a very real threat to the premiers trophy.
O'Connor Knights
Current 2016 position: 6th (9 points)
2015 finish: 8th
Current Top Scorer: Denne MCHUGH (4 goals)
O'Connor Knights have not had the best start to the season, but the table doesn’t truly reflect the on-field performances and ability of this collective unit. The team sits on just nine points, six points off 4th place however they have a game in hand. The Knights have had some noticeable performers with Captain Kynan Dodd an absolute rock in defence, while Hector Cerda-Cid and Hassan Kamara have been impressive in midfield. Denne McHugh leads the goal scoring, with a modest four goal return as the Knights have the equal least return in front of goal. The Knights will be required to win majority of their remaining games to have a chance of catching the group ahead of them, which is made all the harder with a number of their stars facing absences as they represent the ACT in the national futsal league. Michael Spaleta’s side play a very pleasing brand of football and all they are missing is a cutting edge in front of goal.
Tuggeranong United FC
Current 2016 position: 7th (9 points)
2015 finish: 3rd
Current top scorer: Kris ROBERTSON (6 goals)
Tuggeranong united will be very disappointed with their season thus far. A strong favourite to emulate last year’s 3rd place finish and again finish in the top four, the boys from down south made it hard for themselves losing the opening six matches. They have however had a mini revival winning three of their last four matches, with all three wins impressively over current top four sides. Tuggeranong’s attacking weapons have been finding for of late with both Ciaran Rayment and Carl Hynes impressing of late, however burly striker Kris Robertson has been the surprise package as he has taken his Capital League Reserves gaol scoring form from 2015 into the higher division. While they have looked good in possession, Tuggeranong’s defence has been an issue as they are the only side to concede more than three goals a game. With just seven matches remaining they will have a tough ask to make up a six point margin on not just one but two sides especially with a quite inferior goal difference. Tuggeranong will likely need to win six of their last seven, and while it’s against the odds their recent form suggests its might just possible. Weston-Molonglo FC were in a very similar position in 2014, which saw them then go on an unbeaten run that culminated in them winning the grand-final. Similarly if Tuggeranong can manage to make the top four than they will surely be the form team going into finals.
Narrabundah Bulls FC
Current 2016 position: Last (6 points)
2015 finish: 5th
Current top scorer: Kenny MACDONALD (6 goals)
After just missing out on a finals spot last season Narrabundah will be bitterly disappointed with their last place position. Despite having one hand on the wooden spoon, the Bulls have been anything but easy beats, impressively being just one of two sides to take a point of runaway leaders ANU, and with just one win could jump to sixth place. There have been some consistent performers with goalkeeper Alex Belperio with some simple fantastic displays, Duncan Harrington and Adrian Russell run the engine room while attacking duo Liam Boyle and Kenny MacDonald have threatened all opposition. The Bulls trail fourth place by nine points, they will essentially need to win their remaining seven games and still hope that a number of results still go their way. While not impossible, it is looking like a bridge to far for the Bulls.