With just under a month left in the Senior Academy VPL1 season and the Junior Academy entering the second half of the Junior Boys NPL Tier One competition, Academy Operations Manager Damir Kulaš provides the third Academy update of the season.
The Senior VPL1 team currently has a four-point buffer at the top of the competition standings (45 points) with four games remaining.
Preston Lions and Northcote City (both 41 points) and Western United (40 points) remain the best of the chasing pack with games against Langwarrin, FC Bulleen Lions, Kingston City preceding a final day blockbuster against Western United at JL Murphy Reserve.
The U23s season will also go down to the wire with the Victory boys currently sitting in third place (53 points), three points behind leaders FC Bulleen Lions (56 points) and one point behind second-placed Western United (54 points), with games against both teams to come.
In other Senior Academy news, Alex Menelaou, Luka Kolić and Daniel Graskoski were recently rewarded after being elevated into the A-League squad ahead of the 2024/25 A-League Men’s season.
In international representative news, Graskoski and Jesse Hoey are currently in Indonesia representing the Young Socceroos at the ASEAN U-19 Boy’s Championship.
Starting Lineup 📝
— Football Australia (@FootballAUS) July 18, 2024
Here is how the #YoungSocceroos start in their first ASEAN U19 Boys' Championship 2024 group game against Laos 👀
Kick-off is at 6:00pm AEST. pic.twitter.com/nrtMCYQrsk
These representative honours come off the back of Josh Inserra and Kayne Razmovski featuring for the Young Socceroos during their tour of South America in June.
In Junior Academy news, all four Junior Academy teams (U14, U15, U16 and U18 age groups) sit on top of their respective ladders after the completion of Round 12 (of the 22-round season).
The program’s strength has been reflected on the national stage this week, with 31 Academy players representing Victoria at the Boys National Youth Championships in Wollongong, a tournament that features the best 2008 and 2009-born players from across Australia.
The club would like to congratulate the following players for their selections to represent the state across the three teams in each of the two age groups:
- 2008: Edon Ajrovski, Noah Ayoubi, Kaelan Galea, Alexander Gouvoussis, Danial Herwan, Alex Houridis, James Houridis, Lindon Kamber, Zayd Kassaby, Cristian Miano, Cian O’Flynn, James Rashio, Roy Romanovski, Noah Tanfara, George Tsianakas, Nicholas Vardakas, Oskar von Schrenk.
- 2009: Ali Abili, Dominic Aravanis, Orlando Chrysis, Oliver Dimovski, Ethan Gemetzis, Anton Gray, William Kengni, Malik Olukhale, Dion Randazzo, Mushahed Sawiz, Yianni Spyropoulos, Anthony Suleman, Luca Thomas, Jude Tortosa.
Finally, twins Alex and James Houridis have just returned from representing Australia at the ASEAN U16 Championships in Indonesia, where the Joeys emerged victorious.
