Melbourne Victory’s Senior NPL team will embark on their first campaign in Victoria’s top-flight since 2016 when they take on Altona Magic on Monday 10 February.
Following back-to-back promotions from the state’s third tier, our 2024 VPL1 Champions will be testing themselves against some of the country’s most storied clubs this season in a competition which is widely recognised as the best football league outside the A-League.
A recap of last season’s success
After securing promotion from VPL2 in 2023, Victory’s Academy entered life in the state’s second tier with modest expectations.
A lightning fast start to the season saw the boys in blue undefeated from their opening 13 games to sit top of the standings at the half-way point of the season with 33 points.
Playing an attractive attacking brand of football, the team was able to weather key personnel changes in the second half of the season to clinch promotion and the VPL1 Championship with a resounding 4-0 win over Kingston City in the penultimate round of the season.
Scoring on average 2.5 goals per game, Victory’s exploits in front of goal were exemplified by striker duo Adem Duratovic and Tommaso Minutoli scoring 14 and 12 goals respectively, while winger Jesse Hoey added a further 8 goals.
Captain Alex Menelaou, attacking midfielder Luka Kolic and goalkeeper Daniel Graskoski were all rewarded for their roles in the team’s success by securing scholarship contracts to the A-League Men’s squad ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The season ahead in the top tier
Melbourne Victory’s Senior NPL team eagerly awaits their first season in the top-flight in nine years. The team’s leadership group includes Captain Damien Bozinovski, Vice-Captain Kayne Razmovski who are supported by Jack Mihailidis, Austin Ganino and Tommaso Minutoli.
This 2025 cohort will be led by one of the most respected names in Victorian football in Boris Seroshtan who has joined the Senior Academy as Senior NPL Coach after over a decade spent at Football Victoria (FV) as the state federation’s Technical Director.
With games against former NSL powers South Melbourne, Melbourne Knights, Preston Lions and Heidelberg United alongside competition heavyweights Avondale, Hume City and Oakleigh Cannons, the upcoming season promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.
It all kicks-off on Monday night at the Home of The Matildas (HOTM) in Bundoora as Victory take on five-time league Champions Altona Magic in the final game of Round 1.
Nine of the club’s 13 home fixtures will be played at HOTM, including the blockbuster Round 3 clash against South Melbourne on Monday 24 February 2025.
Further information about the playing squad and coaching staff can be found below and we hope to see plenty of support for the Senior NPL team throughout the course of the season at both home and away fixtures.
Tickets for Monday night’s game against Altona Magic can be purchased via this link: NPL Melbourne Victory
All 2024/25 Melbourne Victory members get access to all NPL home matches by scanning their digital or physical membership cards at the gate.
The full 2025 fixture can be viewed here.
2025 Senior NPL Squad List:
Goalkeepers
1. Yona Sultan, 30. Daniel Graskoski, 40. Christian Siciliano, 41. Kasper Fonsboel, 42. Oskar von Schrenk.
Defenders
2. Linus Bourke, 3. Joshua Inserra, 4. Damien Bozinovski (C), 5. William Mcintosh, 12. Raymond Diho, 13. John Paikopoulos, 15. Nikolas Cevizovic, 20. Parker Williams, 24. James Lackay, 25. Mason O’Neil, 29. Tobenna Obani, 32. Aaron Bazenski, 35. Fin Crompton, 36. John Radimisis 46. Luka Didulica
Midfielders
6. Kayne Razmovski (VC), 8. Alexander Menelaou, 10. Jack Mihailidis, 16. Stasi Georgakopoulos, 18. Lucas Alessi, 26. Luka Kolic, 28. Charlie Gorevski, 31. James Houridis, 35. Marcus Peretin, 38. Alexi Houridis, 44. Noah Tanfara.
Forwards
7. Austin Ganino, 9. Tommaso Minutoli, 11. Daniel Lazarevski, 14. Jordan Hoey, 19. Jing Reec, 22. Patrick Wall, 23. Jesse Hoey, 27. Alex Lee, 33. Phin Harbinson, 37. Malik Olukhale, 39, Edon Ajrovski, 43. Mush Sawiz, 47. Kaelan Galea.
