Sydney played probably their youngest squad ever fielded in a competitive match. 

Without Grant and Redmayne, possibly looking at anywhere from 17-19 average age. 

These are riskes you have to sometimes cop if you are going to do that.

Sydney have some Asian games coming up in pre season don't they? 
I can probably understand them not taking any risks. 

The amazing thing about Fitzroy/melbourne Serbia is not just that they’ve also gotten two promotions in a row as welll, but they have done this with basically the same players. They haven’t just paid a  bunch of backpackers to come over and do it for them. 

Seriously you think that’s a fair reason giving your top liners even more soft prep pre season omg yer they are so over worked and let’s disrespect our premium national comp might I add.
They are given a leg up coming in R32 ffs against part timers.
Whilst the game keeps suffering behind the other codes and needs exposure and encouraging more supporters yer we have other pre season games that will attract feck all support.

Great storey tsf.
ive read bit more about Serbia now.
Like their strip as well.

Yeah it's really good, it was only a few years ago they were kicking around mid state leagues, on a cricket pitch in multi sport change rooms 

Majority of the same players, in fact many there since juniors

If it is a "Premium national comp " as you say, then it should be played " in season ", not more than two months before the league kicks off.
Also with shitey things like the NPL teams get to play at home against the A league clubs, makes it anything but " Premium ".

it is played in season? you realise there are a few thousand clubs in the country other than a-league ones right 

Newcastle Jest academy graduate mate, got 5 games with the seniors and then had to go travel the world as wasn't given gametime...

Hands off!!! he is NOT going anywhere. 

Winners are grinners :)

Yeah man, young Spiteri with the amazing pass, but all started with Emile Peios (another youngster) with his great ball from the left.... Very typical South goal..

We had another 2-3 decent chances but the rest of the match was predicable... Our back four played 120 gruelling minutes (some of that with 10 men) against  a much tougher, faster, stronger attack just 48 hours prior so were understandably conservative... We just gave them the ball and pushed them from side to side all game and hit them on the counter.... Classic Cup football. never got out of first gear, nor needed to. Javi had one save to make all match and Wellington persisted with these runs into the wings which we parried away, only when a fat Barbaroussis came on did they try the direct, over the top, ball which we defended pretty comfortably ... he is NO Alex Salmon :)

Crowd size was a little disappointing but huge thanks to the Wellington fans that turned up, they had a little cheer squad section , banners and everything.. Really friendly lot and I wish them and their club all the best in the season ahead. 

4/5 Vic teams through to next round.... Bergers play tonight.... could be a clean sweep :)

Last three games of the the round of 32 on tonight:

• Heidelberg United FC vs Central Coast Mariners @ 7:30pm
• NWS Spirit vs Glenorchy Knights FC @ 7:30pm
• Olympic vs APIA Leichhardt FC @ 7:30pm

yep don't get Sutho's pov considering his background, SFC snoberry ? haha :)
We got what we got and not making the best of it, especially these APL Clubs.
It is played In Season -  into and through the winter.
I don't know how else to call it but aside from the regular league comps it is our top CUP comp.
How else do you fit in
In 2024, 758 clubs entered the Australia Cup 2024 including the 12 Isuzu Ute A-League Men clubs and 746 Member Federation clubs.
The beauty of the Cup is just that, playing at shitey things like NPL grounds against APL Clubs, thats the beauty of it and helps the lesser Clubs.

Bloody unreal mate... Got home to watch the reply, Srbija could have iced it in extra time but penalties it was..... This is the true Cinderella story in VIC football this year... 

They DESERVE an Aleague club next round ..... and dont be too shocked if they jam a win.... 

Happy for the club and the long standing supporters.... big game on the weekend to decide the VPL2 title against Epifano's West Sunshine pricks... hope your mob smashes them!!!!!!!

Yeah, in the oldest version one of my last ever games (I was pushing 40) was playing the FFA cup, and that was waaayyyyyy before anyone even thought the comp had started 

Interesting that MV sent a full-strength team. 

Yeah mate great night, some of the boys were enjoying themselves for a tuesday night in true serb style lol - 

Congrats on your win too 

And now there are only 6 (maybe 7 after tonight) APL franchises left standing :) :) :) 

tbh, during the game both teams could've won. Srbija had lots of chances to win it in normal time, but then Modbury could've as well. 
Their keeper made 2 or 3 incredible saves at the end of normal time 

Hahaha I can imagine the slivovic and rakija was flowing like a river... well done man, seriously happy for Fitzroy... Some of their fans showed up to our cup game against Preston this year... great people. 

OK Spiteri, maltese background.
I see Peios was at MV, whats his background blood ?
Yes Sawyer had another chance though off balance from memory, correct as I said conserve the energy let them come.
They hardly did anything much through the middle till Costa came on.

Peios is Greek/Italian I think but could be wrong.... we dont ask those sort of questions down at South mate, all are welcome.... hahahahahah 

Sawyer also had a great strike in the second half hit the post, bounce off their keeper and out for corner... Wellington turned on the screws in the last 10 mins but never looked liek scoring.. The great blue wall has been pretty hard to beat this year.

I gathered could have gone either way once I tuned in.
ET should have finished it a ball was left side of the box and he went to place it too perfect for the RH corner, that was the chance.
How was the 2nd Serb pen taker from memory, just ran into it thinking I'm going to smash the living crap out of the ball haha was still climbing as it hit the top of the net lol.....
Even Archie in commentry was going off giggling saying how brave was that haha

Just watched the Olympic Kingsway highlights,,, Joe Knowles tearing it up in Perth.... 

These all could go either way...

Ill take a stab and go:

• Heidelberg United FC vs Central Coast Mariners @ 7:30pm
• NWS Spirit vs Glenorchy Knights FC @ 7:30pm
• Olympic vs APIA Leichhardt FC @ 7:30pm

hahaha ah yes ofcourse my bad, I thought migrants always welcomed others wasn't it the other way round ? :) haha

Ah yes the post hit that was a bummer.

Was behind the goal. Nobody in the world was saving that lol

Luv the Bergs to give them a real run but CCM have better youth than most of them barring AU imo.
Spirit have been a growing NPL in my area for a long time.
They finally made it to the top this season and well deserved for they run a good set up obviously I pick them.
These tassie Knoights are leading their comp but have no idea of its standards compared to NSWPL.

You typical Trojan Horse obviously backing bloody Brizzo Olympic hahaha - APIA got this, we've lost a few games but were banging goals in.

I'd love to see a Tassie club get the win, but they have a tough ask here.

Hahah yeah mate, I think APIA will get it done too, just wishful thinking, the more Greek clubs in the round of 16 the better the food. HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

3 x Greek clubs and 1 x Serb - honorary Greeks :)  Would be good to get 2 x more.... Not many Itie clubs or Cro ones this year..... lol APIA and Glenorchy better step up... hahahah