SOCCER
ALANA Murphy, 19, last week became the second Langwarrin junior to achieve senior national team recognition when called up to the Matildas squad for the looming SheBelievesCup.The event starts later this week and features teams from host nation US, Japan, Colombia and Australia with matches played in Houston, Glendale and San Diego.
First featured in these pages over seven years ago when she was 12 her potential to go all the way in the sport was encapsulated by our headline “Is Alana Murphy a Matilda in waiting?” Back then the pre-teen Murphy named Steph Catley and Sam Kerr as her heroes and now she’s in the same squad as Catley while Kerr continues to recover from long-term injury. “It’s always going to be really cool to meet someone you’ve watched growing up but to be able to play side by side with them is a whole new ball game,” a delighted Murphy said.
Since leaving Langwarrin to play at an elite junior girls level she has had spells at Box Hill United, Victoria’s National Training Centre, Blacktown Spartans and current club Victory and is now an established defensive midfielder in the women’s A-League. Murphy played a full game in Victory’s 2-0 home win over Central Coast Mariners on Sunday before flying to the States the following day.
Her club progression has mirrored her representative journey having played for the Junior Matildas and Young Matildas both common steps in a national team player’s development pathway. Langwarrin’s other ex-junior to reach this representative level is of course Bailey Wright who established himself as a professional footballer in the UK and with the Socceroos. It’s expected that Murphy will look to Europe to further her career at the end of the current A-league season.
In VPL1 Langwarrin lost its second successive game when it went down 4-1 to Bulleen Lions at Lawton Park on Friday night. Dennis Menelaou was presented with a tap-in after Langy keeper James Burgess parried a shot from the right into Menelaou’s path in the 33rd minute. Early in the second half Langy striker Archie Macphee blew a great chance to level from the spot when his conversion attempt was saved by Bulleen keeper Wonsuk Choi who had clearly moved off his line before Macphee’s strike.
Two goals in two minutes killed the contest the first from a low Matt Assumpcao shot from outside the area and the second from Jamie Mantelos. Langy midfielder Kosta Apostolopoulos hit back with a fine low volley in the 71st minute but Bulleen’s three-goal cushion was restored by Assumpcao’s second nine minutes later.
Langwarrin had gone into the contest without Luke Adams, Luke Goulding, Tommy Youngs and Jeremy Min Fa while a groin injury to Lucas Portelli forced his substitution at half-time. Adams and Youngs are a chance to return this week against Kingston City. For Langwarrin a lengthy run of away games looms with just one home match in its next seven outings adding to the pressure on the local side to climb off the foot of the ladder.
In State 1 news Mornington is on the verge of a couple of new signings with goalkeeper Jarrod Nardino set to make the move from Baxter and defender Kameel Khan switching from Langwarrin. Nardino is a former Springvale White Eagles and Frankston Pines gloveman while Khan’s CV boasts stints at South Melbourne and Pines. “I just think it was time to move on and I’ve loved my time at Langwarrin,” Khan said. “I like what Mornington are looking to do this year and the group they’ve put together so I decided to be a part of their 2025 campaign.”
On Saturday Mornington lost 2-1 in a friendly away to Keilor Park. Khan, Jack McDonald, Jay Davies, Jacob Brito, Nick McKoy and Kane Runge were unavailable but Nardino had game time in both the senior and reserves matches.
In State 4 news Marcus Anastasiou will stay at Somerville Eagles ending speculation about his future.
The Eagles’ leading scorer had spent much of the pre-season training and playing with former club Skye United. He cited his relationship with Eagles head coach Mark Larner and the senior squad as pivotal elements in his decision. “The relationship I have with the coach and players was important also the idea of building on the past two seasons and achieving promotion with a club that has backed me and got me playing my best football,” he said. Larner emphasised how important Anastasiou is to his plans. “Massively so as he gives us multiple attacking options with his pace and ability to score goals.”
Still in State 4 and Baxter was scrambling to sign a keeper with Nardino’s expected departure forcing the club to advertise just three days out from last weekend’s Australia Cup clash with Colac Otway Rovers. Kyle Johnston from the club’s Metro League squad filled the breach and was rarely tested in a comfortable 5-1 win at home.
State 4 rival Chelsea lost its Australia Cup tie 3-1 away to Moonee Ponds United on Saturday but most of Gus Macleod’s off-season signings featured in the matchday squad: Young midfielder Matthew O’Neil (Springvale White Eagles), midfielder Yodishtra Jagatheson (Mount Eliza), defender Adam Dunsford (Bayside Argonauts), defender Marcelo Burgos (Knox United) and goalkeeper Luke Wilson (Thackley AFC, England). Attacking midfielder Liam Burford (from Hampton East Brighton) was sidelined with a minor injury.
In State 5 news Mount Martha hosts the inaugural Billy Baldwin Charity Day on Saturday at its Civic Reserve headquarters. The event commemorates the former Mount Martha player who succumbed to cancer last year at just 22 years old. Three games will be held involving Mount Martha and Mornington where Baldwin also played. A senior women’s game kicks-off at 12.30pm followed by Mount Martha’s senior men against Mornington reserves (kick-off 2.30pm) and an over-35s match (4.30pm).
All proceeds will go to the Charlie Teo Foundation which funds brain cancer research.
Last week’s friendly results:
Peninsula Strikers 3 (Sam Maggs, Wayne Gordon, Riley Anderton) Chelsea 0; Rosebud 6 (Alfie Harris 2, Ethan Sanderson, Kori Weetch, Finn Greigg, Kai Robinson) Mount Martha 1 (Lenny Tate); Keilor Park 2 Mornington 1 (Halil Reki); Peninsula Strikers 1 (Campbell Steedman) Albert Park 1; Uni Hill Eagles 2 Skye Utd 2 (Shameit Sharma); Somerville Eagles 2 (Max Watson 2) Glen Waverley 1.
Australia Cup first preliminary round results:
Moonee Ponds Utd 3 Chelsea 1 (Adam Bartosy); Seaford Utd 1 (own goal) Yarra Jets 2; Frankston Pines 0 Sandringham 4; Baxter 5 (own goal, Daniel Bancroft, Davide Sbalchiero, Morteza Hashemi, Duncan Mcpherson) Colac Otway Rovers 1; Mount Eliza 2 (Trevor Smith, Amish Chandra) Casey Panthers 1; Warrnambool Rangers 1 Rosebud 3 (Sam Ruddy, Connor Wharton, Ethan Sanderson) after extra time.
This week’s VPL1 round 3:
Monday 24 February
Kingston City v Langwarrin, Grange Reserve, 7.30pm
This week’s local friendlies (check social media to confirm kick-off times):
Tuesday 18 February:
Peninsula Strikers reserves v Mount Martha, Centenary Park, 6.30pm
Endeavour Utd v Skye Utd, Reema Reserve, 7.30pm
Thursday 20 February:
Langwarrin U23s v Peninsula Strikers, Lawton Park, 7pm
Friday 21 February:
Casey Comets v Chelsea, Comets Stadium, 7pm
Saturday 22 February
Mornington v Clifton Hill, Dallas Brooks Park, 10am
Gippsland Utd v Skye Utd, Baxter Park, 12.30pm & 3pm
Frankston Pines v Aspendale, Monterey Reserve, 3pm
Baxter v Middle Park, Baxter Park, 1pm & 3pm
Billy Baldwin charity day Mount Martha v Mornington, Civic Reserve, 12.30pm start.
