They were one of the stories of last season’s Australia Cup and Oakleigh Cannons are back again, trying to slay another Isuzu UTE A-League giant and the NPLM VIC champions believe they hold an “advantage”.
Oakleigh captured the hearts and minds of fans across the country when they conquered five-time A-League Men champions Sydney FC in the quarter-finals of a fairytale Australia Cup run that reached the semi-finals.
It was one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition, before the semi-professional club fell to eventual champions Macarthur FC in the final four.
It is another David v Goliath battle for Oakleigh. City made history by winning a third-straight Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership last season – the first ever team to achieve the feat – while the 2022-23 Grand Finalists boast all-time leading goalscorer and Socceroo Jamie Maclaren, and Mathew Leckie.
“You’re always hoping to get a favourable draw and I think we’ve probably drawn the best team in Australia, in my opinion,” NPL VIC Championship-winning head coach Chris Taylor told KEEPUP.
“But then the way the Australia Cup is geared now, probably getting them at this stage is an advantage to us. We’re at the peak of our season where as they’re just back in pre-season.
“Exciting times. Obviously a big club like them will be good for all of our players who have aspirations to play at A-League level.”
Taylor – one of the most decorated coaches in Victorian football – added: “It’s a big thing for the club to be on this stage.
“We’ve had some tough draws, playing Preston first round was difficult. We want to be on the national stage.
“Drawing a team like Melbourne City is great for the club, great for the boys and we want to show everyone what we can do as a club.”
Only five days before stunning the Sky Blues at Jack Edwards Reserve, the Cannons had outlasted Heidelberg United in a taxing NPLM VIC elimination final. Oakleigh prevailed 3-1 on penalties after a wild 3-3 draw following extra time.
The Cannons were also were given emergency dispensation to sign Lewis Italiano – formerly of Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix – as a goalkeeper for the Australia Cup tie on the day due to an injury to their number one – Nick Feely. That meant Oakleigh were sensationally forced to draft in Ymer Abili from the club’s Under-14 team as cover on the bench.
In the semi-final, Abili actually came off the bench to make his debut against Dwight Yorke’s Macarthur in a move that gained worldwide attention as he became the youngest player ever to grace the Australia Cup. The youngster went on to join City.
“If I look back on what the club has achieved over the last season or so, and the main goal for me was to go to Oakleigh and win a Championship which we did last season,” Taylor said having delivered the club’s first NPL Championship.
“But if I reflect on it now, probably beating Sydney FC, for everyone involved at the club, it will go down in history at that club. They will talk about it in 10-20 years time.
“To get to the semi-finals of such a big competition really put the club on the map. I know we had a couple things like the 13-year-old goalkeeper and it got hits all over the world. That’s the romance of the game and that’s what has really warmed everyone’s appetite for the Australia Cup. It was important for us to get to the round of 32 again.
“We’re still doing well in the league but the Australia Cup is something everyone has a flavour of now and wants to do well in it.”
Oakleigh enter their Australia Cup matchup as the reigning Victorian champions and hungry for more NPL glory.
They’re also continuing to provide a platform for former A-Leagues players to return to the top flight.
During last season’s Australia Cup run, Joe Knowles starred for Oakleigh and was eventually signed by Brisbane Roar for the 2022-23 campaign.
This term, the Cannons boast the likes of Anton Mlinaric (formerly of Roar and Sydney), Cameron McGilp (Melbourne Victory) Nicholas Feely (Perth Glory), Wade Dekker (Melbourne City) and Chris Lucas (Gold Coast United).
They sit third in the standings through 19 rounds and will feature in the Dockerty Cup semi-finals against Melbourne Knights.
“It’s been a big transition for us. When you win a Championship, and we won it in dominant style (5-0 over South Melbourne in Grand Final), you kind of reward the players that got you there. But we had a number of players who wanted to end on a high,” Taylor said.
“We’ve gone in and brought 10 players this season which is quite a transition.
“For me, to have that big a turnover and still maintain the level of form we had last season was very good. Everyone has an appetite for it now. I’m really pleased. We’ve picked up one or two young players who could be around for a number of years.
“The big thing for us and that’s what the Australia Cup shows, is giving players that opportunity and belief that they can go back to the bigger level.
“We have one or two boys that have come out the A-League but they have the ambition to go back there and prove themselves on a big stage like the Australia Cup.”
Featured image includes photo via Oakleigh Cannons
