Round 4 of the inaugural Australian Championship treated us to another exhilarating weekend of action, as we reached the business end of the group stage.
Here are five things we learned from the weekend that was.
Bayswater City: The quiet Western contender no one saw coming
Bayswater City have become one of the leading narratives of the tournament to date.
Matt Sparrow’s side has taken the momentum of a first NPL WA title since 2017 to the national stage.
A gritty 3-2 win against Sydney United sees them three points clear at the top of Group D, having won three games and drawn one.
Structure, belief and a mentality built on doing the hard yards have proven to be early keys to success for City.
As the sole Western Australian club in the Australian Championship, they’ve embraced the long flights and the underdog tag, perhaps turning it into fuel.
Manager Matt Sparrow spoke to club media regarding his squad's mentality.
“We are not afraid to win the hard way.
“This team continues to rise to the challenge.”
The Western force so far has proven that distance means nothing when belief travels on-board those long flights with the side.
Two interstate visits to Adelaide and Sydney now await Bayswater City, who are yet to face a blemish in the competition.
One win from those and their Quarter-Final ticket is stamped.
South Melbourne’s depth is a weapon
South Melbourne’s clutch comeback in the second leg of the Greek Derby was another chapter in a story which began on opening night.
Hellas edged Sydney Olympic FC 3-2 thanks to an 88th-minute winner from Jordan Lampard, a moment that set the tone for their campaign back in Round 1.
Fast forward to the previous weekend, and the drama shifted into high gear again.
Head coach Sinisa Cohadzić, while his side trailed 1-0, made the right moves from the touchline.
In doing so, the attacking tempo shifted with changes from the bench, which tilted momentum back South’s way.
It was déjà vu as Jordan Lampard again delivered, scoring late against Olympic to help Hellas get back on level terms and continue their consecutive winning streak in the Australian Championship.
It was one of those late changes again by Cohadzić, with Bilal Habib, who starred in the fixture, coming off the bench with 10 minutes to go, scoring a 95th-minute winner, assisted by Jordan Lampard.
It was a performance that proved South Melbourne aren't ones to panic; they're a side with layers of character and fight.
It's a dressing room that's built for knockout football; structured, resilient, and ready to rise when the pressure hits.
Can Preston’s title ambitions be reliant on one key player?
“We aren’t here to make up the numbers.”
Technical Director, Sasa Ogenovski, said it on Super Saturday at the beginning of the competition.
Preston Lions have shown ambition, but it's such ambition which needs an end product.
After four rounds, consistency still remains amiss in the Lions' attacking system.
In the so-called 'Group of Death', the Lions have picked up five points from four matches so far.
Of their six goals scored, half have been provided by Jason Romero.
While the Lions finally banked their first win after back-to-back draws, the supporting cast of Gian Albano, Conor Bell and Lleyton Brooks are yet to fully shine to their fluent best.
Considering Preston were defeated by the eventual 2025 NPL Victoria champions in Heidelberg United, the Lions are a difficult customer to overlook.
A genuine run at the Championship can’t hinge on one striker, no matter how lethal he may be.
If the quality of those around an in-form Romero starts to shine brighter for the Lions, not only will they ensure their place in the final eight, but perhaps be a damaging force within it.
Defences win titles in knockout football
Two goals conceded all tournament, both against the same team.
Marconi Stallions’ Australian Championship run has been built on resilience, discipline and a backline that refuses to bend. 41 shots on target faced, only two goals conceded.
Goalkeeper James Hilton has been massive between the sticks, while the defenders in front of him remain disciplined and ruthless.
Captain Marko Jesic keeps things ticking in attack, leading the assist tally with three assists in the four matches.
If defence really does win championships, the Stallions are one of three sides writing that manual.
Another clean sheet in Hobart next week against South Hobart should all but confirm their place in the Quarter-Finals.
Heidelberg edge toward history
With the heaviest schedule in the competition, Heidelberg continue to set the pace, going unbeaten in the opening four rounds.
Although the Bergers boarded a flight to Sydney in the early hours of Friday morning, experienced a weather delay and a hostile Palace crowd… the odds stacked against the Australia Cup finalists didn’t seem to rattle them.
Marcus Humbert’s late equaliser kept Heidelberg's historic narrative alive.
Their numbers are defying an EAFC dream career mode: Johnny Anastasiadis' troops are two goals away from breaking the all-time Victorian single-season scoring record (101), and already owners of the most wins in a season (31) by any NPL/A-League club.
All done without cornerstone Jamal Ali, whose alleged move to Preston Lions marks the end of an era.
Credit goes to all involved at Heidelberg United, who are rewriting all scripts of clubs outside the top tier of football, and are tipped to go far on pure adrenaline and ambition alone in the Australian Championship.