If there’s one group that’s already captured the chaos and charm of the Australian Championship, it’s Group C.
Those who picked up Joey Kay’s SOKKAH 25 magazine will know he labelled Group C the “Group of Risers” and so far, it’s living up to that tag.
Canberra Croatia and NWS Spirit have both emerged as the early underdogs, proving they can mix it with the competition’s heavyweights.
For NWS Spirit, this marks a return to national football for the first time since their predecessor, Northern Spirit FC, competed in the old National Soccer League.
Northern Spirit burst onto the scene with finals football and record crowds at North Sydney Oval, but financial struggles and ownership changes saw the club fold in 2004.
Two decades later, Spirit are back and carrying that legacy forward.
They arrived on the national stage with confidence after a standout NPL NSW campaign, rising up the leagues and claiming the 2025 Premiership ahead of eventual champions APIA Leichhardt.
Round 1 saw them snatch a 1-1 draw at Preston Lions thanks to a dramatic 93rd-minute equaliser from 23-year-old Caleb Jackson-Brown.
Round 2 was even wilder: Spirit came from 2-0 down to lead Avondale 3-2 through Michael Konestabo (52’) and a double from Aedon Kyra (61’, 83’), only to concede in the 97th minute.
Canberra Croatia have followed a similar script.
The ACT powerhouse opened with a 3-1 defeat on the road to NPL Victoria’s Avondale, a result that was largely expected, but their response was emphatic.
In front of 1,650 spectators in Canberra, they produced one of the competition’s most spirited performances so far. After trailing 2-1 at half-time in Round 2, Daniel Colberaldo’s strike kept them in the contest before 21-year-old Maxx Green took over in the second half, scoring twice (57’, 76’) to seal a 3-2 victory against NPL Victoria foundation club Preston Lions.
“It’s the biggest moment for the club and it’s what we’ve been waiting for,” Green said post-game.
“It’s been a long time coming... we’re beyond happy. We worked really hard for it, so it feels good to get the result.”
Speaking on his side’s potential in the Australian Championship, Green was optimistic:
“Last week was well fought, and this week we found our feet.
"We can do anything, honestly. It’s only up from here...we’re motivated, we’re gelling, and we got what we want.”
Both sides now sit in Group C, with Canberra Croatia second behind Avondale and Spirit just trailing in third.
It's clear that in the Australian Championship, the underdog spirit matters.
Heart, hunger, and the will to fight until the final whistle are proving just as important as reputation and these two clubs are making sure everyone knows it.
They face each other this Sunday at 4:30pm and both will head into the clash full of confidence.
Watch live on SBS On Demand and Football Australia's YouTube.
NWS Spirit v Canberra Croatia
Watch live on SBS On Demand and Football Australia's YouTube.
Kick-off: 4:30pm AEDT
Christie Park
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