The Australian Championship has finally arrived and is already producing matches and moments that have excited and captured the interest of communities across Australia.
At the heart of those moments are players who have already made the new national stage their own. Awarded a place in the team of the week, these players have been selected by our team of broadcast commentators based on their performances over 90 minutes, 45 minutes or one singular piece of brilliance.
"We've been extremely diligent and canvassed the opinion of all commentators across the course of each weekend,” Australian Championship Commentator Alex Molchanoff said.
"Basically we're all throwing names into a big Whatsapp from the games we've watched over the weekend. We hash it out no holds barred on overall influence in the game they've played that weekend."
"There's been a lot of tough calls and a fair bit of time dedicated to getting it as close to correct as possible - by incorporating as many opinions as we can we're hoping we've got as close to a consensus as possible week-on-week," Molchanoff told us.
Here is the Australian Championship Team of the Week for Round 1 and Round 2.
Australian Championship Team of the Week for Round 1
Goalkeeper: Nicholas O’Connell (South Hobart)
The South Hobart shot stopper was kept busy in his side’s opening game against the Wolves. Wet and windy conditions at D’arcy Street made for unfavourable conditions for the 24-year-old shotstopper, but the NPL Tasmania Golden Glove winner kept his side in the contest for a long period of time.
Defender: Jordan Lampard (South Melbourne)
The man who stole the show on the opening night of the Australian Championship. Just three minutes after his side had been pegged back by Sydney Olympic, the full-back curled a wonderful left-footed strike into the top left corner to give South the perfect start in Group A.
Defender: Jackson Stephens (Bayswater City)
Having made the over 3,800 km journey to Sydney, Stephens ensured that his side returned to Western Australia with a point. In the third minute of stoppage time, the Baysie centre-back found himself high up the field and, on the volley from 20 yards out, looped in the equalising goal in front of the boisterous Sydney United faithful. That cracker made Stephens the first-ever winner of the Australian Championship Goal of the Week, as voted by the fans.
Defender: Dredon Kelly (Wests APIA)
The dominant six-foot tall centre-back displayed his quality in his side's 1-0 win away from home against MetroStars. Kelly was prolific in the victory, keeping out the best attack from NPL SA throughout the 90 minutes and ensuring Apia headed back east with all three points.
Defender: Anthony Theodoropoulos (Heidelberg United)
The 26-year-old was influential at both ends of the field in Heidelberg’s opening weekend win over Marconi. Not only did the full-back help keep the Marconi attack at bay but he scored the winning goal in the 57th minute, picking out the bottom left corner with a wonderful effort from the edge of the box.
Midfielder: Seita Murai (Moreton City Excelsior)
Excelsior’s Japanese midfielder was the deciding factor in their away victory against Broadmeadow Magic. Involved in two of the three goals, Murai assisted Joseph Scott’s opener and won and scored a 97th-minute penalty, sealing the points with the last kick of the game.
Midfielder: Sebastian Pasquali (South Melbourne)
An immense performance from the box-to-box midfielder. On his South Melbourne debut, Pasquali made an instant impact for his new side. Involved in the lead up for South’s second goal against Olympic, he is a handy addition to the heart of South Melbourne’s midfield.
Midfielder: Kazuya Yamamura (Wollongong Wolves)
Wollongong’s high profile midfield signing showed his international experience in his side's 3-1 win against South Hobart. Scoring one of the most impressive goals over the opening weekend, Yamamura - from just inside South’s half - launched an audacious effort goalwards beating O’Connell in net with a goal of the highest class.
Forward: Joseph Scott (Moreton City Excelsior)
Kicking off his Australian Championship campaign on the score sheet is just how Moreton City would’ve wanted their number 11 to start. Completing a wonderfully worked team goal, Scott gave Excelsior the lead in their eventual 3-2 win at Magic Park.
Forward: Oliver Lavale (South Melbourne)
Joining from Western United, Lavale made his presence known for his new club on the opening night at Lakeside Stadium. The promising young forward gave South the lead 50 minutes into his debut, propelling his side to a famous 3-2 win over Sydney Olympic.
Forward: Ryan Feutz (Sydney Olympic)
2-1 down at the time, Feutz scored a screamer into the top right corner to bring Sydney Olympic level six minutes from time. The goal wasn’t enough to give Olympic the points against South Melbourne but it did earn him a spot in the top five goals of the week.
Australian Championship Team of the Week for Round 2
Goalkeeper: Lewis Italiano (Bayswater City)
Italiano was immense in goals, helping to give Bayswater City their first clean sheet of the season. The veteran goalkeeper who only conceded 16 goals in NPL WA made vital saves in his side's close and fiery 1-0 win over MetroStars.
Defender: Sean Symons (Wests APIA)
The Wests APIA captain led by example as his side ran rampant against Sydney United. Defensively contributing to a second consecutive clean sheet but offensively scoring one of the Top Five Goals of the Week, with a left-footed free kick from 25 yards out.
Defender: Jackson Stephens (Bayswater City)
The first of two players to feature in both teams of the week so far. Joining his goalkeeper, Stephens is applauded for his defensive efforts this week in Baysie’s win over MetroStars. Keeping a clean sheet in the process.
Defender: Dredon Kelly (Wests APIA)
Another huge defensive performance from the Wests APIA centre-back who our broadcast commentators select to be in the Team of the Week for the second round in a row. Limiting Sydney United chances, Kelly and APIA record back-to-back clean sheets and are tied for the best defence in the competition.
Defender: Jamal Ali (Heidelberg United)
Scoring the opening goal and keeping a clean sheet against Wollongong in Heidelberg’s 3-0 win has earned a spot in this week's team for the 27-year-old Sudanese fullback. Heidelberg are now three points clear at the top of Group B approaching the half-way point of the group stages.
Midfielder: Arran Cocks (Broadmeadow Magic)
Cocks was the difference in Broadmeadow’s historic 3-2 win over Sydney Olympic, scoring the decisive third goal. The Magic winger was influential in both halves, also picking up an for the opening goal of the game.
Midfielder: Michael Konestabo (NWS Spirit)
2-0 down at the 50-minute mark, Konestabo began the Spirit comeback with an absolute screamer from 25 yards out. The goal was the first of three in a row for Spirit who earned a point against Avondale in a wild and dramatic 3-3 draw.
Midfielder: Anthony Lesiotis (Heidelberg United)
The Heidelberg midfielder helped his side secure back-to-back wins in Group B, scoring their second in a 3-0 victory in Wollongong. Firing a low driven volley back in from a corner clearance, Lesiotis doubled the Bergers lead just after half-time.
Midfielder: Maxx Green (Canberra Croatia)
A second half double from Green propelled Canberra to their first win in the Australian Championship. A one-two movement and quick thinking footwork carved up the Lions defense and brought the Croatia faithful to their feet at Deakin Stadium.
Forward: Manyluak Aguek (South Melbourne)
Scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory including a half-way screamer, the once South Melbourne junior and current NPL Victoria top goal scorer showed that he is going to continue his prolific goal scoring season in the Australian Championship.
Forward: Damian Tsekenis (Marconi Stallions)
Scoring the first ever hat-trick in the Australian Championship, Tsekenis was on fire in a comprehensive 4-0 for the Stallions over South Hobart. Scoring one in the first half and two in the second, Marconi now climbed up into second in Group B ahead of South Hobart and Wollongong Wolves.