With the conclusion of another round of the inaugural Australian Championship, we edge closer to the quarter-finals. The players in this week's Team of the Week helped their sides earn vital points that could mean the difference between finishing second or third come the end of the group stages.
Our team of broadcast commentators went for a different formation for this week's Team of the Week. Opting for a 3-5-2 formation, this week's team reflects the crucial goals scored over the weekend that helped their side to key results, with all but three players getting their names on the scoresheet.
It was a great weekend for many of these clubs, with Avondale FC and Preston Lions having two of their players selected in this week's team. Bayswater City and South Melbourne continue their streak as the only clubs to have a player selected in every Team of the Week so far.
Here is the Australian Championship Team of the Week for Round 4.
Australian Championship Team of the Week for Round 4
Goalkeeper: James Hilton (Marconi Stallions)
Hilton was immense in the Marconi goal on a wet and stormy Sydney Friday Night. Making crucial saves throughout the game, the Stallions' number one halted the best attack in the league in Heidelberg United and held them to only a point. “I genuinely think this game gave us a glimpse into the two best goalkeepers outside of the A-League”, SBS commentator Lachie Flannigan said during the game.
Defender: Lachlan Barr (MetroStars)
A physical presence in Metro's back line who nearly pulled off back-to-back away wins on the East Coast. Keeping Wests APIA scoreless for 92 minutes, Barr looked like he had contributed to a famous Metro win and their first clean sheet of the campaign. Though it wasn’t meant to be for the SA premiers, they still leave with a crucial point heading back home.
Defender: Dredon Kelly (Wests APIA)
The towering centre back rose high once again for Wests APIA, rescuing a point in stoppage time against a stubborn MetroStars defence and earning a second appearance in the Team of the Week. His second goal of the tournament ensures APIA remain three points clear of Metro with two rounds remaining.
Defender: Jake Trajkovski (Preston Lions)
Preston picked up their first win of the Australian Championship after a dominant performance over NWS Spirit, with Trajkovski helping to limit the NSW Premiers' chances, who they now climb above in Group C. It marks the second week in a row that a Preston defender has appeared in the Team of the Week as the Lions tighten their defence, conceding just one goal in their last two games.
Midfielder: Ali Auglah (Sydney Olympic)
Four goals in four consecutive matches for the Olympic's new favourite son. Auglah opened the scoring once again for Olympic against South Melbourne, his second goal against their Greek rivals. The right winger scored a wonderful solo effort, though his goal was eventually cancelled out with South coming from behind to complete the double over Olympic.
Midfielder: Luca Tevere (Avondale)
Avondale ran riot against Canberra Croatia with the 23-year-old midfielder proving to be the key link in a blistering 4-1 win. Tevere doubled the Avengers' lead just after the half-hour mark. A lovely one, two movement with Cian Cuba, plus some help from the inside of the left-hand post marked his first goal of the campaign.
Midfielder: Seita Murai (Moreton City Excelsior)
Murai scored and assisted in his side's 5-1 win against Broadmeadow Magic, which sees Moreton City climb back up into the top two. Murai gave Excelsior the breathing room they needed just before the hour mark, breaking away and putting the ball past Lewis Alvarez to go 3-1 up. Murai then got involved once again, assisting Andrew Pengelly second and Moreton’s fifth of the afternoon.
Midfielder: Jordan Lampard (South Melbourne)
Lampard struck again for South against Olympic, sparking a come-from-behind victory for his side on the road. Just like he did in the opening game of the Australian Championship, the attacking full-back got his name on the scoresheet in the Greek derby. In the 82nd minute, Lampard fired a strike through traffic off a corner that reignited the Hellas, who went on to become the first team to book their spot in the quarter-finals.
Midfielder: Jason Romero (Preston Lions)
Romero stepped up in a big way when his side needed him most. Winless in their first three games, the Lions' attacking midfielder scored two first-half goals, leading to Preston's eventual 3-1 win at Christie Park. Both efforts were low-power-driven shots that Christopher Marques could do little about in the Spirit net.
Forward: Bruno Fornaroli (Avondale)
The Avengers' new high-profile number 10 had his best performance in an Avondale shirt on Saturday in their away win in the nation's capital. Getting on the end of a headed cross in the 30th minute, he gave Avondale the opener before capping off the afternoon with an assist for Avondale's fourth.
Forward: Christopher Jackson (Bayswater City)
Bayswater City secured their third win in a row on Sunday with Jackson scoring his first goal in a 3-2 win over a 10-man Sydney United. Picking up the scraps off some poor passing from United, Jackson found himself one-on-one with Vedran Janjetevic, whom he rolled the ball underneath to give City a 2-0 lead just 30 minutes in.