Monash University Soccer Club (Clayton)

FOOTBALL DOMINATION

The stories of what made our 2024 year so successful. Here are the recounts from two of our championship winning players - one from our Men's Reserves, and one from our Men's Stallions!

Rory Van De Zand and the Ressies Season of Champions

"What a phenomenal year for the mighty ressies boys - doing things the hard way to battle from January through until September to take the trophy and secure more silverware for Monash University SC!

Our season began with return of Andrew 'Big Mout' Moutsios - and a reinvigorated attitude to put aside instability of the season prior and focus on the season ahead - boy is he a great coach, just ask him!
Whittling down the squad from 100+ trialists in Jan/Feb to a group of 20-odd players, we launched into pre-season with a core of youthful exuberance, new faces and some 'old-hangers-ons' who insisted their wisdom and experience made up for glacial speed stats...
 
We began the season proper with mixed results; starting the campaign with two convincing wins before an awful game vs Baxter, wherein not even a cameo from Ibukun Oloruntoba could avoid copping an "L" at home. This spurred another two strong wins (totaling a net GD of +19) before again a disappointing taste of humility came in the form of a Chelsea defeat at home, resulting in one of the great all-time sprays from an apoplectic Joel Fernandez and the shrapnel of a water bottle being blasted across MUSC change room 1.

Following another close loss v Endeavour a fortnight later, the season nadir was reached.
Team-meetings were had. Leadership groups huddled over Oakleigh mixed-grills in impromptu crisis talks, and Big Mout injected the team with a new sense of focus, amidst middling jokes and politically-incorrect anecdotes.
A season-defining comeback victory, away to Hampton Park and draw to fellow front-runners Somerville, saw the magoos pull into King's Birthday and the halfway point of the season just within striking distance of the top.

Despite a horrific Friday night "draw" in Mentone to kick off our back-half of the year, the boys charged onwards and upwards.
Armed with a full fitness Alex Lowe, dynamic duo of Kyle Chan and Sampath Mishra solidifying the middle with "Skin-head Rory" headering his way to CTE, the boys came charging through July, with notable results including a 4-2 win from at Baxter, after being down 2 goals in the first half, and a 25-0 obliteration of Sandown.

The run-in saw us play all top 4 teams in the last 7 rounds, with as few as 3 points separating 1st and 5th.
Despite a growing injury list, European adventures and external life pressures, there was nothing that could fault the boys dedication to the team, each other, and a desire to get stuck in, and get over the line.
Energy and ability of youth, and the mongrel, cunning and determination of the old guard combined for consecutive wins over Chelsea, Lyndale, Endeavour, Keysborough and Hampton which proved to be the title decider on our last home game of the year.

From looking all-but dead in the water round 12, to raising the cup with a game in hand is an absolute testament to the entire group. It has been an honour to play alongside this group, and achieve what we have.

Massive thanks to Andrew, who's dedication to the boys and the club despite personal hardship guided us over the line, and everyone who helped out on trainings or matchday in many different ways.
Hope to see most of the group back for season 2025 and beyond."

Pat Lloyd-Donald - ziggy ziggy ziggy

The Stallions' Journey to Glory: A Championship Years in the Making

"The road to triumph is often paved with setbacks, and for the Stallions, the journey to their long-awaited championship in 2024 was no exception. A core group of players in the victorious squad had been part of the squad since 2019, when we competed in Metro 6. That team was brimming with talent and personality, known for its attacking prowess. Those who remain will never forget the midweek showdown under lights against fierce rivals Baxter—a de-facto final. In front of a passionate crowd of over a hundred, the Stallions fought to a tense 1-1 draw, but ultimately fell agonisingly short of the title.

Fast forward to 2023 in Metro 5, and history nearly repeated itself. Another exceptional Stallions side came close to securing the championship but lacked the consistency in key games required to cross the finish line in first place. However, these near-misses served as invaluable lessons, teaching the squad what it truly meant to win a title. When the moment finally arrived in 2024, those hard-earned experiences made the victory all the sweeter for the players who had endured the heartbreak of past seasons. In 2024, the Stallions were playing in Metro 4 for the first time. The season itself followed an intriguing pattern. At home, the Stallions mostly dominated, playing free-flowing football, out-passing their opponents. The synthetic, spacious pitch at our home ground suited our style. Away from home, however, things were more challenging. Many opposition grounds were small, uneven, and difficult to adjust to. Yet, even when we struggled to replicate our fluid attacking displays, we usually found a way to grind out crucial wins. The hard-fought away victories against Ashburton, Brighton, and Middle Park were prime examples.

For all the attacking brilliance, it was our defensive resilience that proved the foundation of our championship triumph. The numbers tell the story: seven clean sheets and only 14 goals conceded—one of the best defensive records across the Metro leagues. Time and time again, we held firm under pressure, defending slender leads with discipline and composure. The centre-back partnership of James K and Aidan was immense, with Max seamlessly stepping in later in the season when needed. Their anticipation, decision-making, and well-timed challenges ensured that very few opponents managed to break through our last line of defence. As coach Mike Pogrebnoy often says, "Football is a game of moments" and the 2024 season provided plenty of defining ones. Chris K’s two crucial penalty saves were game-changers. Fill-in Joel Fernandez’s goal-line clearance against Glen Eira at 0-0 kept our title charge alive. Michael W’s stunning long-range strike secured a key win over Ashburton. Nick’s mesmerizing solo goal against the same opponents—where he slalomed past half their team—was a moment of magic reminiscent of Lionel Messi. And then there was Denholm’s acrobatic bicycle kick against Middle Park, exacting revenge on the defender who had resorted to pulling his hair to stop him. To his dismay, it was the only goal of the season not caught on camera!

The defining moment came in Round 15: a title-clinching clash against a young, tenacious Beaumaris side. A draw would be enough. That morning, excitement was mixed with memories of the 2019 showdown with Baxter, for me at least. But this time, the Stallions refused to falter. Our defence held firm yet again, securing another clean sheet. With the match locked at 0-0 with a few minutes remaining, I lost possession in midfield, allowing Beaumaris to potentially break forward. Knowing what was at stake, I uncharacteristically put in a crunching challenge to halt the counterattack—earning a rare yellow card but preventing a potential goal-scoring opportunity.
Minutes later, the final whistle blew, and pure elation erupted. We were champions at last! My preemptively ordered trophy—thankfully not a waste of money—was lifted in celebration. For those who had endured the near-misses of previous years, the emotions were a mix of joy and relief. Club president Ned Rocke was on hand to witness the historic moment before heading up the mountains to Monbulk, where he later coached our Women's Seniors to their first-ever championship—a monumental day for the club.

Every player played a part in this unforgettable season, but special credit must go to the mastermind behind it all: player-coach Mike Pogrebnoy. His tactical acumen, meticulous preparation, and relentless dedication were instrumental in transforming a talented squad into title winners. Few, if any, Metro league coaches put in the level of detail and effort that Pog does. After years of near misses, he finally guided the Stallions to the championship they had long pursued.

Congratulations, Stallions—champions at last! Now, onto Metro 3 to see what new challenges await."

Peter Kougi – Stallion's Veteran