Not since Mark Viduka was wearing the famous red, white and blue in the NSL has Melbourne Knights achieved this feat.<\/p>\n
For the first time since 1994-95, the Knights are league premiers after winning the VPL1 title.<\/p>\n
The club was crowned without even taking the field as Northcote City\u2019s loss to Brunswick Juventus on Friday night meant their lead at the top of the ladder was insurmountable.<\/p>\n
Sunday\u2019s clash with Langwarrin at Knights Stadium will be a celebration of a historic season.<\/p>\n
Bouncing back from relegation, the club\u2019s first since 1972, Knights marched to the premiership with a 15-3-4 record with two games remaining.<\/p>\n
Taking the reins at the start of the season, new coach Michael Calandrella said he was driven by the challenge to rebuilding the powerhouse club.<\/p>\n
Now it return to Victoria\u2019s top-flight with a trophy in hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fantastic season and massive for the football club after the relegation last year,\u201d Calandrella said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest, we had a two-year plan to make this happen but we were able to do it in one, so it\u2019s been an amazing season.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur supporters turned up this year week after week and were a massive part of this promotion. They supported us through thick and thin, so we\u2019re really pleased to bring them a little bit of joy.<\/p>\n
\u201cMelbourne Knights needs to be in the top division, it\u2019s too big a club to be playing in VPL1 \u2013 with all due respect \u2013 and I think the NPL needs Melbourne Knights in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Calandrella guided Brunswick Juventus to promotion from VPL2 last year before taking on the Knights job and his former club did him a massive favour on Friday night, coming from a goal down to beat Northcote City 2-1.<\/p>\n
The Zebras could join the Knights in the NPL next year after moving into second place and one game away from back-to-back promotions.<\/p>\n
The Knights have excelled at both ends this season, scoring 41 goals \u2013 third most in the competition \u2013 and conceding just 15, ranked No.1.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe saw quite early it was going to be a three-horse race, we kept quiet and did our thing in the background,\u201d Calandrella said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew Northcote was quite a young team and wondered whether it would have an affect later in the season and Juve had a focus on the (Australia) Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was about us focusing on the league and going about our business and it all went to plan in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luka Kolic and Josh Divin lead the club with 10 goals apiece.<\/p>\n
Lucas Trenkovski has been instrumental in goals, keeping nine clean sheets in his 22 matches.<\/p>\n
Calandrella said the consistency of his team this season and been critical.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s been the key and the most pleasing thing was, it\u2019s a brand new team and they gelled really quickly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had goals coming from every angle and that was a bit of a concern because we lost Darcy Antastovski in Round 5 when the fence collapsed on him and another two attackers that we couldn\u2019t get on the park through injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rest of the boys really stood up and then we brought in a couple of reinforcements in the (mid-season) window and they fit in really well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely been a group effort, that\u2019s been the key to our success.\u201d<\/p>\n
With games against relegated Langwarrin and Eltham Redbacks to close out the season, Knights can now look ahead to 2027.<\/p>\n
The club will be looking to cement itself back in the top-flight.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re confident we can keep the boys together but we\u2019re definitely going to have to top up,\u201d Calandrella said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NPL is a different beast, so we\u2019ll need some reinforcements and we\u2019re working on that to bring the right players in, we don\u2019t want to change too much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brunswick Juventus and Northcote City will vie for the second promotion place in the final round, facing Manningham United (home) and Bulleen Lions (away) respectively.<\/p>\n
One will go up and one will finish third and enter the promotion playoffs along with Bulleen, Melbourne Victory and one of Eltham Redbacks, FC Melbourne or Manningham.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Not since Mark Viduka was wearing the famous red, white and blue in the NSL has Melbourne 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