Green Gully Opens NPL Campaign Against Champions Heidelberg United
Round 1 always carries a bit of theatre, but this one doesn’t need embellishment. Two heavyweight NPL names. Two clubs with expectations. One opening night that will tell us plenty about where each side is really at.
For Green Gully, last season’s improvement was tangible. Performances stabilised, results followed, and belief slowly returned. With David Chick remaining on the touchline, the Cavaliers enter the new campaign with clarity about how they want to play and, just as importantly, who they want to be.
Gully have added layers – reinforcements through midfield, increased attacking variety, and depth across the park. The arrival of Kiwi striker Nathan Simes in particular fills a position that has lacked a permanent replacement since the departure of Pierce Waring.
Yusuf Ahmed and Kur Kur add dynamism and excitement on the flanks, Taofiq Olomowewe brings strength and leadership in defence, and Michael Weier is as safe a pair of hands as any NPL Victoria goalkeeper of the last decade. Tom Woerndl, Bilal Habib, and Oskar Karlsson are proven top-flight performers, while Wan Gatkek – a former teammate of Simes in New Zealand – brings flair and creativity through midfield.
It’s an impressive list of incomings, who will have to gel quickly.
Heidelberg United enter 2026 with a different narrative. The departure of Golden Boot winner Bul Juach to Canada has reshaped their attacking identity. Twenty-two goals don’t disappear quietly, and replacing that influence will take more than one signing.
The responsibility now sits with Ciaran Bramwell, a striker with pedigree but a very different profile. Where Juach thrived on timing his runs off the shoulder of the last defender and exploiting teams in transition, Bramwell will need structure and service to his feet. That places extra importance on Heidelberg’s midfield, where Marcus Humbert looms as a key figure. Powerful, left-footed, and comfortable dictating tempo, Humbert has the tools to shape games at this level.
There’s intrigue in their wide options too, with new arrival Joseph Lee offering speed and excitment, while the departure of Jamal Ali signals a subtle shift toward structure over spontaneity.
What hasn’t changed is Heidelberg’s discipline under John Anastasiadis. They remain organised, constructive in possession, and difficult to break down, even during periods of transition.
That contrast defines this contest. Heidelberg arrive respected but still adapting to some key departures. Green Gully visit with expectations rising.
Round 1 won’t decide a season, but it will reveal intent. For Gully, it’s an early opportunity to measure progress against a benchmark opponent. For Heidelberg, it’s the first step in proving their evolution, and a taxing Australian Championship campaign, has not diminished them.
Either way, the new season doesn’t ease its way in. It starts with a proper test.
