Melbourne Knights FC Official Website As the Melbourne Knights prepare for their Sunday session and home fixture against Port Melbourne Sharks this Sunday 7pm at Tompsett Stadium, they do so under the weight of mounting challenges. The 2025 NPL Victoria season has been a tough one for the Knights, with their recent performances being hampered by a series of unfortunate events. Their latest setback has come in the form of an injury crisis that seems to have become a recurring theme for the team this season. The situation sadly worsened for Knights fans, as in the early moments of their clash against Oakleigh, starter Ben Carrigan came off with a broken nose, that led him to a hospital visit.
Despite these setbacks, the Knights remain resolute. Deion Nikolaides, a standout new signing for the Knights, emphasized the strength and resilience within the squad, reflecting on their never-say-die attitude.
“We back ourselves, we don’t give up, and we will keep fighting,” Nikolaides said after the game, acknowledging the difficult start but reiterating the squad’s determination to keep pushing forward.
Nikolaides also spoke of the strong sense of community at the club, one that has kept morale high despite the challenging results. “Shout out to the fans and the club for making me feel welcome….. being around a good group of boys, we’re all together, we’re all focused, we’re all working hard to make our performances better,” he remarked.
As they look ahead to the clash with Port Melbourne, the Sharks, much like the Knights, have endured a difficult start to the season, with a similar record of three losses and one win. However, their recent 1-0 victory over Green Gully will see them come into this match with the momentum of securing their first win of the season. Historically, the Knights have had the upper hand in their meetings with Port Melbourne, having won 10 of their last 21 encounters, with the Sharks only claiming victory on 8 occasions. Port Melbourne’s squad however, holds a blend of several fresh faces eager to prove themselves in the league and established NPL presences, with Nicholas Dib being named in the NPL Team of the Week.
With Sunday’s clash lining up to deliver an even playing field of competition, the Round 5 fixture can be seen as an opportunity for the Knights to turn their start to the season around. Coming in to the clash with Port Melbourne, all Knights fans should remind themselves of the words from their very own Deion Nikolaides: that despite the current results, there is something special that is worth showing up and fighting for.
