Melbourne Knights FC Official Website Starting XI: B. Carrigan, T. Karlovic, S. Whyte, C. Bramwell, S. Lawless, M. Cunha, F. Dunlop, D. Nikolaides, C. Oldfield, K. Sheppard, J. Morton.
Substitutes: G. Matti, A. Duzel, A. Hird, S. Brecevic, M. Chiba, M Petheriotis.
On a scorching Sunday evening, March 9, 2025, the Melbourne Knights returned to their home ground of Tompsett Stadium in preparation for their Round 5 clash against Port Melbourne Sharks, determined to turn around their difficult start to the season. Within minutes, the statement from Franjic’s starting XI was clear – the Knights were not to be underestimated.
As fans were still trickling into the stadium, Fraser Dunlop fired a thunderous strike into the back of the net, stunning Sharks’ goalkeeper Luka Romic. The goal came after relentless pressure from the Knights, with Bramwell’s persistence creating the opening. His perfectly squared ball found Dunlop, who made no hesitation with a powerful shot, putting the Knights ahead just 2 minutes into the match. Wanting to live up to their past fixtures against Port Melbourne, it was evident that the Knights were determined to turn their 10 wins out of 21 encounters with the Sharks into the number 11.
Quickly before Port Melbourne had a chance to regroup, the Knights struck again. A beautifully lofted cross from Kane Sheppard found Bramwell’s head in the box. His clinical header was knocked down to Lawless, who then powered a header past Romic, making it 2-0 just 4 minutes into the game. With their efforts paying off so early into the match, the spirits of Tompsett Stadium lifted, as the ‘Croacija’ chant made an appearance in its rightful home, erupting down the quarry and into Melbourne’s West.
The Sharks’ squad, which boasted a blend of fresh faces eager to prove themselves and established NPL presences, struggled to find a rhythm to help assert themselves. Notably, Trajcevski and McCloskey, showed individual quality. Capitalizing on a crucial turnover in the Knights’ midfield, McCloskey’s powerful strike from the edge of the box looked destined for the net, however skewed in its path and rattled to the far-right post, rebounding harmlessly and keeping the scoreline at 2-0.
In the second half, the Knights’ dominance only grew. In the 55th minute, Bramwell made it 3-0 with a dazzling solo effort. Taking on the Sharks’ defence with ease, he finished coolly past the defence, cementing his commanding presence in the attacking half. The fluidity of their attack was a sight to behold, with each player contributing to its momentum, as the Knights moved the ball up from their defensive half.
“This was a must-win,” Brawmell reflected post-match after his dazzling performance. “Hopefully, this result will kick on for our season.”
In his interview with Knights TV’s Lora, Bramwell spoke highly of his relationship with coach Ivan Franjic, emphasizing the trust and belief the coach has shown in the 2025 squad, which he personally has felt to have been repaid with the teams’ efforts.
“We understood each other on the pitch and off the pitch, and that has only excelled,” Brammers added, highlighting the team’s cohesion and tactical clarity.
With a dominant 3-0 victory, the Melbourne Knights proved once again that their fortress was not one easily breached, sending a message to the rest of the competition. As the Knights celebrate a well-earned victory, they can now focus on building the momentum needed to propel them through the remainder of the season.
