VPL Club Focus: Dandenong Thunder

With the Easter break causing an agonizing week-long hiatus of the Alanic Victorian Premier League and with most clubs approaching the half way mark of their season what better time to put together a mid-season review of the league so far! In this series we will review the teams top to bottom, one team at a time - offering a summary of their exploits so far as well as highlighting some of their best performers. We hope you will enjoy this little wrap, and that you look forward to the second half of the Alanic Victorian Premier League with as much anticipation as all of us here at The Football Sack!


Dandenong Thunder

Currently: 1st
Last Season: 8th
Record: WWWWDWLWWD

There was a real feel of optimism around the club pre-season with exciting new signings joining the ranks. By retaining some top performers from last season the Thunder suddenly had some real depth in class which they desperately missed in a disappointing 2010 season.

The 2009 Minor Premiers had an amazing start to the season going undefeated for the first six matches before finally succumbing to last season’s Major Premiers, Green Gully Cavaliers in their only defeat to date. Since then they have kept up their good form but with two crunch matches coming up against second and third placed Oakleigh Cannons and South Melbourne we will soon see if the Thunder are the real deal this season.

Head coach, former Rangers star Stuart Munroe is pleased with the start his side have made but notes that targets have remained as they were at the start of the season and that the side are not getting carried away;

"We’re in a good position and have been lucky that we’ve only had one major injury so far with Kyle [Lappin] doing his groin. The players have settled quickly, and with only a single defeat so far we’re very pleased.

"The goal is still the same as the start of the season, to finish as high as we can, and hopefully with some luck in terms of injuries and suspensions we will find ourselves with a good shot at the title come seasons end".


Star Players:

Luke Sherbon. Following a spell with the club last season and an off-season spent playing in the Welsh Premier League, U-21 International Sherbon has returned to the Thunder hoping to win the title. All signs so far look good, with his six goals and four assists from midfield going a long way to helping Dandenong to where they are now.

Steven Grey. A strong Irish defender, the former Southampton youth player has been in great form for the Thunder this season picking up two man of the match awards as his dominant defending has contributed to Dandenongs five clean sheets so far this season.

* As of Wednesday 27th April Dandenong Thunder were involved in disciplinary action that may have affected their table position. Updated details here.